Starline brass

[fordtruckin]

Was able to find some 45/70 loads and was surprised to see they used starline brass. I’ve never used it and am hoping it will be suitable for reloading. Pretty much taking anything I can find right now as components are still scarce outside of 9mm 223/556 300blk and 308/762.

[6MT]

Love the stuff. The straight walled cases last forever. (Actually, straight walled cases last a long time no matter what brass you use.)

I use Starline for all of my straight walled calibers (including 45-70). And….it is the proper length for the 45-70. Unlike some Hornady cases.

[elkhunter11]

I have used it for 45-70, and it was good brass. The bottleneck cases do vary a fair bit in weight.

[fordtruckin]

[QUOTE=6MT;4477759]Love the stuff. The straight walled cases last forever. (Actually, straight walled cases last a long time no matter what brass you use.)

I use Starline for all of my straight walled calibers (including 45-70). And….it is the proper length for the 45-70. Unlike some Hornady cases.[/QUOTE

I’ve heard that about hornady brass. I think they trim shorter because of the FTX bullets they use. I’d have to check my hornady reloading manual but swear I saw that in there. What kind of a load do you have for 45/70?

[Pioneer2]

In .357 mag ,38-55 and 7.62x 25 no issues.

[6MT]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

I’ve heard that about hornady brass. I think they trim shorter because of the FTX bullets they use. I’d have to check my hornady reloading manual but swear I saw that in there. What kind of a load do you have for 45/70?

I load the Campro 300gr RNFP bullets over 49gr of IMR4198.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by 6MT

I load the Campro 300gr RNFP bullets over 49gr of IMR4198.

Is that a pretty stout load or just mild for plinking? I have bought some 420gr hard cast and imr4198 just want something that won’t knock my teeth out to practice with.

[6MT]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Is that a pretty stout load or just mild for plinking? I have bought some 420gr hard cast and imr4198 just want something that won’t knock my teeth out to practice with.

It's just above middle of the road. I believe maximum is around 54 or 55 grains of the IMR4198 powder. My load is not mild. But it is pretty easy with my Marlin 1895GBL (18 inch barrel). But I usually make the mistake of bringing too much ammo when I take the 45-70 out to shoot. Fifty rounds is about the most I would shoot on an outing with the 45-70.

You definitely need to lean into it though.

[Dean2]

Another vote for Starline brass. Good stuff in 30-30, 38-55, 375 Win and 45-70. You are also correct that Hornady 45-70 brass is shorter than it aught to be due to FTX loads. I am not a fan of Hornady brass to start with, so never use their 45-70 brass, though being a hair short really hurts nothing since they head space on the rim.

[catnthehat]

I found that the 45/70 Starline works better to neck down to 40/65 than the Hornady for match quality accuracy inn my Sharps replica. Even when necking down, the Hornady brass ends up shorter than than my 40/65 chamber, but the Starline is fine.
The Hornady is a nogo for me in 45/70 in most single shot falling blocks, it's just too danged short as has been noted.
Cat

[6MT]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Another vote for Starline brass. Good stuff in 30-30, 38-55, 375 Win and 45-70. You are also correct that Hornady 45-70 brass is shorter than it aught to be due to FTX loads. I am not a fan of Hornady brass to start with, but never use their 45-70 brass, though being a hair short really hurts nothing since they head space on the rim.

Well...it's a bit more than a "hair" short. And if you do use the Hornady "short" brass, you'll need to adjust your crimping die. I've noted a difference of over .080" shorter then "normal" brass.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Dean2

. I am not a fan of Hornady brass to start with, so never use their 45-70 brass, though being a hair short really hurts nothing since they head space on the rim.

The issue with short brass I have is when shooting cast and paper patched bullets, the paper and cast rings left because of the short brass cause jamming issues when a case cannot be chambered.
Cat

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

The issue with short brass I have is when shooting cast and paper patched bullets, the paper and cast rings left because of the short brass cause jamming issues when a case cannot be chambered.
Cat

With paper patch and over size cast I could see that happening. Like I said, I am not fond of Hornady brass to start with. Any I tried in various cartridges was very inconsistent in weight and dimensions, except their 375 Ruger brass. For some odd reason that stuff is very nice brass. There is enough good 45-70 brass around a guy shouldn't have to ever shoot the short Hornady stuff, even for jacketed bullets where it won't cause the issues you see with paper patch or cast.

[brewster29]

The Starline brass is good stuff. I am using it in my 30-30, 45-70 and just got some small primer 308 brass to try in my 7-08.

I load Hornady 350 fn bullets over 44.5 gr H4198. This gets me 1780 fps and lets my Leupold SABR reticle work great to 300 yds.

[obsessed1]

Starline is good brass, I have 100pcs of starline that has over 6 reloads on them and no issues with any of them.
Good to see you moved over to the dark side and finally got a 45-70...I shoot 350 gr hornadys RN or FP and 405 gr hard cast from a local caster over IMR 3031. My dark has such a short barrel I was getting alot of unburnt cernals out the barrel so switched to mag primers on Dean's suggestion and it has largely solved that issue. I also load that same hard cast over 13.5gr if red dot for 1089fps plinking loads..
My hunting loads with both the 350 and 405 gr bullets chrony at mid 1600s fps

They deliver quite a bit of energy on target.
So far I've taken 2 bears , 3wt deer, 4 elk(1cow) and 2moose( cow) with my 45-70

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

[RGuill96971]

Good brass for sure

[fordtruckin]

I've used only Hornady brass for a 35 Remington. I think last loading was #4. Only issue I've had is when setting up my dies I crumpled a case seating the bullet WAY too deep. Other than that I've been happy.

[4570]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I have used it for 45-70, and it was good brass. The bottleneck cases do vary a fair bit in weight.

Vary in weight between lot numbers?
or out of the same box?

Good to know, thanks

[Madcow]

Starline brass is some of the best to use.

Unfortunately the supply in Canada is what we have for now, there is a 1 year wait time to get new stock from them

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 4570

Vary in weight between lot numbers?
or out of the same box?

Good to know, thanks

Case to case variation in one order was more than I liked, but then so was the Hornady brass that I weighed. Then again, the Starline is a lot cheaper than Lapua or ADG, and many shooters won't notice any accuracy differences.

[alpining]

Originally Posted by Madcow

Starline brass is some of the best to use.

Unfortunately the supply in Canada is what we have for now, there is a 1 year wait time to get new stock from them

Rusty Wood usually has a fair supply. And Rayner Shine had crazy good prices last time I checked with them.