What's the "Norma" of Handgun Brass?

L

LBussy

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What is the handgun equivalent of Norma brass? Like, the best out there. What does one get for the price premium?

Just curious really. I've been using Starline with excellent results. I can't imagine that there would be a huge difference in handgun brass ... but that's why I ask. :rolleyes:
 
I've used Starline and found nothing better. But like you said, how much difference can there be in cases limited by the gun to such a short range. I've never tried long range accuracy with a handgun, so I may be missing something.
 
Lapua makes (or used to make) pistol brass...

Though why you would want to pay double for a tiny bit more quality over Starline in a pistol cartridge escapes me.
 
I have Norma handgun brass in both .357 and .44 magnum. Good stuff and I only use it for hunting loads.

I have a couple of hundred each that have never been out of the box and they probably never will be as long as I live.
 
I shoot either Winchester or Remington. I have never had a problem with either. I don't understand changing from Starline if it's been good to you?
 
Thanks for your thoughts and comments Gents.

It was more a curiosity thing than anything else. Starline is basically right down the road from me and the quality is great. I was just wondering if there was an equivalent in the handgun realm; and if so, what it was.
 
Ill pretty much echo everyone else, starline is tops, winchester a close second. S&B being near the bottom for me, namely due to my experiences with it in 44 mag.
 
I guess for revolver brass Starline is fine. I’m just not a brass snob. If it’s semi auto and can be found on the ground that’s good enough for me.
 
"...for the price premium..." The name on the head. Norma stuff(and Lapua) is expensive because it come from Europe, not because it's any better.
Starline is like Norma in that they make odd stuff and not just the common cartridges. .41 and .44 Colt for instance. And all the weird 9mm types.
 
LBussy wrote:
What is the handgun equivalent of Norma brass?
Click to expand...

Are you asking who makes cartridge cases using brass whose trace element composition renders it unusually susceptible to corrosion when stored under hot conditions? I hope the answer is nobody. And I hope Norma isn't doing it any more. My experience with Norma brass in the pistol calibers has been uniformly dismal.

I would echo the others in saying that Starline is making the best cases available. Other makers may make cases in particular calibers that are very good, but Starline maintains their quality across their entire line.
 
Along with Starline my other first choice is Federal since it is heavier than most resulting in improved bullet tension. Remingtons are also usually good in bullet tension.
 
I have some CBC Brass.....for my 44 mag. Have no idea who makes it. It's on the 5th reload and I think I like it better than my federal?
 
I shoot any brass I can get my hands on for handgun ammo. Though I try to stay away from FC brass in 10MM. On medium type loads 180gr at 900 to 1k fps the in 10MM the FC brass splits down the side on the 3rd loading.

Other than that I shoot what I have.
 
Gary Wells said:
http://www.bullseyeforum.net/t8726-fired-bullseye-brass
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An interesting read. I'd love to see the distribution of those weights rather than just a total variance though. If I loaded for bulls-eye shooting, I would cull my brass first anyway regardless the source. That post doesn't really tell me whether I'd have to cull out one or 100 pieces out of 1000.

Buying Fed GM match would be an expensive way to build up a stockpile of reloading brass. I guess I did ask for a "Norma" equivalent though. :)
 
Federal, brass, Gold medal match, once fired, cleaned & de-primed, ready for loading:
Box # 1, 08-08-15: page 9


Total Dispersion: (82.5-83.5)

081.9: (2) XX
082.0: (2) XX
082.2: (1) X
082.4: (1) X
082.5: (1) X--------------------------------------------
082.6: (4) XXXX
082.7: (7) XXXXXXX
082.8: (3) XXX
082.9: (7) XXXXXXX
083.0: (9) XXXXXXXXX
083.1: (5) XXXXX
083.2: (5) XXXXX
083.3: (4) XXXX
083.4: (4) XXXX
083.5: (1) X--------------------------------------------
083.6: (1) X
083.7: (1) X
083.8: (1) X
083.9: (3) XXX
084.0: (1) X
084.1: (2) XX
084.2: (3) XXX
084.3: (1) X
084.4: (4) X
 
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Originally Posted by Mississippi
I have some CBC Brass.....for my 44 mag. Have no idea who makes it.
Click to expand...

Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos of Estado de Sâo Paulo, Brazil. It is hit or miss with the CBC brass. Some of it is good and some not so good. In the 9mm the CBC is a bit softer than other brands. It will load 4 or 5 times until the primer pockets are too loose to work safely. It one of the headstamps I will cull out and throw in the recycle bin.
 
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