Just obtained a unicorn. Smith & Wesson Model 52-2, New-in-box, NEVER FIRED!

First topic message reminder :

Time to start shopping. Grips, dot, dot mount, dies, bullets, brass...

mspingeld wrote:I have read that thread but:

1. Starline was the only brass I could find.
2. Your post said the minimum plug depth was .625" and the maximum wall thickness was .009". The chart further down shows Starline as .632" and .0098", OK on the depth and only 8 thousandths too thick!
3. Starline was the only brass I could find.

For the time being, I'm only planning to shoot at 25 yards so, hopefully the results will be satisfactory. Now, if you want to give up 1000 of those Winchester cases you found, we've got a whole new story . Otherwise...Starline was the only brass I could find!

I am curious to see how the star line brass works. I too am loading the zero bullet. My bullets measure .617 in length.

The mount I went with.. 

Mod, S&W-52-RR from BME 

Foundryratjim wrote:

mspingeld wrote:I have read that thread but:

1. Starline was the only brass I could find.
2. Your post said the minimum plug depth was .625" and the maximum wall thickness was .009". The chart further down shows Starline as .632" and .0098", OK on the depth and only 8 thousandths too thick!
3. Starline was the only brass I could find.

For the time being, I'm only planning to shoot at 25 yards so, hopefully the results will be satisfactory. Now, if you want to give up 1000 of those Winchester cases you found, we've got a whole new story . Otherwise...Starline was the only brass I could find!

I am curious to see how the star line brass works. I too am loading the zero bullet. My bullets measure .617 in length.

Zero loads 148hbwc in starline brass. Definitely will work well enough for at least starting point.  I have seen several 95-97 longline scores with the zero factory loaded hbwc in starline brass.

mspingeld wrote:I have read that thread but:

1. Starline was the only brass I could find.
2. Your post said the minimum plug depth was .625" and the maximum wall thickness was .009". The chart further down shows Starline as .632" and .0098", OK on the depth and only 8 thousandths too thick!
3. Starline was the only brass I could find.

For the time being, I'm only planning to shoot at 25 yards so, hopefully the results will be satisfactory. Now, if you want to give up 1000 of those Winchester cases you found, we've got a whole new story . Otherwise...Starline was the only brass I could find!

Absolutely NOTHING wrong with Starline brass.  The measurements in my chart are from new production purchased in 2019.  It’s as good as any. And .0098 was the average of 5 cases.  There were 5 cases measured 4 were .010 one at .009.  For my chart 5 cases of each make and type were measured.   As for the criteria espoused by others, all I can say is good luck searching for unicorns.  Sure you might find some old ammunition, but make sure it’s original factory loading.  Fired brass of that same vintage has likely been fired many times with all of those problems.  We live in 2022 and today I’d buy Federal, Blazer, Starline and Winchester “Standard” 38 special brass, go on with life and not search for unicorns.

Did I mention Starline was the only brass I could find?    I'll report back if there's a bulge or not and 25 bench rested accuracy.