What Brass DO You Use With Your Leverguns?

[Savvy Jack]

Well, I am a nutcase so I always try to use Remington brass with my Marlins and Winchester brass with my Winchesters. However, I do have a bunch of Star-Line brass since it is the less expensive brass on the market right now and holding. My first batch of new SL brass I got for $17 per 100 and now it's up to $21 per 100 while RP and Win brass is $35 per 100


Well how about Hornady's advertisement of their 44-40 brass?
http://www.hornady.com/store/44-40-c-1117/

$53 per 100?

[Jeff82]

I use Starline brass with my Marlin. Works fine.

[Jack Stanley]

Color me crazy but I use any brass that is in good condition in mine . I do have a sizer die set specifically for the lever rifle in question though .

Jack

[OverMax]

First pick : Federal
Second pick: Winchester
Third pick: There isn't any.

I never buy (new) brass. Always first fires I look to buy or trade for.

[6pt-sika]

I use mostly Remington brass in the 444 Marlin's . I used mostly Winchester brass in the Marlin 45-70 I just sold and I used mostly Winchester brass in the Marlin 336-44 44 MAG I also just sold .

I do have 50 pieces of Hornady full length 444 brass that I use with one of my rifles . Also have 60 or so pieces of Remington brass I have used in the 45-70 .

[Alan in Vermont]

I only have one levergun, Win. 94 in 30-30, and it eats my hand closes around at the range or which I can buy used & cheap. If I ever get concerned about accuracy experiments I will probably buy 100 new cases and use them strictly for the purpose.

[Mike Brooks]

For 45-70 I use winchester for BP and Remington for smokeless. Winchester has a bit more capacity.

[KirkD]

I need to chamber oversize bullets in my 44-40, so I want the thinnest brass I can get, which is Winchester (I think).

[williamwaco]

I need to chamber oversize bullets in my 44-40, so I want the thinnest brass I can get, which is Winchester (I think).

I have been measuring the wall thickness on a lot of .38 Special cases lately as a separate research project.
I find that Star-Line is both thinner and more uniform than either Winchester, or Remington.

[dragon813gt]

Whatever brand the case is that I pick out of the tub. I've found brands to make no difference.


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[GH1]

I use Rem, Win, Starline, Federal, and probably other brands I can't think of at the moment.
GH1

[TXGunNut]

Depends on the cartridge and sometimes the levergun. 45-70 is partial to Starline over RP and IMHO nobody makes a better .32 Special case than Hornady. In 45 Colt the nod again goes to Starline with RP a close second. 35 Remington seems happiest with Remington brass but my WW brass is getting pretty ancient. 375 Winchester is fed with WW cases, can't recall seeing any other headstamp on that case.

[Freischütz]

In the 35 Win I use redrawn Win 30/40 cases. In the 405 I use BELL.

[rintinglen]

I use whatever.:grin: I have Federal, Winchester, Remington, Starline, PMC, CCI, Sellier & Belliot, and perhaps a few more brands of 30-30 brass mostly range pick ups, My 30-40 gets only Winchester, as does my 32-40, .348 and 38-55, simply because those were the only casings I could find. The browning 32-20 gets Remington, Winchester, or Starline, though my preference has been for the Remington. The 44 Mag has the greatest variety, simply because I have reloaded it the most, I have brass from all of the above, plus a handful of each of Dominion, HSM, UMC, and probably a few more I don't recall. My 250 Savage has mostly winchester brass, but I have also a box or two each of Brass converted from other Brass, Remington 22-250's and Hornady.
For accuracy testing, I use new brass, all of the Same lot, by the same Manufacture. But for stress reduction and Silhouette shooting on the pigs and chickens, I use whatever. I need the practice more than I need that last half inch reduction in group size that carefully selected, painstakingly prepared and uniformed brass can deliver.
But basically, unlike my bolt guns, where I am picky, for my recreational shooting, I use whatever I can scrounge. I get virtually all of my 30-30 brass at the range for the asking from people who don't reload, once fired, still in the factory boxes. Works fine.

[jh45gun]

I use what ever I can find. I have bought new brass but I prefer to find once fired.

[Kraschenbirn]

For my Marlin 1894, whatever happens to be in the 'clean' bin when I'm setting up the Dillon to reload .44s...which is usually a mix of Federal and W-W with a few PMCs for seasoning. I load only W-W cases for my M336 .30-30 'cause (a) I've got a bunch of them and (b) it helps keep my levergun loads separate from the .30-30s I load (in Remington cases) for my Savage 340.

Bill

[1Shirt]

What ever is on hand, with a preferance for Win in 30-30, Rem in 44 and 357 and 444. Fed comes in sceond with 30-30, followed by Rem. I never turn down offered brass at the range, and pick up all reloadable, mostly obvious once fired center fired brass.
1Shirt!

[dg31872]

I guess I'm just cheap. Whatever brass I have at the loading bench. I don't go for the Nth degree of accuracy. I'm happy with minute of hog.

[Doc.Holliday]

I use Remington Winchester and Starline brass. I get more reloads with the Remington. Here it is the most expensive brass.
All my loads are a bit over mid level.

Doc.

[jimkim]

I use what ever I can get my hands on. I do use certain brands with specific loads though. Even if the boolits are the same, I sometimes load them without GC's and to a lower velocity for use on varmints, or small game. Just by looking at the headstamp I can tell what round I'm pulling out of the box.

[ukrifleman]

I use Starline brass with my Marlin. Works fine.
+1 for Starline brass, I use it for my 45 Colt, 44-40 and .357 lever actions, some of my 45 Colt brass must have been re-loaded 25/30 times.
ukrifleman.

[Savvy Jack]

I read a post on a forum by Alpo. I think it was last year dated. If I recall correctly he said he was having problems with HORNADY BRASS splitting down the side of the case.

[Savvy Jack]

here it is:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=108012

[gwpercle]

I go to the free public shooting range before the beginning of deer season and pick up a lot of once fired 30-30 cases. Lots of hunters who use them don't reload them and just leave them lying on the ground. I haven't had to scrounge in the past few years because i have picked up thousands of 30-30's and don't need any more. Helps clean up the range and they are free.

gary

[izzyjoe]

i use pretty much any brass that comes along, either from the range or from where ever. but Rem cases in 30-30, 35 Rem seem to hold up better after many loadings. but i'm not gona spend alot of money on brass for a levergun, just don't see any point in it.

[marlin39a]

Never had to buy any new brass. I sort what I have by make, and go from there. I have no preference on Win, R-P, Fed. All good.

[Kansas Ed]

Federal first, Remington second, Winchester third.

Starline is best tho IMO, and I'm using a little Jamison in the 38-72 and 40-72. The 38-72 really responded to a brass change from Bertram to Jamison...so I'm sold on Jamison for the Odd and Obsolete.

Ed

[bob208]

i use what ever come out of the .50 cal ammo can of empties i was given. also what ever i have laying around or picked up. they all shoot good. the biggest thing i do is deburr the primmer hole.

[MT Gianni]

For handgun and straight rifle cases first pick is Starline, second pick is starline third pick is whatever else.

[kneezer]

First choice is Free. If I have to buy it, it is usually Starline. I have also had really good luck with Lake City, although the plant is run by Federal under contract.

[TheGrimReaper]

I use Starline brass with my Marlin. Works fine.

Same for me too.

[TNsailorman]

A Marlin 336 in 30-30 is a new caliber for me. So far I have gather togather about 200 once fired brass cases, some Federal, some Winchester and a few Remington. Unfortunately Starline does not produce 30-30 brass. I am still in the "trying to find what the rifle likes" phase as far as loads are concerned. That will determine what brand of new brass I buy in the future. So far, the best shooting load has been a combination of a 150gr. Speer RN bullet and RL 15 powder, but I'm really only beginning the testing process. It was interupted when I had to replace the stock because it had a broken stock tab that fits inside the action in the forward part of the tang. This caused the rifle to shoot a "pattern" not a "group". That's part of the fun--finding what the rifle likes. james

[John Boy]

Well, I am a nutcase so I always try to use Remington brass with my Marlins and Winchester brass with my Winchesters.Jack, it's the same with folks like Chevy - Chrysler and Ford. I have yet to see any difference in groups with a specific case brand verses another, smokeless or black powder.
Will say though, for 38-55's only use Starline because they are the only vendor that makes a 2.125 case. Regardless if it's chambered in a lever or single shot

[youngda9]

Yellow brass.

[kingstrider]

I use whatever I can get in a large quantity but I never mix headstamps. So one gun might use Winchester, another Starline, etc.

[Hal]

Sort of agree with most that Starline is first with anything else after that. When i shoot competetion though I go with the same lot or brand.

[avogunner]

I too use whatever is on hand. I've never found any reliability or functionality differences between brands in my rifles. For consistency sake though, I'll use the same brand if working up a load for a specific purpose.

[rjathon]

Is the PRVI Partisan 30-30 brass any good?

[larryp]

In pistol calibers I usually use winchester brass with some starline thrown in.

[SgtDog0311]

I need to chamber oversize bullets in my 44-40, so I want the thinnest brass I can get, which is Winchester (I think).

I made the mistake as a new-to-be reloader of buying Hornady cartridges with the intent of loading and replicating the Hornady LE releases. I say mistake because being a newbee to the Marlins I read about the LE and decided that was the cats-meow. Evolution of a shooter begins though and things change. If I stayed with jacketed I'd have likely been happy. But as will happen the Cast cast it's spell and I found the Hornady was a big investment the way I went about it. Now I prefer starline, especially in the guns that slug larger and require a 'significantly' larger cast bullet, since the starline is thinner. That is most particularly so in my 375. I have not converted over with all calibers and won't go to the expense, waiting till the gun/bullet demands it. I do my best to guard against quick decisions now, made from putting too much into what I read... or being a little more discerning about where I read it.

[Buzzard II]

If I'm buying it STARLINE, if it's free or cheap-anything else! I once got around 500 pcs of old Peters .44-40 once fired brass-pain in the a$$ to seat primers in CLEAN pockets, but it was FREE. Works for me!

[Grapeshot]

I haven't noticed any change in usability in all of the brands of .44-40 I use in CAS. Winchester, Starline, Hornady, BHA, Mag-Tech, Remington, nickled and yellow brass all perform well in my '66 and '73 lever guns.

At any match, you end up with other people's brass as you lose your own.

In my .45-60 WCF, I use Winchester .45-70 trimmed back to .45-60 specs as well as Federal Nickled Cartridges trimmed back. Of the two, I haven't noticed any difference in accuracy out to 100 yards.

[rmb721]

I use Remington brass in my 30-30's and anything in my 357, 44mag and 25-20.

[jlchucker]

i use pretty much any brass that comes along, either from the range or from where ever. but Rem cases in 30-30, 35 Rem seem to hold up better after many loadings. but i'm not gona spend alot of money on brass for a levergun, just don't see any point in it.

My club used to keep the gate open for anyone. As time went by, it became necessary to limit access to members and guests only. In a way I miss the days of a few years ago. Nowadays, members are policing up their brass, and even taking brass out of the brass buckets. Back before they put up the gate, a few weeks before deer season, it was possible to pick up all sorts of new brass, right off the ground. Most 30-30 folks, even now, don't reload. The brass non-members would leave laying around just before deer season was mostly once-fired, and all good. These neat members nowadays don't leave any of that free brass around for the picking. I still can pick up some there, though--and like Marlin39a, I sort by make and go from there.

[40-82 hiker]

I have used RP brass in my '86 Win .40-82 for some time, but recently made new brass from Starline .45-2.6". The brass was thicker than the RP to start with, and after shortening to 2.4", and forming, it was too thick to chamber the .409" bullets. I had to get a Forster inside neck reamer to thin the brass to the RP wall thickness. I do not blame Starline for this. The point I guess I am making is that it was a bit thicker than my old brass to start with. However, I am happy with the brass. Looks like it should last me a long time.

[Chicken Thief]

I use:

30-30 for my 32-40 Winnie 94.

[Reverend Al]

I've loaded for quite a bunch of different calibres in a variety of different guns over the years and i would have to say that as a general result I find Winchester and Federal brass of equal quality and always had good results with both of them. When I've had to buy Remington brass to use in a few proprietary cartridges (.17 Rem for one) I find it a little bit brittle compared to other brands of brass and I've had some neck and shoulder splits ...

[Bob A]

I have 2 Marlin 30-30s with very different chambers. I use Rem brass in one and WW in the other. Keeping headstamps separate isn't too hard it allows me to neck size for both.

Bob A

[Ziptar]

My brass selection criteria:
1) Free
2) Cheap

If I buy new I buy Starline, not only does it satisfy criteria #2 is damn good brass.

[saintdel]

I use whatever comes my way. I do trim to uniform length.

[colt1960]

I always use what ever I can get the best deal on. If its common brass I try toget once fired. Uncommon I try to find whats avaible at the best price. May not be what others do but it works for me.

[7of7]

RPU brass... most of it.. okay, all of it..

[Canuck Bob]

I like to use brass that is consistent. It is not required for my pressure limits and loading style however. It is also easy for me to load ammo far more accurate than my abilities.

444 Remington brass I've had for decades. This stuff is indestructible if I don't step on it!
32-20 Remington because it is longest. Just want the brass to reach as far as possible in long necks with cast.
32 Special CIL for jackets because of a stash of loaded KlingKors I scrounged. And Remington 38-55 for cast as it can be sized to match the OAL caused by the long neck in my rifle.
303 surplus brass from a single lot bought a bunch used. Nice match to my Jungle Carbine minty No.5.

[pipehand]

Prefer Starline in 45 Colt and 45-70. For the 30-30's, well everything I have is miscellaneous range pickups. Picked up 20 new Hornady Leverevolution brass this past weekend. Rarely are there any 45 Colt or 45-70 cases. The people who shoot those tend to reload.

[double8]

New Starline 45-70 brass for me.....full resize the first loading.

[Coffeecup]

Right now, whatever I can find. I've got 1 (one) 300 Savage case, no dies, and no commercial ammo available in that caliber in 50 miles. When I get the components and tooling together, the brass maker will be the least of my concerns. I'll worry about that later, after I've got the new-rifle-excitement out of my system, and even then it will probably whatever I can find a good deal on for a decent quantity.

[40-82 hiker]

I'm using Starline now, as I had a great opportunity to buy once fired Starline .45-2.6" at a great price and used it to make .40-82. Since shooting it at BP pressures (AA5744) I conservatively annealed the casings after forming. Seems to be very good brass, but the rim thickness is less than my old RP brass that was made in the '50s. The resulting headspace in my '86 Win. is a little greater, but it does not seem to make any difference.