Starline Brass, the good, the bad, the ugly

[The Guide]

What is everyone's opinion on Starline brass?

With Starline brass coming in most popular hunting cartridges and available at prices that are extremely reasonable, is there any reason not to use them? You can order in bulk directly from Starline at or below prices from most online retailers and get 250 pieces of the same lot.

Even if you ran the loads super hot and only got 2 or 3 loading out of them they would be $0.40 to $0.25 per loading for brass. Seems like most people like Starline brass more than Hornady brass.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I have had pretty good results with Starline.

I am using it for the following:

7TCU (223 virgin)
6.5 Grendel
6.5 Creedmoor
7-08
45 Colt

So far I haven't had an issue with it. Please note that I don't load hot and I anneal after initial shooting/fireforming and then every second firing after that. I am on loading #5 for the TCU, #4 for the Grendel, #2 for the Creed, still working on the first firing on the 7-08, and #2 for the 45 Colt.

 

[Sinistram]

Never heard a legitimate complaint about Starline brass. I use them in all my pistol calibers, loaded mild to steaming hot, a single rifle caliber, loaded without consideration to brass life, and have never ever had an issue with thousands of cases.

Starline is GTG.

 

[SamsonMan22]

My experience is limited with it for various calibers but so far I’m happy enough using it. I would prefer alpha, lapua, or Peterson where I can use it but for the 223 starline has been working quite well I have several thousdands rounds of use with it in the 223 and that much again with pistols. I also load for 308 with starline and no issues there it’s holding up well and is consistent enough.

 

[ddowning]

My experience is limited with it for various calibers but so far I’m happy enough using it. I would prefer alpha, lapua, or Peterson where I can use it but for the 223 starline has been working quite well I have several thousdands rounds of use with it in the 223 and that much again with pistols. I also load for 308 with starline and no issues there it’s holding up well and is consistent enough.

^^THIS. My only experience is with 223, but it shoots fine and lasts plenty of reloads. I don't shoot much prs anymore. I have 1000 pcs that we ran for practice when we shot a bunch. In my household we used to run through several thousand rounds of 223 per year. I have only ever had the first 1000 pcs of brass I bought, and it's still going strong. If it's all as good as the 223, I would not worry about having better unless I was competing.

 

[hereinaz]

I have some 6 creed that has been good. I would buy more for training ammo with confidence.

I spend a little more on my hunting rifles cause they don’t get shot as much. It’s not that much more over the lifetime of a barrel.

 

[Qholum37]

I currently use it in 6.5 Grendel and 7-08 and have been really happy with it. I think it’s the best value out there for sure and will probably buy it over anything else as long as it’s offered in the cartridge I am loading for. I am using Lapua brass for my 7-08 and Starline in my wife’s rifle and I haven’t seen much of a difference between the 2 if any, they even have identical case capacity. Once my Lapua brass is retired I’m going Starline. I got it for my sister in laws rifle and a buddy’s wife’s rifle and it has all been great.

 

[JF_Idaho]

It's good brass at the price. The lot I ordered had pretty good burrs on the flash hole (any effect? Who knows, only took a bit to deburr for piece of mind). Necks seemed a little offset on a number of pieces, but after fireforming and resizing all good.

I find it pretty comparable to Lake City brass. It's not Lapua or anything, but it's solid and the price reflects that.

 

[General RE LEE]

Good brass and priced right. I have some in 6 ARC and 308. I still use Alpha and Lapua in my 308 and 6.5 CM hunting loads. Honestly not sure if it would make any difference at typical hunting ranges.

I also like Hornady brass. It’s available on the rack at my local gun store and I can usually prep it to get good results.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

I’ve just started using it in a lot of my rifles and so far so good 223, 7mm08, 308, 243.

Enough good things were said about and it’s priced right I bought a bunch.

I still use Hornady with good results as well 6.5cm, 7RM, 243. But I had a bunch leftover from factory ammo.

 

[couchnapper]

awesome

 

[Stony]

What is everyone's opinion on Starline brass?

With Starline brass coming in most popular hunting cartridges and available at prices that are extremely reasonable, is there any reason not to use them? You can order in bulk directly from Starline at or below prices from most online retailers and get 250 pieces of the same lot.

Even if you ran the loads super hot and only got 2 or 3 loading out of them they would be $0.40 to $0.25 per loading for brass. Seems like most people like Starline brass more than Hornady brass.

I've had good experiences with them reloading. I've used mostly pistol brass, but definitely rate them above hornady brass....Probably around Winchester or RP brass. Definitely not to the quality of Lapua or Nosler

 

[Wyohunth]

Nothing really to add besides another data point. I use Starline with my Howa mini 6.5 Grendel. So far 7x reloads at just under book max charges. Primer pockets are still tight and no other issues. Full length resizing and annealed every other firing.

 

[Qholum37]

I've had good experiences with them reloading. I've used mostly pistol brass, but definitely rate them above hornady brass....Probably around Winchester or RP brass. Definitely not to the quality of Lapua or Nosler

I would say Starline is above all of those except Lapua. Just my experience though

 

[ZAK13]

I've had good luck with Starline brass, but have have only used their pistol brass, have some hot loads too, the brass holds up to the hot ones.

 

[Wolfshead]

I use Starline in all my rifles.
I won’t buy anything else at this time.
I’m always picking up brass at the range and have some old Hornady and Nosler brass that I’ll re-use, but if I’m buying new, from now on it will be Starline.
The only thing for me is that case capacity seems less than like Nosler for example.
Other than that it has been very, very good quality in my opinion.

 

[BLJ]

Personal experience with 6 ARC and a buddy uses .223. Both have been good.

 

[Ringbill27]

I have limited experience with starline. The only cartridge I load it for so far is 7.62x39. I’m very pleased. Seems to be better than the Winchester I was loading. I’ve settled on a very spicy load for the 7.62x39 and 123gr TSXs. I’d use again.