I just recieved an e-mail back from starline in reference to my earlier inquiry about an extra long 357 case, to give contender wildcatters a domestic and alternative option for brass.

The upside is they say they can make it. The downside is the minimum order is 100,000 cases, and an estimate of $.25 a case. I think the price is quite reasonable, but I don't see there being enough interest to go forward with a run. Even if the run was sold in cases of 1000, there'd have to be 100 paying customers to make it happen.

I did inquire back about whether they could drop ship in 1000 ct cases.

Paul
While i'm interested in that as a project for a 6.5, I very rarely buy large quantities of brass that large(1000 pieces). I don't think you'd find enough takers to make it worth while. I guess it couldn't hurt to ask & see if it was a possibility or not among the guys here & at other forums as well. I'd hate to see anyone getting stuck with a huge bill.
Rich Jake

Well, it appears it is doable and possible. The only way I see it happening is a vendor ordering that quantity, then advertising it all around for takers at a marked up price I'm sure.

100 buyers would still have to lay out $250/1000 cases which may be a tall order for most people to buy that many. Most rifle type cases are bought by the hundred.

It's a good price per case though as you say.

I'm interested in the brass and thanks for your persuing this.

We'll see what develops. I'm going to hit a few contacts.

Regards

I'd be out $25,000 to make the run, something I'm certainly not willing to do! If it were a run of 10,000 cases, I'd be willing to pony up $2500, but not 10 times that much.

I agree that most folks won't want 1000 cases. I was thinking more in terms of 10,000 cases, with 100 case boxes.

LOL!

I hear that Jules has a printing press so it still may be possible

Yeah that's a killer quantity. So close yet not there on the cases.

Too bad Starline won't retail a load out of their own shop on the website but I can understand them not wanting to risk getting stuck with them.

I know there is quite a few guys out there though with Martini actions and such looking for a "basic" type case to work with.

Maybe an e-mail campaign to Starline by a number of people could help them guage interest in the cases. If it were enough people they just might retail it out of there plant directly like their other brass. Wishful thinking I guess.

I bet there would be as much or more demand for this case than some of the other caliber cases they list and sell through their site.

My guess is they have to special order equipment and or buttons to make the run.

Regards

Quite frankly, I think you have a better possibilty of success moving these 2" cases than you did with the run of specialty .35 cal. Remington bullets.

Over the years there have been a lot of folks asking about an extra long .357 Maximum. That is one application.

A rim counterbore added to any of the TCU chambers permits making rimmed TCU rounds. It is a quick, simple conversion, and no alteration of the chamber or change in dies is necessary.

Note that I am not even talking about my rounds based on 5.6x50 R brass, which have been hamstrung for lack of affordable, quality brass.

When I talked to Barb Holden at Starline about 10 years ago, the quantity required was much higher. So the numbers they are giving you now are much more within reach.

While it would take some forming to make cases for .223 Rem., .222 Rem., & .222 Rem. Mag, it is not all that difficult and opens another huge segment of the market for rimmed versions of these rounds.

The big question is whether they can maintain the degree of quality necessary for precision shooting. Making handgun brass is one thing, but quality rifle brass is another matter. I do not know what their capabilities are in this regard.

I would say that if you can move the quantity of 150 gr. .35 cal. bullets you did, moving 100,000 pieces of rimmed 2" long brass the same head diameter as .223 Rem. will be a piece of cake.

I don't happen to have the coins laying around or I would jump on it like stink on a manure pile.

Even if in smallish quantities the price was $50/C, it would go away faster than you think.

For it to fly, though, the brass would have to have a good anneal at the mouth and be of good uniform quality. If it didn't, word would get out pretty quickly and squelch the project.

Another point..... while chambering barrels is beyond many folks who have lathes, lathe boring a rim counterbore is a piece of cake and does not require reamers. Anyone with a lathe that can set up a barrel in it can be cutting rim counterbores to use this brass.

It would work!

I for one would help you move the brass either by direct sales or by referrals. 100,000 pieces of brass is not that much.... sounds like it, but it really isn't!

Hold their feet to the fire about how it would compare to good rifle brass. That is the key!

Mike