I've been reloading since 1982, however, I cannot remember the following: I have a great load in my 30-06 (a happy medium of accuracy/velocity combined). I wish to switch from Nosler to Lapua brass, and would like to know if my accuracy/velocity will change?
Changing Brass?
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Your asking a question that can’t be answered except by doing it. Your rifle may love the brass or it won’t. I have a 45-70 that I use for black powder which doesn’t like Remington brass. My original Trapdoor loves Remington brass. Same loads loaded in one setting.
just having some fun
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if the internal volume changes.... yes velocity will change
if your old brass weighs 200g and your new brass weighs 200g, internal volume will change very little , and might or might not change anything
if your old brass weighs 185 and the new brass weighs 200 ... velocity will change
all you can do is try
I'm going to say yes. The degree of that change can only be ascertained by doing it. - dan
I’d work up your loads again, even if its just a quick pressure series for safety. A lot of times a brass change won’t make any difference you can measure or observe; and then other times the difference can be staggering. The most extreme case I came across was with a couple different 338 Edges. In both rifles the difference between maximum loads with Remington and Nosler brass was 4 grains. That’s a lot, even when you’re burning powder 90 plus grains at a time.
In my experience, changing brass and primers have the least effect on velocity, followed by powder lot and then bullet type (of same weight) changes. Other factors include temperature when fired. For hunting purposes, none of this matters much. For precision shooting, by all means check your new loads for velocity changes and thus balistics.
When I reload, I generally start .5 of a grain below the middle of the column and work-up from there. I'm always checking for pressure after each firing (bolt lift and case head). I'll weight measure both cases and see which one is lighter, which may be an indicator for more or less powder compacity.
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