Having sold my lightweight hunting rifle, I decided a couple of weeks ago to start reloading for an old Ruger M77 RL 270. I bought dies and brass.

I was not happy with the consistency of the Winchester brass I bought. I sort brass by neck thickness and reject anything more than 0.0015" variation when measured on 3 - 4 places on a single neck.

At least I used to. On this latest batch, had I done that, I would have rejected 19 of the 50 cases! Opening the criterion to 0.025" still gave me more to work with, but I still rejected 8 cases.

The theory here is that large case neck variation indicates the bullet can't be seated straight. Turning necks won't help other flaws that's indicated by this measurement.

Granted, I haven't reloaded for 270 for many years, but this is pretty awful quality control. I may vote with my wallet and return the second package of 50 to Midway and get some Nosler brass. It's ~$35 for 50, but I wouldn't have to reject so many cases.

Has anybody else worked with Nosler brass?

Jaywalker

I haven't worked with any Nosler brass, but my last two experiences with Winchester brass have been deplorable!

I have just seperated out about 1/3 of the last bunch of fired W-W brass do to neck splits. Many of them were split in 2 places and a couple were split in 3 places.
Now to let ya all know, these rounds have only been shot 5 or 6 times. When I got them, by the way they are .338WM, I FL sized them then neck sized from there on out. I have also had to set a bunch from this batch aside to anneal the necks because they have already became work hardened.
I am not happy with these at all!! I am going to stick with R-P to work up a load then maybe try some Noslers or Norma once I get close.

P.S. Had some bad luck with W-W in .243 also a few years back.

Smedley

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:

Has anybody else worked with Nosler brass?

Jaywalker

You know Nosler brass is made by Winchester right? That's what I heard from the little fly on the wall out west.

Just buy some Lapua 30.06 and neck it down. Probably never have to trim it.

After you reload long enough and for enough different calibers you will run into bad lots of nearly all brands of brass. Norma and Lapua are considered by many (including me, in general) to be premo brass, though I've had bad lots of each. I've had some poor WW brass (284, IIRC) and had some great WW brass; same with Rem, Fed, Starline, Graf, etc.

The only brass that I trule have never had problem one with is RWS, though I only use it in a handful of calibers.

The only brass I've had consistent trouble with is Sellier and Bellot. If someone offered some to me even for free, I would consider it a personal insult. I've heard equally bad things about Hirtenberger brass..

Just my 2 cents...

The worst lot of brass I ever bought was some Norma .243 bought in about 1972. The neck was knife edge thin on one side and thick on the other.

I'd considered necking down Lapua 30-06 brass, but would prefer not to. My reloading room is confused enough without headstamps that don't relate to the caliber. If I have to, I will, but Nosler may prevent my having to do that.

No,

What about Norma brass? Are they a subsidiary of Lapua (or vice-versa)? They offer 270 win and I think I remember hearing good things about them.

friar

Last batch of Winchester brass in 7mm-08 left me less than satisfied also, I ended up discarding nearly 25%.

Bought some Lapua in .308 headstamp, resized, inside/outside turned necks and fired away. I have not had to throw a single piece away. Group shrunk also. A pain in the ass? Yup, but it works.

friar, Norma's certainly a possibility. I'd have to buy twice as many to try them out...

Jaywalker