Brass Mass

[blauber]

Has anyone compared mass of Win vs. Fed vs. Rem vs. Lapua vs. Norma? If so, is there any benefit to using a lighter/heavier brass for a particular caliber or application? Or, is it simply a stick-to-it brand thing?

I switched from Fed to Rem for a known .243 load and the POI changed significantly. So I am returning to Federal as it appears to be a load component that I get sub-MOA with.

I gather some rifles shoot better with an alternate brass brand-all other variables identical. If this is true, does anyone swap brass brands or weights during load development?

 

[CyaN1de]

Check the H2O capacity of 2-3 of each of the fed and rem cases.

This will probably tell you more than the weight of the brass.

If the 2 hold the same amount (within .5gr) then there should be no difference in a case that size.

If 1 holds significantly more H2O than the other, this could explain the difference you are seeing on paper.

 

[Eagleye]

In some chamberings, H20 capacity is very close between brass manufacturers.
In other cases the differences are dramatic.
Example: 7x57 cases made by Winchester vs made by Remington.
One of my pet loads, [used a lot, safe, shows good, but not excessive velocities]
I developed it in Winchester brass.
This load of this powder is physically impossible to put into a Remington case.
PPU cases are almost identical to the Winchester cases, and deliver similar results.
However 30-06 cases by Remington & Winchester are very close in capacity.
In 8x57, the old CIL cases headstamped "Dominion" have the greatest capacity of any case I have seen in this chambering so far.
Don't care much for Federal brass, so cannot comment on it other than it seems "soft" to me.
Lapua makes a very good case...tough, and with decent capacity.
Obviously, different capacity cases will affect POI and groups.
Regards, Eagleye

 

[blauber]

I will try the H2O between brands for interest...methinks that if outside case specs are the same between brands, then there must be wall thickness difference to have varying interior volumes (and weights).

I find Federal soft too. Compared to WW, the stuff trims/deburrs like butter. It was 1x factory ammo, so picked it out of the weeds knowing that $2/round wasn't going to last for long!