From experiance on my own behalf and from my friends, Winchester brass is very good, consistent and long lasting. I will not buy Remington brass because I have had problems with it in the past, things such as cases that are not the same hardness and so on. If I cannot buy Winchester brass for a rifle, I will buy Norma cases. On the other hand, if I just want to shoot for the hell of it I don't really care what kind of brass it is. For serious load development and hunting it is Winchester or Norma for me. I'm sure that all the other premium brass outfits make damn good cases but these are the only ones I have experiance with.

cheap works for me.....

I find myself using R-P brass more and more. For decades I was a died in the wool Federal fan, but their newer stuff is dismal. I have used W-W brass and am happy with it except for a batch in the early eighties that was like spring steel. Size it and it would grow back to its original oversized state, so I started using R-P brass and have been happy with it too.

Far as '06 brass goes, brass is brass is brass.

BUT: far as my exp with .222mag Rem brass. I bought a new Sako in Germany, CO and I fired about 100rnds of .223 military thru it for the hell of it. Then shipped the gun home.

When I got home, bought 100 rnds of Rem 55gr. Went shooting, zeroed it in. Got less than a dime sized groups. Shot the rest at p/dogs. Reloaded and shot many more.

Those first 100 cases outlived the barrel on that gun!! Some over 60 reloads, over 6000 shots thru the gun. At that end, there were still 95 good cases left. Two split necks, one was lost, another one or two were mashed in the press. AND I never did anneal them either.

ANd you say Rem brass is no good?? You can't be serious pal.

During the last few months and thousand or so shots. I did buy another 100 Rem cases and loaded them up, never fired those. And, fireformed a few over 300 more .223s for it so I wasn't constantly fighting lack of brass/ammo.

Not too long after I got better situated the barrel went to hell and wouldn't hold 6" groups no matter what. Noticed it when I started missing p'dogs for no reason. Some at 75yds with witness's.

Floated the barrel and helped cut it down to 3", never did get much better than that. Wasn't long til it got worse again. Just had a new blank ordered and rebarreled it. While at it, put a new scope and restocked it too. Wasn't much left besides the action.

At that time due to the fact I could gather up all the .223 brass I desired for picking it up. Had it chambered for that. Been happy about that.

I have enough opinions that sooner or later I p'o most others. IF this is your turn, don't let it bother you, just consider the source, ok?

BUT: unless a person is shooting bench rest I flat don't see any reason at all to be particular about what brand of brass you use. It's all good, treat it right, size it, clean it, trim it, take care of doing things right and everytime you pick one up for any reason. INSPECT IT!

You shouldn't have any problems. Unless, you just happen to get a bad few, or batch.

Parts man I've dealt with claims:
"just because it's new, don't mean it's good".

Wish you well,

George

Hello,
Shot a lot of '06 over the years in matches in both M1Garands and bolt guns and I have a pretty good stash of Lake City National Match 06 brass and don't think you could ever wear it out in a bolt gun. Primer pockets still tight after some dozen or so loadings, stout ones, and have never found that with commercial brass. ( With Garands, would not suggest you try more than 3-4 loadings with the same brass, no matter who makes it for you will end up with ruptured brass in the chamber. )
Federal is rarely seen on the firing line due to very soft primer pockets. Two or three and they are done even in a bolt gun. Don't think Federal really wanted you to reload and have been told, no longer offering components other than primers???? Have used Win. and Rem. as well and they are fine from my experience, but like the durability and quality of the LC NM brass.

I had gas leaking from the primer pockets on .375 H&H federal brass after three reloads. Primers seemed to go in loose with my hand priming tool. I switched to Remington and everything seems fine.

I've found that the best .06 brass is the Lapua stuff. Very good uniform and strong brass.