Who makes good brass

powdergun

powdergun

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The last few years I have noticed a definite drop in brass quality. One of the biggest problems I am having is the collapse of the shoulders when seating bullets. Seems the brass is too soft. I go through all of the possible solutions from the reloading end but I am wondering which company is making the best brass.

I know that Nosler and Lapua make decent stuff but it is pricey. Any and all advice greatly appreciated.
 
Todays brass is not what it once was "BUT" if your collapsing the shoulder of the case I would look at how you chamfer the case mouth and your dies expander button. Think about it, the case necks and shoulders are annealed making them softer to prevent the case neck from splitting and YOU are collapsing the shoulder

Please note I'm not being sarcastic or trying to be a hard ass, because anytime I collapse the shoulder of a case it is because I'm doing something wrong. Your brass is telling you something and you need to listen to what its saying to you.
 
"...Nosler and Lapua make decent stuff but..." Both have always been overly expensive.
"...collapse of the shoulders when seating bullets..." That has nothing to do with the brass. Your die isn't set up correctly. The shell holder should just kiss the bottom of the die with the ram all the way up. Then you adjust the seating plug to give you the OAL you want.
 
How much interference do you have between the bullet OD, and caseneck ID after sizing? If your expander button is too small, it could cause too much interference, which can cause seating issues. So can inadequate case neck chamfering, as was previously posted.

How much lube are you using?
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You shouldn't require any lube, to seat bullets.

Think about it, the case necks and shoulders are annealed making them softer to prevent the case neck from splitting and YOU are collapsing the shoulder
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Exactly, a softer neck, lets the neck expand over the bullet while seating, which helps avoid the situation you are experiencing. On the other hand, a hardened neck could cause issues.
 
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stubblejumper said:
You shouldn't require any lube, to seat bullets.



.
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That was kind of my point.................

Too much lube in the sizing process can cause shoulders to dimple or even start to collapse and then if unnoticed the seating of the bullet could fully collapse them.
 
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After 30,000 rifle rounds I have never collapsed a shoulder!! I think there is something amiss in your set up. Crimping taking place before seating complete maybe.
 
That was kind of my point.................

Too much lube in the sizing process can cause shoulders to dimple or even start to collapse and then if unnoticed the seating of the bullet could fully collapse them.
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No doubt that if the person doing the sizing, and the seating, was so inattentive that he didn't notice the partly collapsed shoulders, before he began seating bullets, it is theoretically possible. In any case, this is easy to confirm, or rule out, by examining the sized cases for partly collapsed shoulders.
 
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Just throwing out one possible cause...sure there are many possibilities....sorry to offend you and your 40 years of experience.
 
Set up your seating die right. But a piece of brass in the shell holder and raise the ram. Then acre in the die to touch the shoulder. Then back the die off half to a full turn. 99.5% of my brass is winchester. I also use hornady and remington. I would like to try some higher end stuff sometime but what I am using now is less money and does what I need it to do.
 
Just throwing out one possible cause...sure there are many possibilities....sorry to offend you and your 40 years of experience.
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I just wanted to give the OP more credit, than to try to seat bullets into cases with partly collapsed shoulders. I am sure that the true cause of the issue will be revealed. In all reality, I expect that the cause is incorrect adjustment of the seating die.

As to offending me, that won't likely happen, based on the experience from another forum that you used to be a member of, it's quite obvious who is easily offended.
 
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stubblejumper said:
I just wanted to give the OP more credit, than to try to seat bullets into cases with partly collapsed shoulders. I am sure that the true cause of the issue will be revealed. In all reality, I expect that the cause is incorrect adjustment of the seating die.
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LOL...and I was giving him credit that he knew how to adjust his dies.....hopefully he looks at a few of the suggestions here and figures out his problem....I can see how it would be frustrating for him. Definitely all a learning experience and nice to have some reloaders on here willing to try and help out.
 
What cal and brand is this happening with? I've had great luck with with the cheap stuff. 308 fc. 22 250 win. 6.5x55 win. I finally pulled my first few cases out of my batch of brass for a tiny crack in the brass starting to develop on shoulder. Probably 15 reloads on it so I think I got my money worth.
 
no one needs to be offended...tigrr simply stated he had never collapsed a shoulder in 40 yrs of reloading...I didn't read it as being pointed at anyone in particular...you all took it in another direction...
sheep...stubble...take it outside :p
 
sunray said:
Your die isn't set up correctly. The shell holder should just kiss the bottom of the die with the ram all the way up. Then you adjust the seating plug to give you the OAL you want.
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What type of weed are you smoking anyways?? I suggest for once you don't worry about cost and splurge for the good stuff.

Setting up a seating die the way you recommend will result in the crimping portion of the seater chewing up both the case neck and bullet.
 
no one needs to be offended...tigrr simply stated he had never collapsed a shoulder in 40 yrs of reloading...I didn't read it as being pointed at anyone in particular...you all took it in another direction...
sheep...stubble...take it outside
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You came along after posts were edited, so without being able to see all that was posted, you have no way of knowing what was originally directed where?

Your die isn't set up correctly. The shell holder should just kiss the bottom of the die with the ram all the way up. Then you adjust the seating plug to give you the OAL you want.
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That is a sure way to end up with collapsed shoulders. Just cycling a sized brass through the seating die without attempting to seat a bullet will push the shoulder back.
 
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