Best Brass for Consistency?

Your preferred Brass

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AZ_M&P

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Just wondering what everyone thinks is the top brass for consistency and accuracy. I buy Starline, but after sorting all of my .40 S&W I find the greatest quantities of Winchester, Federal, Speer, and CBC.

Thoughts on how you might rank them?
 
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You forgot Remington. I like Starline best, but Federal, Remington, and Winchester make good brass too. I have not really had issues with any of the big name brands.

Mike
 
Out of the tens of thousands of brass I've shot from the factory and reloaded both Starline and Federal have been the most consistent and durable. The only brand of Brass that's been of any trouble for me has been Winchester! Winchester has been the only brass that has failed straight from the box of loaded factory rounds... mostly in 9mm, 38 Super, and .357 Mag. They failed mostly by split cases straight out of the factory box and after one or two reloadings. I'm not speaking of full house reloads either... just normal plinking rounds. I believe that the Winchester brass is thinner at the case mouth than most other brands of brass I've used. I haven't use any CBC brass so I can't speak of them.
 
In a blind test study I doubt many people could tell the difference if there is any. Out tof all the variables in reloading and shooting I doubt the "brand" of brass matters.

For bench rest rifle guys I suppose battles have been fought and blood shed of the issue.;)
 
Only brass that gave me any issues was CBC. Many splits.
 
I would have said Starline, except the last batch of long 38-55 brass had a few undersized primer pockets.
 
Rule3 said:
In a blind test study I doubt many people could tell the difference if there is any. Out tof all the variables in reloading and shooting I doubt the "brand" of brass matters.

For bench rest rifle guys I suppose battles have been fought and blood shed of the issue.;)
Click to expand...
It can matter quite a bit to the reloader. Soft brass stretches more with full power loads, you start losing primer pockets early. Hard brittle brass will lse neck tension sooner than later. Thin brass, thick brass, It can matter.
 
fredj338 said:
It can matter quite a bit to the reloader. Soft brass stretches more with full power loads, you start losing primer pockets early. Hard brittle brass will lse neck tension sooner than later. Thin brass, thick brass, It can matter.
Click to expand...

Perhaps but the OP asked for "consistency and accuracy"

Show some documented statistical valid test that proves one brass is more "accurate" than another in a handgun??.
 
Rule3 said:
Perhaps but the OP asked for "consistency and accuracy"

Show some documented statistical valid test that proves one brass is more "accurate" than another in a handgun??.
Click to expand...

Not trying to start an argument, I'm just mulling over whether it's worthwhile to separate brass by manufacturer for the purposes of increased accuracy and consistency (verifiable or otherwise). I'd wager there's a number of guys who believe that going to such lengths helps but didn't take the time to have a lab certify their shooting. ;)

I'd like to start match shooting and I haven't decided if separating by manufacturer will make a difference. Or maybe I'm such a lousy shot that it won't really matter... :o
 
I don't normally sort my handgun brass. But Federal & Winchester are my favorite. Remington and Ameri quite often hit the round file at the end of the loading bench.
 
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It doesn't happen often, but faulty brass will occasionally slip out of a factory, regardless of the manufacturer. Some criticism is justified. Other times, the condition of a firearm, the competence of a handloader, or miscellaneous aspects that affect the normal durability and life of the brass come into play, something a manufacturer should not be held accountable for.

In fifty years of handloading, I've found all brass from the big makers to generally be of good quality and durable with the exception of nickel-plated handgun brass. For some reason, it just doesn't seem to last as long, though not by a great margin.
 
AZ_M&P said:
Not trying to start an argument, I'm just mulling over whether it's worthwhile to separate brass by manufacturer for the purposes of increased accuracy and consistency (verifiable or otherwise). I'd wager there's a number of guys who believe that going to such lengths helps but didn't take the time to have a lab certify their shooting. ;)

I'd like to start match shooting and I haven't decided if separating by manufacturer will make a difference. Or maybe I'm such a lousy shot that it won't really matter... :o
Click to expand...

No argument on my part, we can disagree and not argue. I shoot a lot and have been using the same 9mm mixed brass for I can not say how many reloads, I have yet to split one.

I have tried using all same headstamp , even trimmed :eek: Weighed every powder drop. Used Win, CCI, Wolf primers, Chrongraphed them etc etc. I makes not difference with my shooting ability (or lack of):)

People have preferences just like all the powders, presses primers whatever. If it's not Blue or Starline then you may as well go home.:D(JOKE) I use whatever. All the brass works well enough for me,

Do folks know that Starline makes brass for other big name companies in some of their handgun calibers, only the headstamp is different?
 
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My go to brand....

If I buy new brass, the first thing on my mind is 'Starline'. However, if you read some recent threads on the subject, some of us are having problems with the most recent batches of their brass.

My particular complaints were that they were VERY hard to size and I lubricated all of my .357 cases just to get the job done. That batch also had extremely tight primer pockets and I put a big callous on my hand with my Lee Auto Prime.

I didn't like this, but hard .357 brass is better than no .357 brass.:o
 
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So far I like Winchester and Blazer the best. Though it could be that those are what I've bought new and shot on my land and picked up so none have been glocked or anything.
PMC is the worst, some the primers seat easier than others, some resize easy, some really hard, very inconsistent feel between each.
 
"I'm just mulling over whether it's worthwhile to separate brass by manufacturer"

It is worthwhile to me.
The case capacity will be different from brand to brand and I have
measured different results from say Midway and Starline nickel 44 cases.
The Midway brass has less capacity and thus takes one less grain of powder to achieve desired results (18 gr 2400, 260 gr WFNGC, CCI 300).
Oddly Starline nickel takes one more grain (19) where you would think the plating would make it less roomy.

===
Nemo
 
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