Starline 5.56 Brass

arlaunch

arlaunch

Active member
I bought a pile of this stuff in bulk a couple years ago. I pulled 25 rounds out of the case to put it through the paces, and do some load development. The components i chose are based off of an existing load that shoots well for that rifle, except i used Starline brass as a substitute for Winchester brass.

I started somewhat low and worked my way up. Unfortunately i only have a 4X scope to work with now. So an accuracy evaluation/comparison between the two brands is not in the cards.

What i did learn is that the base of the Starline case is much, much harder. Hardest i have ever seen. I am not sure how much pressure you would have to build to get an ejector stamp, or a flat primer. I went out twice.

The 1st 25 rounds starting low, and watching the speeds over my lab radar.

Based on that data, and getting best accuracy up high, I went back a week or so later with that same 1X fired brass and explored the mid range and around max load in the Sierra manual.

I looked as hard as i could at the bases, and found no pressure signs at the base.

It was not until last night when i went to size this 2 time fired brass that i had a better look. I stood all the cases up on my bench and luckily noticed something strange.

Of the 25, 1 had a ring all the way around, that could be felt from the inside with a paper clip, and 3 of them had a vertical split in the case.

I am certain pressure is the cause of case fail. I could see high velocities on the lab radar.

The ring though... Not sure about that. I set my shoulders back 0.03- 0.04.

That spooked me a bit. I have heard of this brand separating in the middle on another thread.

If you are using this brass, i highly recommend a velocity measurement device.

The case head is so hard, your brass will look like new after firing a load that is too hot!!

Splits by aklaunch, on Flickr

IMG_1859 by aklaunch, on Flickr


 
I would contact Starline as that is not a common type of failure. I've seen that in some very old military ammo, even some pre-WW-II commercial ammo.
 
Your 2nd picture on the left is what I get but closer to the case head with 308 after the 4th or 5th firing. Those length ways cracks are not good.
 

I bought 1K of Starline 38 Super brass, and I lose 10% to cracks every time I shoot them.....
 
WOW...seems as Starline has an issue with their rifle brass. First me then you, of coarse that was 308 and loose primers, but I have 500 of 5.56 new Starline that I haven't messed with and I'm going to sell it!!!


Correct, the ring on the inside/outside is a sign of soon to be a case separation.

Thanks for letting us know.
 
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I've had that happen with some Lake City brass, except they were loaded, fired and resized four times through a small base die each time without any annealing. I even had one case head separation with the particular lot. Needless to say, the rest went into the scrap bucket.

The only Lake City brass I ever had such an issue with.
 
I pulled all but 5 of the bullets and dumped the powder into a glass jar on the rounds that where not fired.
I figured the lower charge would not need pulled.... Yesterday i was at the range, and shot the remaining 5. Unfortunately 1 was lost and 2 more where split. So much for my theory on super high pressure at the top charges doing this.

The primer pockets are still unbelievably tight. This is some tough brass!! A little too tough it seems.
 
I know the older Starline 5.56 brass has a lot less case capacity than their .223 brass. Johnny's reloading bench has a video of it on YouTube. I've read they have changed it to be more like LC in the last year or so. Maybe a little longer.
 


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