Barnes brass quality sucks

T

TSPIRI

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I was prepping up a batch of brass to start load testing on my 338wm. Had about 25 rounds of Batnes Vortex ammo and I wanted to pull bullets and keep the cases. Once pulled and deprimed I found 6 of the 25 cases had primer flash holes noticeably off center, at the price they sell that ammo, 89$ a box back then 129$ a box now. They better use the best freaking components it's truly pathetic. I'm just happy my decapping pin isn't bent

That being said I love Barnes bullets, I'll keep using them as long as I can keep buying them but I'll never buy a loaded case ever again1000009534.jpg
 
I have definitely heard mixed reviews about their brass.

I do know that with some of the chamberings and ammo types (Precision Match.) It is loaded with Lapua brass. The Vortx definitely isn't that lineup though.

B
 
I’m have a pile of BARNES stamped 308 on hand but a bunch or my more recent stuff (before I started loading) is STARLINE and i buy that for loading anyway.

Its durn good imo.
 
I mean 6 out of 25 have their flash holes off center, that to me is a clear sign something was off at the factory. That's almost 25% if it was one I wouldn't say jack, but 6??

If my primer detonated but the flash hole is off center how does that affect my powder burning? I'm not an expert but everything we do as reloaders is to tighten up tolerances and make things as repeatable and uniform as we possibly can. Step 1 in the process is the primer going off, if that's off, everything else will be off as well. I'm not making target competition grade ammo, it's for a hunting rifle but I still want it to be darn good so I scrapped those 6 cases. It's just frustrating, I would think at the prices they charge 129 plus tax for a box it would be top grade components.
 
TSPIRI said:
I mean 6 out of 25 have their flash holes off center, that to me is a clear sign something was off at the factory. That's almost 25% if it was one I wouldn't say jack, but 6??

If my primer detonated but the flash hole is off center how does that affect my powder burning? I'm not an expert but everything we do as reloaders is to tighten up tolerances and make things as repeatable and uniform as we possibly can. Step 1 in the process is the primer going off, if that's off, everything else will be off as well. I'm not making target competition grade ammo, it's for a hunting rifle but I still want it to be darn good so I scrapped those 6 cases. It's just frustrating, I would think at the prices they charge 129 plus tax for a box it would be top grade components.
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Why not load and compare them to 6 other cases?
At least you’ll get your answer first hand.
 
Come to think of it, I did reload about 20 BARNES stamped brass in my 223.

Not sure i could say i observed any say quality issue but I did notice a difference (slightly higher SD) between those rounds and the Starline i generally use so I tossed them in the bucket at the range.

Now im gonna go dig for that pile of BARNES 308 brass to check the primer holes.

Also have a pile in 243 somewhere.
 
^ sure but Vort-X or whatever is not match ammo and that's what the OP has. It would explain the low quality. I have several thousand rounds of Barnes .300BLK ammo and have no issues but a company in decline can't be counted on to keep it up forever.
 
I have found that factory fired Nosler brass isn't much better. Split case necks and the odd brass actually cracked. I thought it must be a bad batch.

Contacted Nosler, ended up with some snot nosed punk on the other end of the computer who told me to pound sand.

During this time-frame, I was actually a dealer. Took my complaint up the food-chain as it was all in email format and apparently the punk was fired. Unfortunately with no compensation for my troubles. Even though I bought the factory ammo for the Nosler brass. Never again for me.

I still load Nosler bullets as they are exceptional, there brass from live factory ammunition, well not so much.....:(
 
OP...Like was previously mentioned, I'd be inclined to send them the pics along with the lot # from the brass. You may get something back...you may not. But at least they'd be aware of the fact that they're not infallible !


***T-Hog....I had a bad box of Nosler 6.5...129 gr LRAB'S. Over HALF the tips were ...almost like they were melted down somewhat and mis-shaped !! Sent them pics...received a reply from (I'm sure) that same snot nosed puke you had evicted !
Told me cuz I'm in Canada, there's nothing they could do...couldn't ship em to me ! I mentioned that they, in fact, ARE SO shipping to Canada to all the retailers or distributors. Said I didn't qualify cuz I wasn't a busness...told him to send them to Sporteque or The Gun Dealer on my behalf...couldn't do that either !!!! I called him an azzhat and told him that he was a pizz poor rep for Nosler !

Had a few issues over with them in my 50+ yrs of reloading...always handled with pride and dedication. Received replacements, extra's even hats and safe stickers over the yrs. Sh*t's changed big time now...no more customer service...CEO's bottom lines are all that matters !
 
When Remington owned Barnes, they likely used Remington brass that was stamped BARNES

Now that Sierra owns Barnes, I see some of their ammo has headstamps from SIG, Norma and Lapua
 
Nosler brass could be cheap rebranded Federal, or decent Norma, depends on the cartridge, they don't make brass
Barnes doesn't make brass either so who knows what you get there.
 
It has been mentioned countless times regarding great quality brass. Why would someone roll the dice on a unproven product? BTW, pulling Barnes bullets would be the first thing I'd do, they suck as well!
 
kevin g said:
OP...Like was previously mentioned, I'd be inclined to send them the pics along with the lot # from the brass. You may get something back...you may not. But at least they'd be aware of the fact that they're not infallible !


***T-Hog....I had a bad box of Nosler 6.5...129 gr LRAB'S. Over HALF the tips were ...almost like they were melted down somewhat and mis-shaped !! Sent them pics...received a reply from (I'm sure) that same snot nosed puke you had evicted !
Told me cuz I'm in Canada, there's nothing they could do...couldn't ship em to me ! I mentioned that they, in fact, ARE SO shipping to Canada to all the retailers or distributors. Said I didn't qualify cuz I wasn't a busness...told him to send them to Sporteque or The Gun Dealer on my behalf...couldn't do that either !!!! I called him an azzhat and told him that he was a pizz poor rep for Nosler !

Had a few issues over with them in my 50+ yrs of reloading...always handled with pride and dedication. Received replacements, extra's even hats and safe stickers over the yrs. Sh*t's changed big time now...no more customer service...CEO's bottom lines are all that matters !
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Hey Kevin, sorry to hear of your issues with Nosler's poor quality control and sub-standard customer service. Either we did in fact have the same Nosler Rep or their choice of staff has gone way down hill......:(

And your right, some companies got too big way too fast, and then forgot where they came from. Nosler used to be number one in my loading experience of over 44 years now. Not so much for me these days. Their retail prices are also out of control.

It is very possible the fellow you dealt with was the same guy I had, either way he was fired. It obviously wasn't his first complaint.
 
Thunderhog said:
Hey Kevin, sorry to hear of your issues with Nosler's poor quality control and sub-standard customer service. Either we did in fact have the same Nosler Rep or their choice of staff has gone way down hill......:(

And your right, some companies got too big way too fast, and then forgot where they came from. Nosler used to be number one in my loading experience of over 44 years now. Not so much for me these days. Their retail prices are also out of control.

It is very possible the fellow you dealt with was the same guy I had, either way he was fired. It obviously wasn't his first complaint.
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I've noticed that Noslers quality has deminished, slightly. Moreover, their prices have become rediculus. To reduce the inflated/greedy cost, I purchase cheaper bullets, such as the ballistic tip. I conduct load development with the ballistic tip, and when I find my happy medium load, I switch to the accubond. Same applies with the partition. I'll purchase a cheap flat-base bullet from Sierra/Speer, then switch to partition.
 
I really don't get the fascination with Nosler. They used to have cheap pistol JHPs, terrible performers that almost always shed their jacket but were very affordable. Not a thing any more. Brass has never been much good IMO and apparently plenty of others. The load data in their manuals was so far off everyone else's I gave it away and now the few OK products out there from them are wildly overpriced, beating the other increases by years. They are a #### company and I have a really hard time thinking otherwise.
 
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