I plan to buy ready cartridges for a while as my eventual source of brass. I've read here that there is good brass and crappy brass. I was wondering which brand of ammunition should I buy with an eye toward good brass. All I have in mind is American Eagle but only because I'm aware of this brand and it's not a JoeInTheBasement brand of ammo. This is for 9mm Parabellum and I'd like to get ammo of 124 gr or 115 gr bullets. Thanks.
Which brand of ready cartridges gives the best brass (9mm)
- Thread starter WaltherPPQ
- Start date
TurboTapin
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saint-Joseph du lac, QC
When it comes to pistol brass... don't worry about it.
I'll second that. The only problem I have is that I keep giving 9m/mbrass and I keep getting more. I don't bother sorting 9 brass.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
Try not to buy any ammo that has a crimped primer pocket. It's a major pain in the ass to ream it out of small cartridges in great numbers without fancy machines. It can be done, but it's a pain.
G-Man_Quagmire
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- North Delta B.C.
This. Avoid non toxic primers. The head stamp will say NT after the caliber and this usually indicates crimped primer pockets.
I live in the U.S. and I buy bulk once fired 9mm processed military brass.
So if I were you I would just use range pickup brass or buy bulk once fired brass and save money
At short pistol ranges I do not think you will see a difference using mixed brass.
You may need a undersize die for thinner cases and also as the case work hardens and springs back more after sizing.
Bottom line, when you have firearms that throw perfectly good brass away and then makes you go look for it you will loose cases.
And with cheaper once fired brass you won't cry if you loose a few cases.
So if I were you I would just use range pickup brass or buy bulk once fired brass and save money
At short pistol ranges I do not think you will see a difference using mixed brass.
You may need a undersize die for thinner cases and also as the case work hardens and springs back more after sizing.
Bottom line, when you have firearms that throw perfectly good brass away and then makes you go look for it you will loose cases.
And with cheaper once fired brass you won't cry if you loose a few cases.
I live in the U.S. and I buy bulk once fired 9mm processed military brass.
So if I were you I would just use range pickup brass or buy bulk once fired brass and save money
At short pistol ranges I do not think you will see a difference using mixed brass.
You may need a undersize die for thinner cases and also as the case work hardens and springs back more after sizing.
Bottom line, when you have firearms that throw perfectly good brass away and then makes you go look for it you will loose cases.
And with cheaper once fired brass you won't cry if you loose a few cases.
He doesn't plan to buy brass, he plans to buy ammos and pick up his brass.
OP: You can get pretty much anything that's brass (not steel or aluminium), not crimped primers. Currently I would go for the CCI blazer brass, 250$/1000 at tenda or western metal. Free shipping over 300$. Then pick up whatever is brass and not crimped on the ground, not matter the headstamp.
If you have to buy 9m brass and reload it you'll most probably save nothing (or very little) compared to buying at sale price.
I know what he posted, "but if he is a cheap bastard like me it would be cheaper to buy once fired brass.
The main question is what is your time worth at the reloading bench and how much money you want to spend.
And I will assume in Canada your winters are longer and colder than here in the U.S.
Meaning he will have all winter to load the once fired cases and stay warm.
- Location
- Halifax - NS
How about buying the stuff from the big commercial reloaders like Wolf, Combat Masters, X-Reload and Custom Reloading Services?
(Not Bob's basement ammo...)
The brass been processed to remove crimps for their use - so you're good to go and the ammo is a little less expensive than Remington / Winchester / etc.
You know it's good to reload, 'cause they already reloaded it once.
(Not Bob's basement ammo...)
The brass been processed to remove crimps for their use - so you're good to go and the ammo is a little less expensive than Remington / Winchester / etc.
You know it's good to reload, 'cause they already reloaded it once.
Price of components must not be the same in US. Right now you won't save much if you have to buy the brass. You barely save as it is by reloading 9mm right now.
Thanks for the tips. It's much clearer now.
As for saving money, yeah I'll reload to save, though I've kinda' fallen into it as an interesting hobby. I did my additions compared to everyday 9mm prices, and I do see a non-trivial savings. With the on-sale prices, they don't seem to be regular and way too often I see, "sold out". If it were otherwise I probably wouldn't have started down the reloading path (with 9mm, anyway).
I, however, still want to keep reloading as practical as possible. I've read that using mixed brass entails other complications and requires, for example, special dies and procedures. As such, I plan to mark my commercial cartridges and only reload my own brass.
Thanks again everyone.
As for saving money, yeah I'll reload to save, though I've kinda' fallen into it as an interesting hobby. I did my additions compared to everyday 9mm prices, and I do see a non-trivial savings. With the on-sale prices, they don't seem to be regular and way too often I see, "sold out". If it were otherwise I probably wouldn't have started down the reloading path (with 9mm, anyway).
I, however, still want to keep reloading as practical as possible. I've read that using mixed brass entails other complications and requires, for example, special dies and procedures. As such, I plan to mark my commercial cartridges and only reload my own brass.
Thanks again everyone.
TurboTapin
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saint-Joseph du lac, QC
Wow I'm surprised they lasted that long... I always presumed you'd get 1 or 2 reloads out of aluminum cases if you're lucky.
I've never had issues using mixed brass, but a while back I decided on using Win brass only, for consistency and besides, that's what I see most on the range floor.
If you haven't yet bought your dies- make sure you buy a carbide sizer die. You'll be glad you did.
I also use that same die to resize my .38 S&W brass.
FWIW
S&B (Sellier & Bellot) brass generally requires extra work.
The primer pockets have straight walls (no bevel) and it can be a b&tch to seat the primers - requires pocket reaming. The brass is good but the extra step is not worth it for 9mm when so much other stuff is out there.
Sumbro brass is junk - leave it on the ground or sell it for scrap.
S&B (Sellier & Bellot) brass generally requires extra work.
The primer pockets have straight walls (no bevel) and it can be a b&tch to seat the primers - requires pocket reaming. The brass is good but the extra step is not worth it for 9mm when so much other stuff is out there.
Sumbro brass is junk - leave it on the ground or sell it for scrap.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
I use any and all brass I can pick up at the range. All of them work.
Federal (FC), Winchester, Geco, S&B, R-P, IVI, Speer, etc. Brass or Nickel plated doesn’t matter.
Just tumble clean and reload.
Federal (FC), Winchester, Geco, S&B, R-P, IVI, Speer, etc. Brass or Nickel plated doesn’t matter.
Just tumble clean and reload.
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
For 9mm it really doesn't matter. Watch out for some of the older casings, the varying thickness of the brass casings can make the resizing, flaring, and crimping stages a bit harder. This can slow down your progressive or turret press reloading.
