Well, in my world of handgunning,, & USPSA competition shooters,, Starline brass is THE most popular & trusted. I use it a lot,, in handgun calibers. I have NOT gotten any reports of case head separation.
And the quote; "when pushed they fail more often than any other brand." WHEN PUSHED,, meaning excessive or high end loads a lot in my way of interpreting that comment.
And; "Ask Ranch Dog, an internet reloading legend-ish."
I've never heard of him. I do not follow internet "celebrities" or such because they do not have the expensive equipment to test the things they do. I prefer to use published reloading manuals,, and staying within the SAMMI specs. To me,, for all I know,,, he's a legend in his own mind or to those who refuse to study real published manuals, for well tested information. The internet is great for a lot of things. But when it comes to my safety & all, I prefer to follow a published & tested data manual. Internet legends do not,, and have no liability.
I CHOOSE to not follow internet stuff like that because of so much BAD or incorrect info out there.
Now,, I'm NOT saying that there have not been case head separations with Starline brass. But I have had brass from all brands over the decades have case heads separate. I have a little box,, with plastic baggies in it. In those baggies,, are memories of failed loads for whatever reason. Most are case head separations. But I also have one,, where a guy put a .270 round in his 30-06 chambered rifle,,,, shot a deer, killed the deer but it locked up his bolt gun. I had to get it open, and I kept the case. I also have a .380 case that was fired in a 9mm. & a few other oddities.
Point being.
I can not testify one way or the other about Starline brass in bottleneck calibers,, because I have a lot less experiences with that. I can say I see a LOT of Starline brass in straight wall cases & have not heard of any problems, or experienced them directly. And I will never trust anybody that has an internet "blog, show, video, or whatever" over published data.
JMHO
