Brass

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

What brass is better in your opinion ?? Confused

Would it be Remington which I'm told has a thicker case wall or something else ??

I'm looking for good function in a semi-auto, longest reloading life possible, and yes cost is a factor Smile

Dimitri

1895ss · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

I use mostly Winchester, Remington or Federal. In no particular order. I don't know about anyone else but I have found that quality between the 3 can sometimes change from caliber to caliber. Then again maybe it's from lot to lot............?

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Howdy Dimitri. I have used rem, win, hornady, bha match, fed and military brass. I don't no that I have noticed a difference in accuracy from one to the other, and all my loading is done for bolt guns so I don't no if one would feed better in a semi or not. When switching brass brands you should always start light with loads because some brands do have a thicker wall especially mil brass. Of the brass I listed the Hornady seems to be the most consistant though.
Joe

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Winchester is probably the best commercial brass...I really have no preference as I get my brass free...So if I only get one loading out of it or as many as 20 loadings I really don't care. I do have a lot of Remington brass and about 10 other brass manufacturers in my (very) large collection of resized/decapped, cleaned and trimmed brass. Preferences? .30-06 Winchester. .30-30 Remington. .45 ACP TZZ. 9mm Winchester. .357 magnum Winchester/Remington. .38 Special Any ol' brass.

Good to see we are back again... Very Happy

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Thanks for the replies Very Happy

Well since they are all "about the same" I'm gonna stick with Remington its the only one I know that Canadian stores carry. Razz

What do you guys think about once fired brass if you clean, and full lenght size it ?? Confused

Glad to be back together Bushmaster as well, Cheers

we are missing 10Ring though for now anyways Very Happy

Dimitri

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Almost all I have is once fired brass. I may have around 500 new brass of various calibres, but the rest that I use is Range pickups that I know are once fired. Once fired brass is like getting new brass that has been proof fired for you...

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Thanks for the reply Bushmaster Very Happy

Well a store that sells reloading supplies sells 8mm once fired for 10$ per 50 sorted by headstamp be it Remington, Federal or Winchester. Very Happy

And since not too many people own semi-auto 8mm Mausers I'm going to assume that it was fed through bolt actions meaning it wasnt as banged up Smile

Prof firing is good. Dont want weak brass breaking up and hurting me because it couldnt take alittle pressure Very Happy

Dimitri

Vince · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Dimitri wrote:

What do you guys think about once fired brass if you clean, and full lenght size it ?? Confused

Dimitri

Nothing wrong with once fired brass Dimitri. I have .357 MAG nickel plated Federal brass that I "harvested" at the range once fired 25 years ago and it is still usable, but it has only been used for very mild target loads (2.8gns of Bullseye with a 124gn 9mm Conical bullet).

As for brand preference, I used Winchester mostly because it is good quality and I can get it over here in bulk lots cheaply (100 cases for $AUD18). Apart from that PMC gets a good usage from a lot here as does ex military brass.

Take heed of what Bushy says....military brass is thicker in the wall than commercial brass. This won't affect the chambering, but can increase pressures. Make sure you research your load data carefully and start your loads at least 10% lower and work up slowly looking for pressure signs. Also, maximum loads aren't always the most accurate. Keep good records of the grouping capability of each load, you will most likely be surprised at the results. Very Happy

Are you in a shooting club Dimitri? I have been a member of shooting clubs of once sort or another since 1977 and I have learnt so much about reloading and shooting from these clubs....and the target shooting is grea fun and a real challenge. A good place to hone your shooting skills.

Cheers, Vince

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Vince,

Thanks for the reply Smile

And no I'm not a member yet in a shooting club. Tiring to figure out where there is one close by though Very Happy

Dimitri

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Vince...I've weighed military brass and civilian brass and they seem to weigh the same give or take a few grains...Maybe in years past they were different, but I doubt that they are now..

Vince · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:36 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

Bushy, suppose I should have made mention that the only military brass I have contact with out here is the aussie stuff, and it is definitely thicker than civilian brass.
The main one I have used is .223 (5.56mm) brass. The current military rifle we have over here is an aussie model of the Steyr AUG, we call it the F88 AUSTEYR. I reload .223 for a hunting partner who has a Howa and we "get" mil brass fairly easily. The aussie mil rounds are different to the M193 Ball. They used to be the SS109, but now we are producing them here at ADI. Can't say I have measured the US M193 cases so maybe there is no difference there from the commercial brass.

Time for a scotch I think.

Cheers, Vince

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

I'm on it...Scotch it is.... Cheers

Jack · Member Joined: Oct 19, 2005 Posts: 98

I use Winchester brass whenever possible.
Norma and Lapua make nice brass, but big $
Mil surp brass may, or may not be heavier than commercial stuff. For example, 30-06 brass... standard mil surp stuff is heavier than commercial, IME. By 20-30 grains, which is significant.
However, LC (Lake City Arsenal) Match brass weighs the same as Winchester brass, at least in the batches I have.

515034s10ring · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Brass

If i get new brass it's now only Winchester or Starline....However, the bulk of my once fired is a mix of what ever i find and pick up at the range Very Happy

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

Most of my shooting today is from a bench, and I prefer Lapua and Norma.
Both are excellent and Lapua is nowhere near as expensive as Norma. US made brass seems to be going downhill. I notice both Hornady and Nosler have come out with a better quality brass in recent months that cures a lot of the ills we've been finding in some of the others. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal