450Bushmaster.net

Great job on the comparison, Hoot. I've been trying to get around to comparing mine, just haven't had time to do anything, darn life always getting in the way! From what I have gathered so far, I like the consistency. However, seeing what you have for casehead measurements, I guess there's going to be a little caution needed for the first load up on the brass. Thanks again, Hoot.

Got to shoot the 450 BM Starline brass today. Works great. That is a five shot group at 100 yards. I crimped with a Lee factory crimp die. The pics in the Sheridan gauge were before I got the Lee crimp die. In case folks are wondering how much they shrink, a new one is 1.692" and a once fired one is 1.688".

It's normal for all but the most stout loads to shrink after firing. You get most of that back once you resize them. Glad they worked out for you. Haven't had a chance to get after mine yet. A dangerous liaison with a circular saw put my trigger and middle finger out of commission for some time to come. They're on the mend but the road back will take a while.

Hoot

I just got my new upper built, and had a couple chances to go to the range with it. So I loaded up a few different loads, all using Starline brass. Well after sizing the fired cases, I found that almost all of brass GREW in length. I mainly did load workup for 230gr Sierra FMJ and 225 FTX. For both I used Lilgun, starting at 35gr and working up to 38gr. CHG on the 230gr Sierra and 35gr was .0001-.0002, the rest were between .0003 and .0005". so no pressure issues.

Hoot wrote:It's normal for all but the most stout loads to shrink after firing. You get most of that back once you resize them. Glad they worked out for you. Haven't had a chance to get after mine yet. A dangerous liaison with a circular saw put my trigger and middle finger out of commission for some time to come. They're on the mend but the road back will take a while.

Hoot

Good Lord. All us old timers are unraveling at the seams.

Got a chance the other day to get to the range again. I did a heads up test with Hornady and Starline brass, both new. Found something interesting with my rifle, see if you can pick it out.

Test was 20 rds each using 225FTX and Lilgun. Charges ran 36, 37, 38, and 39grs, at 5rds loaded for each charge. All had O.A.L. between 2.110-2.115", used Rem. 7 1/2 primers, and had a .474 Taper Crimp.

Hornady Results :
Length Change (+,0,-) - 40%, 20%, 40%
Case Head Growth - .0001-.0009", most between .0003-.0006", one at .0001", two at .0009"
Also note that I had a couple cases actually have very slight imprinting!

Starline Results :
Length Change (+,0,-) - 30%, 55%, 15%
Case Head Growth - All except one were between .0003-.0005", the one was at .0006
No imprinting whatsoever, and they actually looked to be sealing better. Hornady cases almost seemed a little blotchy, where as Starline didn't.

From what I can see, Starline is more consistent than Hornady. Also when I looked at the 39gr loads, Hornady had a length change of -.0005-.0015" for all loadings, where as Starline length change was between +.0000-.0025, NO SHRINKAGE! I'm really liking these Starline cases!

So the thing I found interesting with my build (if you haven't figured it out yet), is that I have quite a few cases that grow. Which is quite odd.

Bmt85 wrote:Got a chance the other day to get to the range again. I did a heads up test with Hornady and Starline brass, both new. Found something interesting with my rifle, see if you can pick it out.

Test was 20 rds each using 225FTX and Lilgun. Charges ran 36, 37, 38, and 39grs, at 5rds loaded for each charge. All had O.A.L. between 2.110-2.115", used Rem. 7 1/2 primers, and had a .474 Taper Crimp....snip...

How did they group?

Before you get too happy about your cases growing longer, ask yourself "Where did the additional brass come from?" A: The walls got thinner. Thinning walls is never a good thing. Not trying to be the specter of doom or anything. Just food for thought. Its a damned if they do, damned if they don't relationship. If I had to choose one of the two scenarios, I rather they shortened a little than grew a little. Obviously, choice number 3, "no change" would be preferable.

Thanks for taking the time to contribute to the analysis.

Hoot

I get what your saying, so I will have to keep any eye on it. Still liking the consistancy on the Starline, though. I'll have to see how they do with higher pressures.