Lee Loader

I need to pick up some more 38-55 brass and I can get either Starline @ $46/100 or Winchester @ $41/50. Two different sources which could account for some of the premium, but not all of it. Back when I had to make 40-65 brass I tried to use Winchester cases as much as possible and never had any complaints. I guess I have to question the premium price so just wondering about other folks experience maybe comparing SL and WW brass in the same caliber.

Make smoke,

I use it mostly for pistols . I like it where I can use it in rifles but honestly most of the rifle brass except the 30-30 is 20+ yr old some of the 06' , 270 and 25-06 is much older than that . The Starline I have used has been long lived also . I haven't had occasion to form any of it or run it hard .

The Winchester I have over 25 cycles on 45 Colts loaded to mild +P levels for a BlackHawk and Rossi M92' . I get 10+ in rifle brass . 9mm , 40 , 45 ACP I'm still looking for the fail point .

I think all of the brass these days comes at a premium . Some time back I needed some 264 WM best buy on it was over $75/50 , kind of stupid since it's a straight neck down from $40/50 7mm RM ........
I've always thought it odd that brass that needs fewer steps or the same steps being more expensive . Run 100,000 30-30 change the headstamp and the neck size run 10,000 each 7-30 , 32 WS , 38-55/375 ....... I wish they'd run basic for reloaders with no or just a prime ID headstamp .

I'm a Win guy over the Starline. I do use the Long SL 38-55 brass with my 375 Win, that is the remaining cartridge that I use SL with. I do have to chuck it after the third shot as the necks split.

I buy almost all my brass from Grafs because of the fixed shipping and typically the best prices I've found. Over my lifetime, they have saved me a fortune. Standard length SL is 50¢/case, Long SL and Win is 60¢/case.

Grafs 38-55 Win Brass

The Win brass I use for fireforming, holds up quite well.

.348 Win brass, fireformed to 11.15 x 58R



I also convert Win 7,62 X 54 to 8 X 50R, and 8 x 56R without an issue yet

My choice for brass has come down to PPU, WIN, and then HDY. I have a large batch of Remington brass for my 444 Marlin. I bought 1K cases when JM shut off the production of rifles in that cartridge. With my pistols, everything is MagTech. 10 years ago, when I had my mold business, I contacted MagTech directly and bought enough 25, 32, 380 and 45 Auto, and 9mm Luger to last me a lifetime. The one exception is the 9mm Makarov. All I could find was Starline, PPU offers it, but not here in the US. So, I did the next best thing; I bought a thousand rounds of ammunition for 25¢ a round vs. the Starline brass at 16¢. 9¢ a round more for loaded ammunition, heck yeah, plus I've found the PPU to be better brass.