Getting ready to start reloading for my 8x57 and wanted to get opinions on the best brass - especially for high pressure loads.

I looked at Norma, they were quite expensive versus Hornady, Winchester, and Remington.

Question:
Recommended 8x57 Brass

Choices:
Norma
Hornady
Remington
Winchester
Hornady/Remington/Winchester - all about equal

 

For many years Norma's brass was considerably softer in the head than American brass and allowed expanded primer pockets at otherwise nominal pressures. Whether this remains the case I wouldn't know since the price of Norma brass deters me from trying any simply for curiosity's sake.

Up until I came across an offer of a nice batch of once-fired Federal 8x57 brass, all of my 8x57 brass was headstamped "R-P .30-06 Spfld". 8x57 is no different from any other brass with the standard .470 rimless head. Any of the commonly available brands of brass will do just fine. The primary difference between the run-of-the mill American brands and something truly premium like Lapua is the initial consistency in neck diameter and length. Once the Remchester stuff is run through a neck sizer and trimmed to a uniform length it does 99.9% of what the Lapua will do (regardless of the horror stories about the dreaded "flashhole burrs".)

Thanks!

As usual Stonecreek has it right.
the first cartridge for which I loaded (1957) was the 8 X 57 and shot in my G-43 .
I only had 19 commercial cases and made many out of 06 military brass.
These were cut to length,FL sized, and given a final length trim , than ID and OD chamfered. I didn't have any Idea of neck turning at the time and was lucky I guess that they didn't need it.
This is all well and good ,but totally adequate 8 X 57 brass can be had from S&B, RP, and PRVI just to mention a few.
If you are looking to use these for hunting Norma or Lapua are an expense not needed. roger

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
For many years Norma's brass was considerably softer in the head than American brass and allowed expanded primer pockets at otherwise nominal pressures. Whether this remains the case I wouldn't know since the price of Norma brass deters me from trying any simply for curiosity's sake.)

I have no idea if Norma's advertising is truthful or not, but Norma (or Midsouth) now says the Norma brass is harder in the head and body areas and the neck and shoulder areas are annealed. I don't remember the exact wording but it supposeedly now has a much longer reloading life cycle.
I bought 50 pieces for my new project so I will soon find out.

I really can't make a comparison as I've only used RP. And it's worked fine so I went no further. IMO, you're overthinking things or maybe addressing a problem that doesn't exist.

I have used all types of brass, but over the last ten years I shifted my buying practices (NOT because I have any money to speak of).

I use RWS, Norma and Lapua brass whenever possible; because it is such a good value. Even with moderately strong loads these brands last for a long time, IF you resize minimally and anneal every two to four loading cycles (annealing frequency is dictated by too many factors to list them all here - basically the hotter the load, the more often I anneal it.)

I feel that cartridges are like camera film used to be; the cheapest parts of the hunt/vacation.

With a tight chamber and a well matched sizer die, I have gotten 15 - 20 safe reloads per case with the three brands listed above. These three brands are all owned by the same conglomerate. Each has made runs of brass for the others. In particular, Norma has made many cases for Lapua, and all cases for Weatherby.

I particularly like Normas 416 Rigby, 416 Remington Magnum and 458 Winchester Magnum. Lapua is my go to brand for high pressure competition loads, and RWS also just lasts and lasts.

I am OCD type with primer flash holes and primer pockets. I check them all, but hardly ever have to work on that area with those brands.

There are quite a few cartridges that are loaded very lightly by our ammunition manufacturers out of respect for the existence of some old rifles. The empty cases in those calibers tend to be almost fragile. The better European cases are all made strong enough to handle 60,000 to 65,000 psi, depending on caliber. That way you can take a modern rifle (or a re-carburized Mauser 98 that is in spec for size and roundness) with a modern barrel and load your 8 x 57, 6.5 x 55, etc. up to accepted safe pressures for the 30-06, .270 Winchester, and so on. The results will bring a big smile to your face. Out

Thanks. I plan to keep it in the 50-52K PSI range. It's on a real nice 1916 action.

Now, I do want to build an 8x57 on a Howa or Remington action with 25" barrel and really "boost" it!

I suspect the best value for the money these days is Prvi Partisan. It too is excellent quality European-made brass (from Serbia), made for use world wide including where loaders stuff their hulls to European 8x57 pressures.

I have been using it since the late 1980s in half a dozen or more chamberings and for me it has worked every bit as well as Norma and Lapua but at a fraction of their cost.