Lapua vs starline

[Iveexcaped3]

Is the additional $50 worth it to buy the Lapua brass. Mostly reloading for hunting but want to give myself the best opportunity to use the same brass. If I get an extra 2-3 reloads out of lapua the value makes sense. What say you?

[jrebel]

What caliber?  What ranges you looking at shooting? 

Starline makes great brass.  If you not shooting 1000 yards and pushing your brass to the max, starline would be my choice.

[Iveexcaped3]

What caliber?  What ranges you looking at shooting? 

Starline makes great brass.  If you not shooting 1000 yards and pushing your brass to the max, starline would be my choice.

6.5CM, unethical shots at 1000 imo. 500yds max.

[bobcat]

Lapua makes the best brass, but it's up to you if you want to spend the money on it. I do feel quality brass is a good investment. Although I have never bought Lapua brass myself. But I think it would be a good idea to start out with the best.

[jrebel]

Starline will be just fine to 500 yards.  I load starling large primer 6.5 and easily get 6-7 (or more) loads per piece of brass.  I shoot 124 grain hammer hunters at 2850 fps.  I anneal every loading and the brass does great. 

Again, starline is great brass.   

I shoot my 6.5 to 800....an it is far from unethical.  It bangs steel just like any other caliber and the steel never takes a step.   

[Iveexcaped3]

Lapua makes the best brass, but it's up to you if you want to spend the money on it. I do feel quality brass is a good investment. Although I have never bought Lapua brass myself. But I think it would be a good idea to start out with the best.

And that’s just it. I don’t mind spending the money on quality as long as the additional cost equals in value. The other aspect is the primer situation. Availability of small rifle vs large can make a difference on the brass select as well. There’s no point in buying starline large rifle if I can’t find primers for it. It’s $70 dead weight.


Is there another mid to top tear brass company that I should look out for?

[h20hunter]

I like nosler and starline.

[jrebel]

Peterson and ADG make comparable brass to Lapua in my opinion. 

next step down would be

Nosler, Starline, Hornady.

Next step down would be

remington, winchester, federal



Most hunters won't see or laod for a significant difference between the top to steps in my humble opinion. 

[bobcat]

I really like the Nosler 270 Win. brass I've been using. But other than that I use Winchester and Remington, just because I'm cheap and it's what I've always used. But again, if I were just starting out, I think Lapua brass would be a great investment.

[Karl Blanchard]

Lapua and Peterson are in a league of their own. If neither of those manufacturers don't make a caliber I pick a different caliber 

[hogslayer]

Agree with Karl,  But I will throw ADG, and Alpha.  Lapua has always been the bench mark for brass.  It depends on what kind of accuracy you are after.  The amount of reloads depend on how hot you run them.  If you can't shoot small groups, or don't have the reloading experience/time to dial the rifle in, you won't know the difference. 

My brother in law is a brass rat.  Picks up anything on the ground to reload at the range.  Me, I won't even mix lots of Lapua for the same caliber.  It really depends on what you are expecting the rifle to shoot accuracy wise. 

[dmoua]

Been very happy with Alpha OCD brass in my 6.5CM. Couldn’t find LRP 6.5 Lapua brass anywhere so I bought Alpha to try out and it’s been great.

[hunter399]

Agree with Karl,  But I will throw ADG, and Alpha.  Lapua has always been the bench mark for brass.  It depends on what kind of accuracy you are after.  The amount of reloads depend on how hot you run them.  If you can't shoot small groups, or don't have the reloading experience/time to dial the rifle in, you won't know the difference. 

My brother in law is a brass rat.  Picks up anything on the ground to reload at the range.  Me, I won't even mix lots of Lapua for the same caliber.  It really depends on what you are expecting the rifle to shoot accuracy wise.

Thats me ,I'll pick up any useable brass off the ground.
With that said ,if I'm looking for a little better accurate load,
Sometimes I'll separate by headstamp.
Totally agree the amount of reloads has everything to due with how HOT your loads are.
I've burned brass with two reloads,primer pocket won't even hold the primer. Pressure and the amount of powder your putting in those cases will tell ya how many reloads.
That's the number one reason I throw away brass is blown out primer pocket.
Some of my brass is pretty old,I'll get 5-10 reloads ,no problem. When I need more brass ,normally I would just buy some factory ammo and blast it up on steel target.
Most brass now is the cost as factory ammo or more.

[hunter399]

I have used starline brass.
Never used lapua.

I got maybe 8-10 reloads on some of it.
With primer pockets just now starting to go.
With a max charge right out the reloading book.
In 308 caliber.

[jasnt]

Lapua, adg or Peterson. I don’t care how long it lasts. I care about Consistency peace to peace