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Federal gold medal brass

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13 March 2003, 06:43
sr25
Federal gold medal brass
Alright who's got it? Cannot find any! [Frown]
13 March 2003, 07:15
JustC
cabela's shooting catalog. I know they are often high, but if you have to have it, and can't find it anywhere else, then check em out.
13 March 2003, 07:32
sr25
not at:
cabellas
midway
natches
midsouth
widners
graff
sinclair
lock stock&barrel
????????????????????????? [Frown]
13 March 2003, 08:19
BECoole
Just curious, that stuff has a bad reputation. Why do you want it?
13 March 2003, 09:08
<green 788>
Get Lapua, it isn't much more than the Federal...

Federal is supposedly not offering Gold Medal match brass for sale as a seperate component any longer.

No great loss, though, as it is relatively soft and only good for two to three loadings--as a rule. The primer pockets open up too fast. Some lots weren't bad, but why take chances when Lapua isn't much more?

Or go with Winchester cases and match prep them...

Dan
13 March 2003, 10:54
R-WEST
Dan - Contrarily, I've always had good luck with the Fed. GMM brass. Some of my 223 and 308 stuff is on its 5th loading with no problems. I've also used it with complete satisfaction in 7-08 and 30-06. Must be all them hot loads you're using that's opening the primer pockets [Big Grin] [Big Grin]

I concur with you that Lapua is top of the line, so, I'd just get that and be done with it.

R-WEST

[ 03-13-2003, 01:56: Message edited by: R-WEST ]
13 March 2003, 11:06
sr25
well my mag likes it no problems. at .39 each compared to .89 each ouch!!!!! [Frown]
13 March 2003, 12:36
Hot Core
Hey sr25, About a year ago, there was a notice on one of the Seller Sites that Federal was not going to offer their cases at the component level any longer.

They had a huge SALE and I got quite a few. Like R West, Fed cases have always worked well for me too. One of the things I really like about Fed, is the weight consistency within a lot. Amazingly close which speaks well for their attention to detail during their Manufacturing process.

If you want them, you either have to buy Factory Ammo, or "Once-Fired". A buddy and I got a bunch of Once-Fired Feds from www.brassmanbrass.com and it came out real well.

My buddy got 200 - 338WinMags and had 8-12 other(Win, Rem, etc.) in his Lot. I got 1000 - 223Rem cases and culled down to (I think) 946 or so Feds that look great.

I've never had any trouble with Fed case life either, but then, I just use SAFE MAX Loads not Idiot Level Loads.

[ 03-13-2003, 03:39: Message edited by: Hot Core ]
13 March 2003, 15:29
BECoole
sr,
See if you can get some Winchester brass. Or some surplus. The CMP, www.odcmp.com has Lake City brass on sale. Between Winchester & LC you don't get any better unless you get European.
14 March 2003, 05:11
sr25
[Big Grin] I FOUND SOME!!!!!!! [Big Grin]
14 March 2003, 17:38
<green 788>
sr25,

If you're getting old stock you may be alright. Word is that one reason that Federal is no longer selling their brass as individual component stuff is that case life is very short on most of the recent brass. There have been a few members at www.snipershide.com who have had poor results with recent Federal brass... Post a question there regarding it and you'll see what I mean.

If you get an earlier lot, it is as good as most brass you can buy. If you have some of the more recent stuff, you may notice primer pocket widening after two or three loadings--with standard pressure loads. (The primers will go into the cases too easily).

I should have stayed with the thread here, but I ended up being away from the computer all day yesterday and today as well. Best of luck--let's hope the lot you get is the good stuff...

Dan

[ 03-14-2003, 08:41: Message edited by: green 788 ]
14 March 2003, 17:58
shootaway
I've gotten around 40 reloadings out of my Winchester cases useing 42g of Vitha.540 and 168g bullets.I've been reloading for two years and I am happy that I can go so long with cases.I threw them away when the primer pockets needed cutting with every fireing to fit the primers.Next time around I'll try the Lapua cases and see what their all about.