Lake City or Starline

[Mike in Oregon]

What is the better choice for 223 brass? I have heard both are good. I'm at a crossroads with making a decision.

Respects,
Mike

 

[TTE]

I think either would work well.
Unless you are shooting 2's/3's and under, not sure it makes much difference. And if you are, I'd go with a different brass altogether.

IMO ..... your dies are more important than the brass you choose, unless you are a competitor looking for the last bit of accuracy.

I have been pleased with the Starline rifle brass I use

 

[dstoenner]

Starline. I used to use LC for NRA HP and would get 7 or more firings. I got some range pickup of 2020 LC and on resizing the second firing the neck was gone. The button didn’t even touch. The annealing must have been way off.

I bought 500 starline and 460 were within 1 gn of each other. I am on the 4th firing and the necks are tight just like lapua
David

 

[LVLAaron]

Starline measures better than Lapua.

556_Brassh20.xlsx

docs.google.com

 

[JSH]

At this point of having used both virgin, I would t have a problem either way.
Years ago I got once fired, processed range brass 5k for around $50-70.
I worked up a bunch of LC indoor range brass a half dozen years ago. I won’t do it again, seemed like the primer crimp was different than earlier stuff.

 

[topclass2017]

I use both. LC for 20P, Starline for 223AI and AR in 5.56.

 

[STOMP442]

I have been nothing but well pleased with Starline brass in every caliber I have tried it in.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I appreciate the input from all. Now that I have posted and got the feel for which direction to go, I had a gut feeling to go with Starline.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I shoot Starline brass for FTR and L.C. for pdogs. I'm happy with my choices.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I like starline but LC is my go to for 223

 

[RegionRat]

I can say it has been a while since I have seen virgin LC brass offered for sale.
The once fired stuff comes around now and then, but the last administration did everything they could to prevent any LC from being sold to the public.

The other comment worth mentioning, is that Starline comes in two flavors, a 223 version and a 556 version, the difference being the harness gradient of the 556 is meant for AR use. If you study their web site, you will catch the difference, but sometimes the retailers gloss over that detail.

The Starline 556 has been an equal for the old LC for me, so I would say my first choice would be to get virgin Starline since that is possible while I doubt you can find virgin LC.
I would rather have virgin brass than deal with the unknowns of used brass unless I had no other choice. YMMV

ETA: I see where Midway says they have what they are calling virgin Winchester LC brass in bulk for sale.
It was news to me and I don't know anything else about it or know anyone else who has tried this. It may mean the new administration has opened the gate, but I don't really know yet. YMMV

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I can say it has been a while since I have seen virgin LC brass offered for sale.
The once fired stuff comes around now and then, but the last administration did everything they could to prevent any LC from being sold to the public.

The other comment worth mentioning, is that Starline comes in two flavors, a 223 version and a 556 version, the difference being the harness gradient of the 556 is meant for AR use. If you study their web site, you will catch the difference, but sometimes the retailers gloss over that detail.

The Starline 556 has been an equal for the old LC for me, so I would say my first choice would be to get virgin Starline since that is possible while I doubt you can find virgin LC.
I would rather have virgin brass than deal with the unknowns of used brass unless I had no other choice. YMMV

ETA: I see where Midway says they have what they are calling virgin Winchester LC brass in bulk for sale.
It was news to me and I don't know anything else about it or know anyone else who has tried this. It may mean the new administration has opened the gate, but I don't really know yet. YMMV

Copy that! I agree with the virgin brass. I went ahead and ordered directly from Starline 1K pcs of the 223 this morning. By the way, this will be used to make 17 Fireball. Thanks!

 

[JSH]

Copy that! I agree with the virgin brass. I went ahead and ordered directly from Starline 1K pcs of the 223 this morning. By the way, this will be used to make 17 Fireball. Thanks!

Get set to neck turn. Get an arbor so your OD is correct.
I did the same, only I used 222 just so i didn’t have to move so much brass.
Harbor freight mini chop saw and a jig from eBay saves a lot of work.
FYI, my advice, don’t get in a big hurry. Quit when your sick and tired of what stage your in.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

Ive shot starline 223, fully prepped LC 5.56 and lots of RP and Winchester 223. Starline is by far easier to get accurate loads from but the LC will take more abuse. In starlines defense ive not tried their 5.56 brass yet but i hear its base is harder to meet nato pressure and it lasts just as many firings at max charge as LC brass.

 

[spudgun]

Starline brass hands down. Been using Starline on my 6mm CM and 6.5 CM for over 7 years. When the necks starting to split (for me aver about 30 reloads) I then annealed the brass and reload some more.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Get set to neck turn. Get an arbor so your OD is correct.
I did the same, only I used 222 just so i didn’t have to move so much brass.
Harbor freight mini chop saw and a jig from eBay saves a lot of work.
FYI, my advice, don’t get in a big hurry. Quit when your sick and tired of what stage your in.

Starline brass hands down. Been using Starline on my 6mm CM and 6.5 CM for over 7 years. When the necks starting to split (for me aver about 30 reloads) I then annealed the brass and reload some more.

30 reloads?

 

[RED DIRT]

Starline brass hands down. Been using Starline on my 6mm CM and 6.5 CM for over 7 years. When the necks starting to split (for me aver about 30 reloads) I then annealed the brass and reload some more.

Pretty sure you want to anneal them BEFORE they split. Annealing helps keep them from splitting.
And 30 reloads??? I find that hard to believe.

 

[divingin]

Pretty sure you want to anneal them BEFORE they split. Annealing helps keep them from splitting.
And 30 reloads??? I find that hard to believe.

Don't know about 223, but my 6BR brass (Lapua) has made 30 firings on the barrels that lasted that long. Annealed every 3 - 5 firings.