Page 1 of 3

Makes of brass

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:16 am
by @nd
Can anyone please explain to me what the differences are in the makes of brass cartridge and how must influence they have on the ultimate accuracy of a shot.
A lot of people i have spoken to say that Lapua brass is the best to use when reloading, there is obviously a reason for this but what is it.
Andrew

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:21 am
by Chapuis
Consistency of internal volume/ case thickness and annealing.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:41 am
by Maggot
Chapuis wrote:Consistency of internal volume/ case thickness and annealing.
Yep, consistency is important for the precision reloader, but it also shows in the performance of factory ammo, particularly after long periods of storage.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:54 pm
by Dombo63
I have used Prvi brass and Lapua for my 308. Prvi was once fired from my rifle and so only neck-sized, the Lapua was once fired in a mate's rifle and so FL sized. With 155 gn SMKs and N140 the Lapua were more accurate AND more consistent. Same with 303, the HXP brass I use makes for more accurate rounds. Also seems to be slightly heavier than Prvi brass

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 12:08 pm
by Sim G
If it increases confidence in your loads/set up that can lead to improved results down range. In my 7mm RPA I only have two types of brass, PPU and Remington. With exactly the same load, I see no difference at all.

Years ago someone told me that all cartridge brass, except Lapua, Norma and Hornady are all made by one company, Starline. Don't know the validity of that, but during the doling out of the thirty pieces of silver for my handguns, the compensation for surrendered brass went from 5 to 10 pounds per 100 because of this, allegedly.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 2:13 pm
by HALODIN
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.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 6:41 pm
by ovenpaa
I do like Federal however it never seems to last as long as Lapua. Norma can be quite good as well.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 6:46 pm
by Swamp Donkey
Lapua lasts.

I'll get 9+ reloads from Lapua brass, ppu started getting split necks on the third loading.

Lapua is also a lot more consistent.

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 6:58 pm
by Blu
With the exception of my 6.5 Grendel, 270 WSM and .308 I use PPU brass exclusively i my rifles and don't have any problems. Some of the PPU brass is on it's 10th reload and still looking fine. My .308 brass is all Federal but that's only because I get it for free. How hot are you lads loading your PPU brass?

Re: Makes of brass

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 7:12 pm
by Swamp Donkey
102gr of us869. Below max by 3gr.