presspuller
Member
If you had the chance for either for the same price, would you choose once fired Hornady brass or brand new Starline brass?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Which 45-70 brass?
- Thread starter presspuller
- Start date
- Status
bobinoregon
Member
No reason to buy anything but Starline, that's as good as it gets.
Sunray
Member
Don't think it makes great deal of difference what brand you use. Probably wouldn't buy the Hornady is case it's their Leverevolution stuff. That's a tick shorter than standard .45-70.
Bullseye
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,598
I would buy the Starline. Hornady brass is noticeably shorter.
Now if you have been reloading Hornady brass exclusively and your dies are set up for that then you can get away with loading other brand bullets in them.
I think the FTX Hornady bullets might require a shorter case. Not sure, but I load both but then I have a quantity of FTX bullets on hand and I also load cast bullets in both cases.
I think my others are R-P but there's my two cents.
Now if you have been reloading Hornady brass exclusively and your dies are set up for that then you can get away with loading other brand bullets in them.
I think the FTX Hornady bullets might require a shorter case. Not sure, but I load both but then I have a quantity of FTX bullets on hand and I also load cast bullets in both cases.
I think my others are R-P but there's my two cents.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
steveno
Member
I had good luck with nickel plated Federal 45-70 brass
Don McDowell
Member
Hornady is a much better brass than Starline.
The Hornady component brass is a constant 2.1 inches long, is properly annealed and doesn't vary from case to case on the case mouth thickness or rim thickness as some lots of Starline have been as of late. It is a few grains heavier than Remington or Winchester. But the powder capacity is still plenty enough to easily hold a 70 gr charge of 2 f black.
I have not shot any of it with smokeless , but it has so far held as good or better accuracy at 600 yd. than either the Winchester or Remington that has served well enough to get me a metal at the NRA BPTR nationals.
The Hornady component brass is a constant 2.1 inches long, is properly annealed and doesn't vary from case to case on the case mouth thickness or rim thickness as some lots of Starline have been as of late. It is a few grains heavier than Remington or Winchester. But the powder capacity is still plenty enough to easily hold a 70 gr charge of 2 f black.
I have not shot any of it with smokeless , but it has so far held as good or better accuracy at 600 yd. than either the Winchester or Remington that has served well enough to get me a metal at the NRA BPTR nationals.
Don McDowell
Member
Those that say that Hornady component brass is short are seriously mistaken, and most likely just repeating something they've read on the internet. I bought one box of the component brass, measured and weighed it. Test shot a few and promptly ordered another 150.
The only "short" Hornady 45-70 brass a person will encounter would be the once fired stuff from the leverolution brass, and even that would work fine for jacketed bullet reloads, and possibly work alright for cast bullets, one would need to readjust their crimping adjustment.
The only "short" Hornady 45-70 brass a person will encounter would be the once fired stuff from the leverolution brass, and even that would work fine for jacketed bullet reloads, and possibly work alright for cast bullets, one would need to readjust their crimping adjustment.
presspuller
Member
Thanks everyone. The Hornady brass is the shorter version, thanks for pointing that out to me.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I agree, Starline brass is as good as it gets and it's brand new to boot. I would never pay the same price for once fired Hornady brass as new Starline brass, even if the Hornady brass was not shorter. Not all Hornady brass is shorter BTW.
Don McDowell
Member
?? No the Hornady component brass is not the shorter version, it's a full 2.1 inches long.
presspuller
Member
Well, the only thing I can say is in the description it stated that it was trimmed to 2.040. I don't know how much more plain it can get than that.
Don McDowell
Member
So this is used brass? Because the brand new from the box Hornady 45-70 component brass, measures a very consistent 2.10.
Even at the trimmed length of the brass you're looking at, it's not going to be a problem from length. After all that Hornady gummy tipped bullet factory load garners nothing but rave reviews from most folks that use it, so it stands to reason there's no problem with that brass as a factory load... Not exactly sure what the biggest problem from using brass that is .05 short of the trim to length would cause, but apparently it's a huge problem to the internet world.
The biggest problem you'll have is not all 45-70 chambers are created equal.
I have 4 different rifles from 4 different manufacture . The brass from one of those rifles will fit all of them after resizing. The brass from one of those rifles won't due to the excess diameter that company's chamber reamer has in the head of the case.
So I would advise if you can't try this used brass in your rifle's chamber before buying , I'ld pass, buy the new stuff, or some factory loads and fire form those to your chamber.
Even at the trimmed length of the brass you're looking at, it's not going to be a problem from length. After all that Hornady gummy tipped bullet factory load garners nothing but rave reviews from most folks that use it, so it stands to reason there's no problem with that brass as a factory load... Not exactly sure what the biggest problem from using brass that is .05 short of the trim to length would cause, but apparently it's a huge problem to the internet world.
The biggest problem you'll have is not all 45-70 chambers are created equal.
I have 4 different rifles from 4 different manufacture . The brass from one of those rifles will fit all of them after resizing. The brass from one of those rifles won't due to the excess diameter that company's chamber reamer has in the head of the case.
So I would advise if you can't try this used brass in your rifle's chamber before buying , I'ld pass, buy the new stuff, or some factory loads and fire form those to your chamber.
Last edited:
Bullseye
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,598
So perhaps Hornady makes a 45-70 case that is standard 2.100 and also makes a special case that is 2.040 for the Leverevolution cartridge. Maybe Hornady has two.
I don't know. LINK to the only Hornady 45-70 brass I know of ( and have purchased ).
I just took this image and the cast loaded case is a W W brass reload and it measure 2.100 and the Hornady is a Factory FTX cartridge and the brass best bite I can get is because of the factory crimp at 2.035.
I believe this is shorter because of the shape of the FTX bullet they use.
If it were full length, it may not chamber properly in the 45-70 lever guns.
I know that I have loaded the shorter Hornady cases with these cast bullets without issue.
I just seated them to the proper cartridge OAL and they were fine. I was able to catch the cannelure without crimping on the outer surface of the bullet.
Your issue may only be a problem if using FTX bullets in the standard 45-70 cases of 2.100 length because of the shape of the FTX bullet and how it may chamber. You may also have to sort brass and adjust your dies accordingly using both size cases down the road.
I don't know. LINK to the only Hornady 45-70 brass I know of ( and have purchased ).
I just took this image and the cast loaded case is a W W brass reload and it measure 2.100 and the Hornady is a Factory FTX cartridge and the brass best bite I can get is because of the factory crimp at 2.035.
I believe this is shorter because of the shape of the FTX bullet they use.
If it were full length, it may not chamber properly in the 45-70 lever guns.
I know that I have loaded the shorter Hornady cases with these cast bullets without issue.
I just seated them to the proper cartridge OAL and they were fine. I was able to catch the cannelure without crimping on the outer surface of the bullet.
Your issue may only be a problem if using FTX bullets in the standard 45-70 cases of 2.100 length because of the shape of the FTX bullet and how it may chamber. You may also have to sort brass and adjust your dies accordingly using both size cases down the road.
Last edited:
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Like I said in my first post, not all Hornady 45-70 brass is shorter. Their component 45-70 brass is standard length as is most of their 45-70 brass used in their factory ammo. The only shorter 45-70 brass comes from their 45-70 Leverevolution Ammo. I'm fairly sure all the brass used in their factory LVR ammunition has to be slightly shortened no matter which cartridge to comply with COAL restrictions because of the excessive length of the FTX bullets.
In reality every one above is correct but in different circumstances lol.
In reality every one above is correct but in different circumstances lol.
Last edited:
Wis-Harpo
Member
If you use the shorter cartridge case, clean the chamber before you shoot the longer--or standard-- cases. Just separate the different length cases and as stated before, adjust your crimp. Shooting the .050 inch length should not make a difference, depending on the size of your chamber. But cleaning between the short and long cases could not hurt.
matrem
Member
I've only been loading .45/70s a few months and have only used Starline new brass. Also bought a 20 pk of Lever Evolution cartridges from Hornady and those cases are shorter. Guess I'll use those to reload the 50 box of FTX 325 gr I have.
The reason I bought 100 new Starline cases last winter rather than new Hornady cases was flat out cost difference.
Not found any big advantage of one over the other beyond that. And yes Hornady component cases are full length.
The reason I bought 100 new Starline cases last winter rather than new Hornady cases was flat out cost difference.
Not found any big advantage of one over the other beyond that. And yes Hornady component cases are full length.
Last edited:
Kevin Rohrer
Member
Hornady brass does not have a good reputation; Starline does.
Don McDowell
Member
Never heard of Hornady brass not having a good reputation.
highlander 5
Member
Starline a all the way. It's been designed to be used for loads that are just short of 458 Win mag in the appropriate action of course.
- Status
