Makes of brass

[Sim G]

I never load to to the max and my PPU brass I've found lasts really well. Some of the 7mm-08 have had over half a dozen loadings and honestly, some of the .223 must be well into double figures!

I once got .223 Federal for free, thankfully, as I found it didn't take long for the primer pockets to go very slack whilst the remainder of the case appeared more than serviceable.

[Blu]

Swamp Donkey, not that hot a load then. A couple of my loads are quite hot and still the brass is looking pretty good, don't know what to tell you.

[Blu]

Sim G, Yeah a lot of my .223 is on it's umpteenth loads as well and still going strong. The .308 Federal brass has the primer pocket thing going on as well but for me it's no big deal as I usually get around 300 once fired cases for free every month.

[Chapuis]

Years ago someone told me that all cartridge brass, except Lapua, Norma and Hornady are all made by one company, Starline. .

I think you may have been slightly misinformed there Sim G.
This is a picture of some of the companies that Norma make cases for http://www.weatherbyrifler.com/Download ... rmaOEM.gif

I was once told that Starline cases are actually made by Remington Peters but I don't know how true that information is. I have also been informed that Lapua and Prvi Partizan obtain their raw materials (brass) from the same source, my informant was quite knowledgeable on this and I have every reason to believe him.

[Chapuis]

Just looked up the Starline website and it looks like the information I was told about Starline case having any connection with Remington is totally wrong. They are not connected in any way as far as I can see. There is a video on the site that gives details of the history of the company.

[Maggot]

My experience when comparing brass is only in .308 and is only between Federal and Lapua. I found the Federal brass fire formed to such a point, that accuracy dramatically improved on subsequent reloads. Whilst just neck sizing, the group size nearly halved. The Lapua brass didn't seem to change the group size whether it was fire formed or not, however the Federal brass produced significantly better groups. I'm not sure why that's the case, but based on my tests I prefer Federal over Lapua in my M14 in .308.

Thats interesting, I have found the same (ish).

I have used lapua for a while and it shoots really well in my M67 Kongsberg, then I tied some fed once fired.

Awfull.

I decided that as the case capacity was slightly greater in a fired case I would lump the load up a tad (in 10th increments) and it came in at a mere 45.6 instead of 45.5.....which is handy as I have loads to the stuff once fired from work

Stue Doyle also suggested that once fire formed they may do better which could also be the case, I will find out on the next firing, but what you say seems to back this.

My M67 has quite a generous throat (you wont find the landes and have to seat deep rather than long) so case necks do get stretched. GGG factory can split first firing.

Lapua (even neck turned brass from when I was using normal brass in my Dolphin) seems to go on and on with only the primer pockets giving the game away.

You can easilly get 10+ decent firings, I took one lot of Plama brass (it was being hammered in an FTR rifle) to 15, won a club comp with it then scrapped it as it was showing incipient sep signs.

Economical then if you dont mind paying the initial price. A decent handload will come in much cheaper than factory ammo of the same (match) standard, and will be correct for the rifle.

When I go down the AR route I may well not worry too much as I dont think the inherent accuracy is likely to offset my ability in any way, and I will as likely lose quite a few with CSR anyway.

[HALODIN]

You can tell the Federal brass is very soft, but I can't imagine the Lapua brass is so hard it takes that much longer to fire form, but I guess this must be true. I think when people say Lapua brass is really good, I think they're describing value for money (more reloads per case) and perhaps consistency between reloads, but at least in my experience it didn't produce the best results.

Once I get through the current batch of Lapua .260 rem, I'll see if I can find some Federal...

[bradaz11]

I will as likely lose quite a few with CSR anyway.

are you not allowed to use a brass catcher?

[Maggot]

I will as likely lose quite a few with CSR anyway.

are you not allowed to use a brass catcher?

Dunno, I was just going to chain the safety guy to my wrist...... :lol:

[tinhat3]

just a note.
I've just started reloading
The first set of brass I bought was from a reputable RFD, but manufactured in the Eastern block somewhere.
One case the rim was too big to fit in the shell holder
One case a primer would not fit in the primer hole
Generally the cases vary in weight by up to 6 grains.
Another batch this time of remmington, bought from Hannams, case weight well within 1 grain
all primers fitted easily
all cases correct size to fit holders and rifle.
I have used production Lapua stock loads and then reloaded these cases with no discernable change in accuracy.
I think you get what you pay for.