The typical reply to this question is all over the place and often the folks favoring Lapua are loudest. But the ones favoring the least costly brass usually make the most cents!!!!!
I've used Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Norma and Federal and with no discernable differences.
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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
It is amazing how many arguements can get started about brands of brass, but when you ask why someone uses a certian type no one answers! I use Remington a lot simply because I started using Remington Factory rounds in Remington rifles and just kept on. I understand , but don't know for sure that Winchester is a bit thinner and may work a bit easier. I use Norma for my 7.7 Jap because they are about the only ones to make it. I can't see buying some double price cases. Go domestic if possible. We have enough communist influnence in America already. Case in point: Why buy a bunch of cases from some communist for $45.00 when I can shoot .250 -.375 groups with $15.00 Domestic cases.
Posts: 671 | Location: none | Registered: 14 February 2005
i have used them all. i have shot submoa 5 shot group using 3 different headstamped brass, maybe i was lucky that day. imo headstamp is not as important as case prep and load prep.
my favorite is the one that is shooting the best that day. for my traget gun it is lapua because before i proved it to my self i bought some, so i use it. i won't buy lapua again unless it is a bargin price.
if you want to be overwhelmed with reading material about this subject do a search on the subject. just on this forum you will be reading for days.
jme
arky65
people that trade freedom for security become slaves
Posts: 245 | Location: arkansas/louisiana | Registered: 31 March 2004
In order of preferance Winchester Pmc hornady Remington Norma
If it cant be Grown it has to be Mined! Devoted member of Newmont mining company Underground Mine rescue team. Carlin East,Deep Star ,Leeville,Deep Post ,Chukar and now Exodus Where next? Pete Bajo to train newbies on long hole stoping and proper blasting techniques. Back to Exodus mine again learning teaching and operating autonomous loaders in the underground. Bringing everyday life to most individuals 8' at a time!
I nearly always use Winchester brass and have never had a problem. I don't think it matters much until you're trying to shoot 3" groups at 500 yards. Then I'm sure alot of factors come into play that the rest of us don't even have to think about.
I like Federal brass, with Remington and Winchester following close behind. The primer pockets in Federals seem to be more uniform and they seem to seat with the same amount of presure, using my Lee auto Prime. I like Federals because all they do is load Ammo, no guns, Knive, belt buckles etc, etc.!!!
The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
Posts: 347 | Location: Ogden, Utah (Home of John M. Browning) | Registered: 08 September 2002
But not all brass for those companies. And other companies makes brass for Norma. Just have a look in their new reloading manual! Example: They refer to two different cases for loading the .300 win Mag. One thin and one thick. RWS made the thick ones for Norma.
Other companies that Norma makes brass for is: Weatherby, Horneber, GECO and some more.
Norma also loaded ammunition for Kynoch, Parker Hale among others
Posts: 1134 | Location: Sweden | Registered: 28 December 2003
We have enough communist influnence in America already.
You do huh?? If you would care to elaborate I think it would provide us europeans with some wonderfull insight....
I have used almost all kinds of brass, and have to say that regarding accuracy and number of reloads I can hardly detect any difference, but the lapua cases I use for my 6,5x55 are exeptionaly uniform in weight and hardness, i get almost zero headspace variation after resizing and the neck thickness is also very uniform.
I think that uniform headspace/resizing is important for the longevity of the cases, the functionality of my reloads and also for accuracy. I can get this from buying a lot of cases from the same lot and keep shooting this lot until they are ready for the bin, then buy another batch, instead of having 50 win. cases, 50 rem. cases etc. The brand matters less.
I have used Hornady cases for my 7RM, anyone have experience with these? They appear to be the best US cases in my experience.
I like the new Hornady Brass. I use it in my 7 RM and it is great stuff but expensive.I use Lapua for my 338-06. I use these because I don't have the time or don't wish to waste it on case prep. I wish one of these companys would make some 6 mm Rem.
Posts: 1111 | Location: Edmond,OK | Registered: 14 March 2001
RWS brass if nothing else is thick. It is the only brass that comes ready chamfered on the case neck that I have seen
The new Nosler brass is chamfered. Also, flash hole is drilled not punched. I bought some 223 rem and 22-250 seconds from shooters proshop. I usually buy Lapua 223 rem but nobody on the net seemed to have any; everyone had it on backorder. The only thing I can say so far about the Nosler brass is it is of uniform weight. Haven't shot any yet.
Posts: 4799 | Location: Lehigh county, PA | Registered: 17 October 2002
Buy only one kind of brass (of course), I prefer Winchester Western myself. When you are setting up, set for neck size only. This should give longevity and accuracy.
We have enough communist influnence in America already. Case in point: Why buy a bunch of cases from some communist for $45.00 when I can shoot .250 -.375 groups with $15.00 Domestic cases.
Which of them there Commie Pinko countries are makin' good brass, anyway?
Did you mean Socialists? Geaux Tigers!
The two most abundant elements in the universe are Hydrogen and Stupidity
Posts: 648 | Location: Huskerville | Registered: 22 December 2001
I have no doubt that RWS is the worlds best brass...BUT I mostly use WW, Lapua, Norma, Rem., Federal, and whatever...
Really good stuff is the IMI Isreal milsurp brass but it only comes in 223 and 308, I use it exclusively in .223 to expand to .243 for my 6x45 Sako Custom....
I especially like Lapua, and IMI, as the necks and shoulder come to you annealed...
Originally posted by Magnum61: I'm getting low on brass for my .300 wm and I'm thinking of trying another brand.
What is your favorite brand of brass and why?
I also have used multiple brand names but for me and ONLY using it for hunting applications, I have not been able to justify the cost of brass that costs more than good ol Winchester. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe I'm not quite as anal about my groups but the fact is, you will see folks shooting factory ammo from their rifle and some will group just as good or better than your handloads. So, for me, I don't bother with the expensive stuff.
I'll take my .3 or .4 groups of 3-4 shot strings at 100 yards any day of the week. Even 3/4" groups that are consistant satisfy my standard for 300 yard shooting. Looking around my house at all the animals that have fallen from my rifles, I don't think I could have hit them any better with higher priced, more uniform brass as part of my reloading components. Some of the best shots I've seen in the field (Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas mainly), have been hunters using factory rifles with factory ammo...dropping their game from 11 yards to better than 400. That sure is hard to argue don't you think?
And FWIW, I have about 200 virgin 300 WM brass I'll never use. Want it?
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
Winchester gets the nod for 75% of my handloads. I use Lapua for 6.5x55 and Lake City for my M1A 7.62 Nato (308 Win). If Lapua was far less pricey and available in all the cartridges I load for, I would use Lapua exclusively.
BH1
There are no flies on 6.5s!
Posts: 707 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: 23 December 2001
I only wish that Lapua made brass for all the calibers I reload for. I simply prefer it to all other brands. US made brass has the primer flash holes punched out instead of drilled out, and it leaves projections on the inside of the case. Having to do case prep on US brass drives me to distraction. Additionally if you weigh and measure Lapua brass you'll be surprised at how uniform it is. Pretty much the same applies to Norma. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.
I've said this before, but I drive an older beater truck and wear my clothes until they are pretty thin. On the other hand I pop for Lapua brass without a second thought. Set your priorities in life and act accordingly.
lawndart
Posts: 7158 | Location: Snake River | Registered: 02 February 2004
BELL brass for the .416 Rem. Mag., but other than that I use Winchester brass across the board. It works extremely well, and I can buy it in bulk at a very favorable price. I can't come up with a reason not to keep on using it......
Originally posted by allen day: but other than that I use Winchester brass across the board. It works extremely well, and I can buy it in bulk at a very favorable price. I can't come up with a reason not to keep on using it......
AD
Man, I'm glad you said that. I thought I was the only WW fan. Don't get me wrong, I like Lapua and RWS just fine. I just don't need it.
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns
Some years ago when I was tinkering with accurate loads, (development if you prefer), I hit upon a load in a 270 with Remington brass, the same load with Winchester cases was not as accurate. The gun dealer I bought things from at that time was a Winchester case man but he conceeded that in my 270 the Remington case was more accurate. Been buying Remingtons ever since.
Posts: 1374 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 10 February 2005
Sorry oldun, but I will go with Doc on this one. Remington is softer than WW. I will spend the extra powder to keep using their brass. On the odd time when needed.
9.3. That's fine, you go with WW. It was the main argument that my gun dealer had that WW were tougher cases The little extra cost was worth it to me when it meant knowing that my rifle shot straighter. At the time I was representing my country, at university level, in the small bore rifle team and accuracy was my aim (pun intended). The desire to shoot the smallest possible groups has been one of my targets ever since. You know I realy like this reloaders page it's both informative and fun
Posts: 1374 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 10 February 2005
Talking about good brass. Looking for some 30/06 cases to reform for my 7.7 Jap , I looked in one of my boxes where I keep a lot of odds and ends and found a big hand full of Lake City 30/06 once shot cases. These were left overs from my 30/06 days a few years ago. Also in the bag were several Federal, Winchester and Remington cases although much newer. All the newer cases had at least a little darking on them but all the Lake city was still holding their bronze color. No where on them could I see any darking or discoloring. I checked the dates and all were made in 1967. I decapped them, reamed out the primer crimp and ran them through the 7.7 die. they came out perfect. Man this was when they made brass! 1967 and look like new.
Posts: 671 | Location: none | Registered: 14 February 2005