ugh Federal brass

[sam menard]

I bought some. 308 Win dies and wanted to whip up a batch of cartridges for some friends. I don't shoot that cartridge and didn't have any brass, so I went to the range and picked up some fired brass. I went through the normal drill (inspection, tumbling, lubing) and started resizing. The Winchester and Remington brass was fine, but about a dozen of the Federal brass got stuck - some really stuck. Makes me wonder if they were fired in a rifle with a lose chamber, or just a bad lot.

 

[2strokeforever]

Use better lube and you wont have anymore issues
Any sort of oil and you will brake your press before sticking a case
Wd40, gun oil, motor oil dosent seem to matter

In fact you will be able to run a 3006 all the way thru a 308 die without sticking... Oops

 

[sam menard]

Looking at buying some Dillon Precision Lube, seems to be well-liked on this board.

 

[M1-Garand]

I've been using STP oil treatment for years,works like a charm.

 

[hatman1793]

It's not the brass, it's the gun the cartridges were fired in.
Federal Cartridge company makes great brass!

 

[sam menard]

How do you apply it?

 

[maynard]

Federal brass is the worst brass out there.

 

[6MT]

...

 

[Alpheus]

I havent touch Federal brass since I started reloading. Twice fired and primer pockets looser the Trudeau's ethics.

 

[stubblejumper]

Federal brass is the worst brass out there.

Once was enough for me. I have't used it since.

 

[hometownhero]

Federal brass is the worst brass out there.

Yeah, Federal brass is just that bad.

I havent touch Federal brass since I started reloading. Twice fired and primer pockets looser the Trudeau's ethics.

Once was enough for me. I have't used it since.

Same as my experiences. It is good enough for the recycle bin.

 

[bigedp51]

The problem with Federal brass is it has a thin flash hole web, and the thicker this flash hole web the more strength the base of the case has. Meaning the primer pockets stretch out of shape much sooner and you have over sized primer pockets.

Below on the left a Federal .223 case with a "thin" flash hole web, and on the right a military Lake City 5.56 case with a thicker flash hole web. The military cases also have harder and tougher brass in the base of the case and thus making the case heavy duty and Ford Truck Tough. And the Federal cases are made like a Chevy truck and fall apart much sooner.

Below more Fords and two Chevy's

 

[Reeferman]

I can't comment on Federal rifle brass but most of the Federal handgun brass I have in .357 and 44 magnum are on the 15th reload with no issues.

 

[hometownhero]

I can't comment on Federal rifle brass but most of the Federal handgun brass I have in .357 and 44 magnum are on the 15th reload with no issues.

Hard to wear out handgun brass it isn't subject to 60,000+ psi

 

[Eagleye]

It's not the brass, it's the gun the cartridges were fired in.
Federal Cartridge company makes great brass!

You obviously have not had a lot of experience with various brass types. Federal brass is crap!!

Federal brass is the worst brass out there.

Yeah, Federal brass is just that bad.

I havent touch Federal brass since I started reloading. Twice fired and primer pockets looser the Trudeau's ethics.

Once was enough for me. I have't used it since.

I avoid it like the plague, myself. Far too soft in the head area and thin web, as bigedp51 showed. Eagleye.

 

[remington jim]

I havent touch Federal brass since I started reloading. Twice fired and primer pockets looser the Trudeau's ethics.

I have found them UseLess with one firing from my 338 Rum ! Primers fall out ! FACTORY loads ! Yikes ! RJ

 

[RonR]

Same as my experiences. It is good enough for the recycle bin.

I'll second that.

Regards
Ronr

 

[M1-Garand]

How do you apply it?

Just a thin film on the case lube pad, and I use a Q tip to lube the inside of the neck.

 

[time4t]

.....

 

[bbobie]

never had any problems with fed brass used the nickel plated for yrs in the 338 and still use it in the 7mm mag