Used Cases - What are they worth

[Steve E]

As Rox said, just reload them and carry on, doesn't matter wether they are RWS, MEN or PPU, you will end up with better ammunition than when it was new.

[Rooster]

It all depends upon the make of brass - the HPS Target Master ammo I bought last year while temporarily unable to reload, was loaded in PPU cases which IMO are of relatively little value, while Lapua/RWS brass has quite a high value, it's all relative.

Thus 500x once fired PPU .308 cases have a value of around £20-25 whilst the same number of Lapua/RWS cases ought to fetch £150-225 or even more, e.g. I believe the NRA sell RWS once fired cases at 30p/each, thus 500 RWS cases cost £150 @ Bisley, once fired Lapua cases are not cheap.

Looking at the HPS Web site they say "Premium grade New Boxer Case all new PPU brass case"

[Steve E]

There is nothing wrong with PPU brass. Those that say there is are misinformed.

[DW58]

I agree, nothing wrong with PPU brass, it's simply not of a quality and consistency with Lapua - simples.

It all depends what you want out of it.

[Blu]

I agree, nothing wrong with PPU brass, it's simply not of a quality and consistency with Lapua - simples.

I'm not so sure about that, I reckon the Lapua cases are a little over rated these days. I use both Lapua and PPU case in my 6.5 Swede, both have the same number of firings and both still producing accurate results as well as both still going strong. On the other hand I have used Lapua and Hornady cases in my 6.5 Grendal and the Hornady cases have lasted longer and given better results than the Lapua.

I'm not saying Lapua brass is bad, far from it in fact, just saying that these days I think it's a little over rated and costly for what folks think it is.

[DW58]

I agree, nothing wrong with PPU brass, it's simply not of a quality and consistency with Lapua - simples.

I'm not so sure about that, I reckon the Lapua cases are a little over rated these days. I use both Lapua and PPU case in my 6.5 Swede, both have the same number of firings and both still producing accurate results as well as both still going strong. On the other hand I have used Lapua and Hornady cases in my 6.5 Grendal and the Hornady cases have lasted longer and given better results than the Lapua.

I'm not saying Lapua brass is bad, far from it in fact, just saying that these days I think it's a little over rated and costly for what folks think it is.

Chacun à son goût as the Froggies say

Ask yourself this - why do so many shooter use Lapua brass?

[Blu]

Chacun à son goût as the Froggies say

Ask yourself this - why do so many shooter use Lapua brass?

Dude, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Lapua brass, what I'm saying is that from experience the PPU brass I'm using has preformed just as well as the Lapua brass I use and lasted just as long. Yet in another rifle didn't last as long as so called inferior brass. Make of that what you will but I don't believe Lapua brass is the be all and end all of brass.

As you say, "each to their own"

[Maggot]

I saw it said a while ago thet there was lapua brass and lapua brass. The meaning being that the more specialist stuff was likely to be better due to the lesser production numbers and the expectations or the users and applications.

I was also told recently to be careful neck trimming PPU if I indexed off the flash hole rather than the case head as the person saying this had measured significant differences in the thickness of the case head.

That said, I was trimming some 303 PPU cases the other day and some were that short and uneven they were scrapped immediately. Never seen that before, probably a friday afternoon batch.

I also notice that some of the flash holes are hideous, but when it comes down to it, by and large, the brass is OK and does what I need of it, it probably just needs closer scrutiny in future.