Hello all,

I was looking at some 7x57 brass and could buy 100 7x57's for $111 from MidwayUSA. Is it worth the extra cost? What are the advantages?


ddj

I use Norma and Lapua brass a lot, and have no complaints. I don't have the tools to actually measure the difference in it compared to Rem and Win brass, but it does seem more consistant, and lasts. With Norma and Lapua the weight of each piece has less variation than other brass. I have read the reviews, and those who do have tools to measure runout, etc, say it's better brass. I doubt that I'll ever be able to tell the difference at the range. I think you would have to be shooting a highly accurate rifle, under benchrest conditions to realize an accuracy difference comparing Norma to other brass, but I believe the difference is there, whether utilized or not.

Brass is a small cost in the overall picture anyway, even at a dollar each. A box of 100 will last a long time.

KB

I use Norma and Lapua if I can get it. I've found it more uniform. I normally start with 100 cases per rifle. To me the small extra cost is worth it. I'm sure others don't agree.

Hey trouthunter,

I would say that for your needs, (trout hunting), spending the extra $ on the premium brass is unnecessary. Start thinking Panther Martins or Elk Hair Caddis. .

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I use Norma and Lapua brass a lot, and have no complaints. I don't have the tools to actually measure the difference in it compared to Rem and Win brass, but it does seem more consistant, and lasts. With Norma and Lapua the weight of each piece has less variation than other brass. I have read the reviews, and those who do have tools to measure runout, etc, say it's better brass. I doubt that I'll ever be able to tell the difference at the range. I think you would have to be shooting a highly accurate rifle, under benchrest conditions to realize an accuracy difference comparing Norma to other brass, but I believe the difference is there, whether utilized or not.

Brass is a small cost in the overall picture anyway, even at a dollar each. A box of 100 will last a long time.KB

Go along with everything except the last sentence. A dollar a pop for the type of shooting I do is exhorbetent . roger

I use Lapua whenever I can.

Norma (here in Oz) seems to have a price that puts it well outside the 'value for money' limit I set myslf. RWS brass is also excellent quality.

I use 'premium' brass for all my major hunting trips due to it's consistancy.

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
Hello all,

I was looking at some 7x57 brass and could buy 100 7x57's for $111 from MidwayUSA. Is it worth the extra cost?
ddj

In my opinion, for hunting cartridges, NO!
I've tried it numerous times over the past 60 years, and in every single instance it was softer than I prefer my brass to be.

Possibly it was thinner, but I don't think so.

Either way the cartridge bases and primer pockets expanded more than I wish to put up with, using ordinary middle of the road loads.

The primary cartridges in which I tried it the most were .22 Hornet, 6.5x55, 7x61 S&H, and .308 Winchester.

Interestingly enough, the Norma-made Weatherby headstamped brass I have used did not display the "softness" problem, so I must assume Weatherby demanded different specs for HIS brass as it was processed into finished cartridge cases.

BTW, Norma also made some cases which were sold under the RWS lable, and I think the RWS cases are some of the very best brass ever made. So again, different specs for different large volume buyers.....?

But for the Norma headstamped stuff commonly sold in the U.S., I still vote NO!

If it is available in the desired calibre, I use Norma Brass exclusively now. The reason for this is based on my experience with my 338 Win Mag. Norma cases are very consistent in weight volume and most importantly neck thickness and concentricity. On top of that I get 3 to 4 reloads from Remington and Frontier (Hornady) brass, 5 to 6 from Federal brass and 6 to 7 from Winchester brass, while I get 11 to 12 from Norma Brass. I get better accuracy, which is probably not a lot of added benefit in terms of hunting (because 2 MOA is all you need), but it's nice to have, and I get more shots per case. There is a reasonable difference in case capacity between brands, so it pays (in consistency) to stick to one brand, So in my view for consistency, accuracy and value for money it is worth the cost. That experience is based on about 9,000 to 10,000 rounds through my Ruger M77 Mk 1, in 338 Win Mag, which is now on it's third barrel.

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Not to me.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Not to me.

Same here but I've had really good luck with Hornady and will spend a few extra dollars more to get that.

Terry

To me the best brass is still Lapua. Just wish it was available in more caliber sizes.

For a custom rifle with a chamber meant for itty bitty groups I reach for Lapua or Nosler. Hunting rifle is Winchester. But thats just me.

I use Lapua in my 6ppc cause its gotta be real good to shoot little groups but hunting I use rem. or win. because of the price. You can cull a few and still be money ahead. I need to get a neck concintricity guage. As far as the case goes I think thats no. 1. When we ran match at Lake City we tried to get runout .002 or less on the case.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the imput.


ddj

Brass doesn't last for ever I buy ,beg,pickup any brass I can get for the cheapest.

None of the critters I have shot ever complanined about the type of brass I use.

I guess if I was a serious long range target shooter I might be a bit more picky.

But then I would have to see how it shot with cheap brass.

I do a lot of bras prep... so Lapua would spoil my fun...


Rem and Win work just fine for me...


But I spend the same cause I have to get a lot to prep and sort.

As mentioned earlier, Norma displayed soft primer pockets for my somewhat "warm" match loads in 308 and switched to Lapua and shot them for several years now. Can get several loadings from the Lapua compared to the Norma.
For hunting loads I pretty much use Winchester and they work fine and a lot less dollars as well.

IMO Norma is NOT worth the extra money. In my example of one, I bought 100 22-250 cases to use for a summer of factory matches. I found the brass so soft that the loads with which I got numerous loadings in Rem brass, was waaay over with the Norma. Even shooting greatly reduced loads, the Norma brass did not last out the season.
Since the 7x57 isn't noted as a target cartridge, what is your reasons for using the high priced spread??

Like others have said, I find Norma brass too soft. My preference for many years has been winchester, if it is in the calibres I want, but I would still like to try Lapua.

I just picked up my first set of Norma brass off of Gun Broker for the 404 Jeffery I'm having built. 40 rounds cost me $80 shipped, considering 20 new brass costs $62.00 without shipping, I think I made a good deal.

Now, just need a gun to shoot them in.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Not to me.

Same here but I've had really good luck with Hornady and will spend a few extra dollars more to get that.

Terry

Interesting comment.....I wouldn't spend a dime extras for Nosler brass but agree that Hornady brass is maybe worth a bit more.....darn good stuff!

I´ve never used worse brass than Win (.375, about ten years ago) so I´ve pretty much stuck to Norma and Lapua and I have no complaints.

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Those who buy it think so. Those who don't seem to disagree. ??

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C. <><:

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Those who buy it think so. Those who don't seem to disagree. ??

There's more than a particle of truth here me thinks!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Norma brass worth the extra cost?

Not to me.

Same here but I've had really good luck with Hornady and will spend a few extra dollars more to get that.

Terry

Interesting comment.....I wouldn't spend a dime extras for Nosler brass but agree that Hornady brass is maybe worth a bit more.....darn good stuff!

I will buy Frontier brass on site....I like it for some reason.

No.

WW is my brass of choice and with some sorting gets great results and good case life. I've seen reports that Norma can be soft in the case head area and some of my experience tends to support that - primer pockets can loosen up a little quicker than some other brands.

Yes, consistent, but I've not experienced measurably better results compared to sorted and slightly cleaned up US brand bulk brass.

I too hear that RWS is the pick of the bunch. I have some but have not tried it yet!

Just curious I looked on Midway for 308 Win brass as a general comparison.

Winchester brass $18.61/50 $.37 each
Lapua $79.99/100 $.80 each
Remington $45.49/100 $.46 each
Nosler $39.99/50 $.80 each
Norma $74.99/100 $.75 each
Hornady $30.59/50 $.61 each
Federal $25.49/50 $.51 each

Granted the Winchester is a sale price but that is hard to beat. Hard to believe at double the price the others would really eek out enough difference in accuracy or brass life to justify. What I don't know is if you are nit picky and sort the brass carefully how much Winchester would you discard vs the others? Then what is the cost per??? I guess if you are a benchrest shooter it might matter but for general hunting or plinking???

I do not think it is worth it, at all.

Ted, just so you know, Frontier brass is Winchester, I believe.

I have shot every brass you can name and a lot of it. I have great respect for Lapua after having shot it with my .338 Lapua, I was lucky enough to have been given a couple hundred rounds when I bought the rifle for a song. I also have great respect for Norma after having shot a .340 Wby for years and was able to buy three hundred rounds when it was much cheaper. I have also shot thousands of rounds of Winchester and Remington brass as well as Bell,Hornnady and Nosler. I rate the brass with Lapua at the top, Norma next, then Bell-Nosler-Winchester-Remington, with the later four fairly even. I will shoot any of it if I can get it at a bargain. The Nosler I have bought is all prepped and ready for loading, which I really appreciate. Good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
I do not think it is worth it, at all.

Ted, just so you know, Frontier brass is Winchester, I believe.

It's made by Winchester for Hornady!

That explaines why I like it then.....Win brass is what I use most of the time.

Phurley brings up a good point. Just how much prep work are you willing to do to get what you want?? Lapua, I find, I can load right out of the box. I make sure the neck is round and then I have at it with primers, powder, etc.
I can acchieve the same level of brass using one of the domestic brands but it entails neck turning, triming and some culling.
If you're one of the folks that go through an intense, anal brass prep regardless of which brand of brass you use, it's kinda pointless to buy the high priced spread don'tcha think?
I know, I know, this is not precisely directed at the original question but it is germaine.

The last batch of Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass I bought looked like it was made by Lapua. It was obviously annealed with discoloration just like Lapua. The first batch and factory rounds don't appear that way and I wonder if Lapua is making it or who may be. My gunsmith reminded me that all brass is annealed and that this was just not polished.

?

I've used about every brand of brass, I have seen both good brass and bad brass of every brand I guess, mostly (99%) all good..


My favorite brass for no particular reason other than cost is WW, Rem, Norma,Graff, Hornady because its cheap and good.

My favorite brass depends on caliber, but mostly my best results have been in the following order: RWS, Lapua, and Horneber, but its expensive.

My favorite brass for my 6x45 is IMI 223 brass necked up to 243 caliber, outside neck turned and fireformed in my chamber on the first firing. I also like it for the .308..

As a matter of fact the only bad brass I have used and will not use is Bertram, and its so soft that I have no use for it at all other than in some instances it is available for rare calibers, and may be the only whore in town.

3 calibers Norma brass is better. 6.5x55, 9.3x57, and 7.5x55.
I love IMI 5.56x45 brass! I still have not reloaded any IMI 7.62x51. I've got plenty.
Prvi brass is fine for 7.62x54r and 8x57.

G'Day Fella's,

TroutHunterDJ, If you do a reasonable amount of shooting and reloading, both Norma and Lapua brass is well worth it!
The old adage; "You Get What You Pay For", also applies to cartridge brass!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
I was looking at some 7x57 brass and could buy 100 7x57's for $111 from MidwayUSA. Is it worth the extra cost? What are the advantages?

It is not worth the extra cost for a 7x57mm. The only real advantage is - it Stimulates the Economy by wasting money.

Buy either R-P or Win, P-FLR the Cases, do a Full Case Prep, and Weight-Sort the Cases. Then break them into any size Lots you desire. They will be as accurate as you can get for a 7x57mm and save you some $$$money$$$.

quote:

It is not worth the extra cost for a 7x57mm. The only real advantage is - it Stimulates the Economy by wasting money.

I use Norma cases over Win cases because they are much better.
Wasting money is in the eyes of the beholder.
We have the same argument between COST and VALUE.
If one sees value in something, cost is not a factor if you have the money.
The same goes for buying shares at the stock exchange.
Some see value in a share, others not.
Some will by that share at a premium, other will only when it is at a discount.
And so we come down to VALUE in the eyes of the beholder.

Warrior

I just got 60rds. of 300 H&H Norma brass from Midway USA. Brass is real good. Flash holes are true. All the same length to about 0.005 of each other. The necks and case mouth are not dented in like all the other brass I have recieved. My wife vaiues my time. So less steps in brass prep work taken staying and being with her instead of being in reloading room all the time is worth the extra cost for quality brass to me.

quote:

So less steps in brass prep work

Yes, and there is more;

a) Case weights differ far less versus Winchester cases (internal capacities are more uniform)
b) Outside dimentions are more precise and you don't have to cull so many as with Winchester.
c) Norma drills the flashole and have no burrs like the punched holes in the Winchester.

In fact, I did a comparative test between these 2 cases in 7x 57 mm, and the Norma cases showed a smaller extreme spread and a standard deviation than the Winchester cases.

I still have 200 new 300 H&H Win cases left, as spare cases in case they are becoming scarce in future.
I have tossed a good 10% of the previous lot.

Warrior