New Brass

[John25]

I wanted some new brass, i would have bought Lapua, but, when I was tring to follow my own advice and get ready in the Autumn last year, for this year, all I could get was Winchester. So, two hundred Winchester .284 cases arrived.

As it was, I didn't follow my own advice and thus started this year with the old brass. Necking up my 6.5 cases went well until a few splits appeared. No problem, annealing will sort that.

I sized ten of the new brass, which included opening the necks as they were too tight for my Sierra 1975's.

I made up a dummy round (no primer, powder) to the length indicated on my guage. Painted it with a black marker and tried it in the chamber.

No go, the neck wouldn't chamber. I hadn't measured the chamber but I knew it was going to be tight as Mik had chambered it for me.

So, taking advantage of the foul weather this past two days, I decided to do the necks.

From fifty cases I have shaved over 53 grains of brass.

I had to expand the necks to get them over the 280 mandrill on my rcbs neck trimmer.

I have taken the necks from between ten and fourteen thou thickness (large variations) down to six.

The necks were very inconsistent and some still show a 'thin line' just above the shoulder. One or two still show areas where the cutter has not touched the brass. These will be blow off cases, hopefully, after a couple of firings, the brass will settle andI shall have two hundred 'good' cases.

I can't figure out how to put the the photos I have taken with this Ipad, onto the page. If I ever do figure it out I will.

A dummy round made up from a case neck od of .308 (there's a familiar measurement) and measuring .309.5 with the bullet in, do chamber, so it looks like I'm getting there.

The pile of scrap brass in the scale tray is impressive, perhaps Winchester will buy it from me?

Anyone else experienced such variation?

It has been an interesting and enlightning two days and I haven't finished yet. There is still the trimming to length, they vary from 2.162 to 2.170 in length, and the chamfering to do.

[dromia]

I know the yanks bleat on about the quality of Winchester brass but I have never been a fan of the stuff. The only time I ask for Winchester brass is for the 45-70 for the government load as it is the thinnest so gives me more room for powder and to seat the boolit to the correct depth.

For me Starline has seemed to be the best of the yank stuff and some of the Hornady stuff has been good too along with older Remington. Trouble is that the head stamp is not always an indication of who made the stuff. BTW I wouldn't touch Jamison's if they paid me.

If I need good consistent brass then Lapua is my first choice, its just their list of calibres is very limited. I've found Norma to be good too even if needing to be annealed straight away. I've also had good results from Bertram and Kynoch brass and cherish the NDFS cases I have.

Yank brass however is not my first port of call.

[John25]

Dromia,

I agree and shall be looking to get some lapua in preparation for later.

7mm seems to be as rare as rhs, so I will probably buy 6.5/284 and neck up.

She will say, "Not More reloading stuff?"

Although, I have 200 of the new Winchester and about 300 lapua with between four and six firings each, given that I am not in a hurry to burn out the barrel, they should see me through a couple of seasons.

I aught to get my 'fun guns' out more often.


:cheers:

[dromia]

I aught to get my 'fun guns' out more often.


:cheers:

Are there any other kind?

You need to re-read your own signature there John. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[John25]

You are absolutely right.

I have a 600 target with the Fungunners on Thursday, some 7mm cases to fire form, but I think I shall take my number four for a run.

Or maybe the number five, or the Smelly, I wonder if there is any ammo for my 45/70 in the back of the cupboard?

Have some fun, that's the ticket - if it doesn't rain too much.

[ovenpaa]

Well the sun is out here now that the weekend is over.

[John25]

Here too. Birds tweeting ( must fill up the feeder).

SWIMBO asleep, I have those cases to trim for length.

Never ends does it?

And to think, I only went shooting because my golf match was cancelled..... :lol:

[ovenpaa]

I was sure we had a filter added for the 'G' word, I will speak to Christel about that!

[John25]

Ah! Sorry.

Edit, because my polo match was cancelled! :lol: