When I was seriously looking at reloading, I was shopping for new, unprimed brass - these two brands were at the top of my list. Georgia Arms made it a point in their catalog that they used Starline brass for their factory ammo. I was impressed with Norma because of all the pains they took pre-prepping their brass. Has their quality level remained consistent over the years? I’d like to know what ammo makers use these two brands under sub-contract, but substitute their own head-stamp - I feel like I’m asking for the moon and stars.
I think Norma made brass for Weatherby rifle cartridges.
Here are two pieces of Starline brass that I received in some once fired brass I purchased. No they are not tiny belted magnum cases. They appear to me to have been severely over pressure loads. Enough to expand the case head to look belted. One expanded enough for the primer to fall out and the other didn’t. I’m impressed that the brass was strong enough after that abuse that the extractor didn’t rip the rim off.
Are you asking about precision rifle shooting or durability? Or what cartridge do you intend to reload?
I’m trying to find a maker using this brass for factory loads for the future.
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Well buy Weatherby brand 257 Or 270 Weatherby ammunition And you will have a stockpile of Norma brass before you know it.
$63 per box. Cheaper than I expected it would be! But it boasts in the description that Norma brass is used.
As far as I know Lapua brass has flash holes the are drilled not punched
eliminating the flap or burr on the inside of the flash hole. Read up on flash hole reaming. There’s other tools for prepping brass, it depends how far you want to go.
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I’ve got a friend that will not buy a rifle if Lapua doesn’t make brass for the cartridge it’s chambered in!
We still don’t know what the need for special brass is. Rifle, revolver, self loading handgun? What’s the end goal? Ultimate accuracy or maximum case life…
I’ve shot some excellent groups with mixed brass picked up from the ground at a public range. Special brass may not be the best return on investment is the point I’m trying to make.
Like I said “ how fare do you want to go “ with the rifle, what size groups are you happy with at what distance 
We don’t even know if Kurt is planning to load rifle rounds?
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IMO this my not be over Pressure, it looks like it could be a faulty chamber, to include excessive headspace.
PS: this is one of the reasons not to pick up used brass especially for rifle Cartridges, with exception.
Factory ammo - built with premium components - Nosler falls into this niche, using Norma brass.
If your happy I’m happy for you.
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Start out right to shoot right. Stay in touch.
PS: it’s a blast for me too, thanks.
Look at the primer of the one that still has it it has been flattened the first sign of over pressure
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Could be over pressure, could be some primers are softer than others. Also looks like a primer fell right out, that’s another bad sign. We have no way of knowing, but for sure we agree, not good.
I’ve found 9mm that survived being fired in a 40 before and it didn’t rupture. I’m guessing that the 223 runs around 55 or 60,000 psi all day. For that brass to expand that much I’d bet a tank of gas that it was 80,000 psi or more. There’s the possibility that the previous owner had a bolt in the rifle for a larger case such as a 224 Valkyrie or something, but I don’t think the primer pocket would have expanded.
I suppose I could contact Starline and get their opinion one of these days.
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Primers can fall out from over pressure.
IIRC, Star line brass is what HSM is loading their new pistol ammo with.
IMHO, it’s excellent stuff.
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