Concerning resizing Starline brass

[Fanner50]

Does new, unfired from the factory .45 Colt Starline brass need to be resized before loading, or can it be loaded straight out of the package? It slides in and out of my Dillon case gauge perfectly without being resized, so I'm not sure. I'm talking about running it through the decaping/sizer die before loading. It would sure save a lot if I didn't need to resize first. Thanks all for your answers.

 

[Cholo]

No, but I do anyway--just because.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

If you check them with a case gauge that is the same thing.

(ETA - I should listen and learn before I say stuff like that.
I do believe in sizing and trimming and chamfer and deburing them the first time, then you don't have to worry about them for a while unless you are shooting very powerful loads.)

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

The case gauge tells you if a loaded round is within maximum tolerance or not. It will not tell you if you will get enough tension on the bullet when loaded. I would measure a couple before and after full length resizing to see if there is any change in size.
Lots of guys load them without sizing. I always full length resize and check trim length (trim if needed) my new brass.

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

My experience has been that it is worth while to run new brass through the sizing die to insure a proper grip on the bullet.

 

[phonejack]

It doesn't what caliber, I resize all new brass before loading the first time. I deburr the necks also.

 

[pruger45]

I've never resized a brand new case and I've been handloading for 48 years! It's an excersize in futility!

 

[jsh]

I am also one of the folks that FL sizes all my new brass. If you already ran it through one of those case blocks, I guess it would be ok. I never saw a need for one myself, all my wheel guns came with one, 5-8 holers. When I was shooting autos, it was slow going but used the barrel from said gun.

Try your method for an FA and you may expand your vocabulary some. I know of an instance a buddy loaded up a pile of ammo for his 44 FA. Fit in the block fine,stuck out of his cylinder a fair bit.

 

[Ka6otm]

Another vote for resizing new brass.

 

[NikA]

FWIW, .45LC is one of the cases that Starline specifically lists on its site as possibly needing to be resized when new (it's in the FAQ). I vaguely remember when I was shopping for that brass something about annealing for BP and bullet size, so it may be that they size .45LC brass for the maximum possible dimensions (.454" bullets, for instance) and recommend resizing if you want something tighter.

Either way, I like to run my new pistol brass through the sizer and expander before I load it. It basically has the same effect as deburring with more uniformity and less effort.

 

[Fanner50]

Thanks everyone for your answers. I really appreciate them. I will be resizing. Just another step in the process. This is the place to come for answers. Thanks!

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

According to Starline's website, their pistol brass is ready to flare and load right out of the box.

Yet that's the same brand which convinced me prepping handgun brass just like rifle brass--size, trim, debur and chamfer-- before loading the first time, is NOT an exercise in futility. FOR ME, that is: consistency's a big part of the game in prep if you want consistency on target, if only for the psychological value. As with so many things related to reloading, many paths will get us to the same destination.

A buddy just got a Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Spl and about died seeing the cost of factory ammo. So Starline was courteous enough to send a box of .44 Spl brass to the door a few weeks ago, and I plan to do some measuring and side by side testing to see how well their claim holds up. In that little stubby 2 1/2" barrel, I expect to see little difference, but the 7 1/2" Redhawk I shoot may be different. They make a bunch of the stuff, so I'm sure they've done their homework.

Rick C

 

[Mus408]

I only size the brass to the bullet seating depth.
New brass chambers fine in all my .45's and no need to shrink it down any smaller at least when using the Dillon sizing dies which are on the small size like .471

 

[daveg.inkc]

I use Starline and Remington. New. Flare mouth, deburr and load. I have done it both ways, but never had a problem using new brass with out size. Why size? It has not been fired. Deburr, flare mouth. Load and shoot.

 

[Rclark]

Most all I use is Starline anymore. No matter. Deburr and full length resize all new brass. That way I 'know' it will consistent from the get-go.

 

[daveg.inkc]

I bought 600 rds. Starline brass for my .41 Rem Mag. I deburred, flared , loaded for my .41 BH and no problems. Cast bullets and Sierra's, Hornady. I can tell no difference

 

[Rick Courtright]

Why size? It has not been fired. Deburr, flare mouth. Load and shoot.

Hi,

Depending on brand, caliber and lot, I've found sizing to be worthwhile (for me!) because some brass will change length with sizing more than others. So I size and trim to have a consistent starting point... Again, there are plenty of cat skins out there, and each arrived a different way!

Rick C

 

[mikld]

Well, it looks like a personal choice issue. I like to have a "known good" starting point, so I size all my brass, new and used, before I load. Maybe I'll never see an out of tolerance, case, but I know, for sure what I'm reloading (cases are mass produced on machines by the millions and there is a possibility of an occasional bad one slipping through). I never am in a hurry with any reloading steps, so it is not a "waste of time", as I like reloading... :wink:

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

Well, it looks like a personal choice issue. I like to have a "known good" starting point, so I size all my brass, new and used, before I load. Maybe I'll never see an out of tolerance, case, but I know, for sure what I'm reloading (cases are mass produced on machines by the millions and there is a possibility of an occasional bad one slipping through). I never am in a hurry with any reloading steps, so it is not a "waste of time", as I like reloading... :wink:

There ya go . ^^^ + 1 .

 

[barrycarraway]

I re-size.
Barry

 

[cleardatum]

i'm always way more satisfied with resizing brass even if new. neck tension is better, mainly. i always size new brass.

 

[wizofwas]

Well, it looks like a personal choice issue. I like to have a "known good" starting point, so I size all my brass, new and used, before I load. Maybe I'll never see an out of tolerance, case, but I know, for sure what I'm reloading (cases are mass produced on machines by the millions and there is a possibility of an occasional bad one slipping through). I never am in a hurry with any reloading steps, so it is not a "waste of time", as I like reloading... :wink:

There ya go . ^^^ + 1 .

I'll second this one.

 

[Poco Oso]

Well, it looks like a personal choice issue. I like to have a "known good" starting point, so I size all my brass, new and used, before I load. Maybe I'll never see an out of tolerance, case, but I know, for sure what I'm reloading (cases are mass produced on machines by the millions and there is a possibility of an occasional bad one slipping through). I never am in a hurry with any reloading steps, so it is not a "waste of time", as I like reloading... :wink:

There ya go . ^^^ + 1 .

I'll second this one.

I'm in this camp too. I'm after consistent accuracy. The little bit of time it takes to prep new brass is nothing to me. Reloading is like therapy.