Sourcing factory brass for reloads. Which is best?

[Plowboy]

Now I can't remember if this has been gone over before but I usually get my brass from buying some factory stuff and keeping the brass. I mostly have federal brass, I have not had issues with it apart from taking the crimp out of the pockets and some being tighter than others.

A while ago I decided to try Winchester brass, partly because of the primer pockets are not crimped, and it was cheaper..... Anyway I am not that happy with the brass I have got from the Winnies, I have found the primer pockets are loose it some, it concerns me and I have thrown out some as the primers have practically fallen into place. After just the factory load has been fired!

So I am now wondering if there is a brand that people buy because the brass is good. Not wanting to buy expensive brass as I regularly loose cases while out shooting. But I have only ever tried federal(LC stamped I found good, but was told FC stamped should be avoided) and Winchester. What do others use?

[chappo555]

If u are going to lose it in the paddock just use what's cheap. I use lots of lapua brand brass but I'm pretty anal when it comes to losing them.

[The Raven]

Now I can't remember if this has been gone over before but I usually get my brass from buying some factory stuff and keeping the brass. I mostly have federal brass, I have not had issues with it apart from taking the crimp out of the pockets and some being tighter than others.

A while ago I decided to try Winchester brass, partly because of the primer pockets are not crimped, and it was cheaper..... Anyway I am not that happy with the brass I have got from the Winnies, I have found the primer pockets are loose it some, it concerns me and I have thrown out some as the primers have practically fallen into place. After just the factory load has been fired!

So I am now wondering if there is a brand that people buy because the brass is good. Not wanting to buy expensive brass as I regularly loose cases while out shooting. But I have only ever tried federal(LC stamped I found good, but was told FC stamped should be avoided) and Winchester. What do others use?

I have kept all my once fired brass in the hope of justifying reloading one day.

I have lots of FC headstamped 308Win. What's the reputed problem with this stuff?

How the Remington and Norma factory brass like, as I have some of them.

Forgot to ask, what's your de-crimping technique?

Anyone want some China Sports brass. Once fired, Berdan primed, 'brass' coated steel case....60 cases.

[trevort]

I f you can load why on earth start off with factory ammo. I refuse to use it.

Remington brass is ok, good if you prep it. I have heard good reports on the Highland (prvi I think as empty cases)

almost the only factory brass I reloaded regularly as I bought the ammo before I could load

[Plowboy]

Blokes on the states reckon it is very soft, primer pockets are loose and inconsistent. So never bothered with it. Before my reloading days, I bought American eagle factory stuff(bloody good in my rifle) and most of it was stamped LC(lake city) and by most reports that is ok to use. I never had a problem.

I remove primer pockets with a case mouth chamfer tool( I think it's an RCBS). I try to take as little as possible so not to make the primer pocket loose.

This Winchester stuff is not crimped though. Still bloody loose!

[Plowboy]

I f you can load why on earth start off with factory ammo. I refuse to use it.

Remington brass is ok, good if you prep it. I have heard good reports on the Highland (prvi I think as empty cases)

almost the only factory brass I reloaded regularly as I bought the ammo before I could load

Aaah well I loose a few Trev........ once I get down under 40 from a batch I start looking to replace the whole batch. I won't mix batches, too hard to keep tabs on how many firings they have had. I would just rather ditch the lot and start fresh.

[Con]

Geco = RWS. Best there is. Shame to lose it in the paddock.
Cheers...
Con

[trevort]

Why do you need to know how many times it's fired?

[Plowboy]

I was told early on to make sure that you do not mix stuff that has been fired several times with once fired. I was told to keep everything the same in batches so that it minimised surprises like split necks and so on.

Do you mix batches?

[trevort]

I have three rifles with two different brands of brass. Two have a different charge weight depending on the brass so I do sort by brand.

But I don't count how many times its been fired. I throw a case out if the pocket becomes to loose and I am just about to anneal my 8 year old 6/250 brass as I had a split neck. I will just do it all, about 200 or so cases, since one has told me I need to. A few have also told me that they need their first FLS in their eight years but that bugger Missed is near convinced me to have the barrel re chambered to 6x 47L so I might not need to fls the 6/250 brass

Would wanting to avoid a FLS operation be a good enough reason to rechamber an 8 year old barrel

[Plowboy]

Ok well that would be a hell of a lot easier! I have each batch in its own box according to times fired. All sorted by brand too(federal/Winchester). I have about 8 batches I suppose all up but some of those are getting down in numbers due to losses to the grass so I would be getting rid of a couple but by the sound of it I can just incorporate those into other lots and just go on! Bloody hell! A revelation! Hmmmm I am rather bored ATM so was thinking of sneaking out to the farm to do a bulk reload this week. Was going to do a super big clean and prep thing whilst not able to do anything else. So might just prep a shitload of them and store in bulk and reload a hundred. Thanks Trev!

[Glenn]

Missed is near convinced me to have the barrel re chambered to 6x47L so I might not need to fls the 6/250 brass

Would wanting to avoid a FLS operation be a good enough reason to rechamber an 8 year old barrel

Definitely!

Ployboy
Buy some Lap brass and be do with it!
As I tell me you bloke "Police your brass"

Glenn

[220]

I f you can load why on earth start off with factory ammo. I refuse to use it.

Because in many cases it is the only way to get brass, loaded factory ammo is cheaper than loading virgin brass and in many cases if labour is factored in factory ammo is cheaper than reloading.

Factory ammo doesn't mean inaccurate ammo, Hornady 55gr Varmint express shoots 1/2moa in my swift.

[xa-coupe]

I got some PMC brass years ago for my 223. It was okay enough to be accurate and consistent but cheap enough that I didn't cry for hours when I lost one. It's been a while but I still have most of them. If were to do it again I would just sack up and buy Lapua.

[Con]

Spot on 220, spot on.
Cheers...
Con