difference in brass manufacturers

Velocities can also be misleading. I used to think this as the golden solution.

Apparently, a simple change in primers can lead to very spicy pressures WITHOUT changing speeds. This was tested and reported in an older Handloader mag and they did use pressure/strain gauge gear.

I was very surprised. SO when the manual says, no substitution of parts, they actually mean it.

Now once we have a change in component lots, all this goes out the window so.....

I still use velocity as a guide. At least, that is more then likely to tell the truth about my pressures.

Speaking of indestructible brass, one brand is touting how strong their stuff is leading shooters to suggest loading OVER 70,000psi as SAFE.

WOW, a disaster in the making. Proof pressure loads are around 75 to 85,000psi. Each commercial action must be test fired and survive this once, BUT at this pressure, the metal in the action in strained leading to greatly reduced service life.

a steady diet of proof pressure ammo is going to drop safe action life from hundreds of thousands to 10's or maybe just a few thousand rds. Once the steel passes its elastic limits, you got a bomb waiting to fragment.

The brass company forgot to mention the above.

There is no free lunch in internal ballistics. If someone is able to report performance significantly better then all the reloading manuals and millions of rds tested by the factories, you might want to run the other way....

YMMV

Jerry
 
Lapua is considered the best brass and toughest to boot. Still most popular with serious shooters and easy to obtain. It offers the most reloads for the investment and is very consistent. Dominates BR and many shooting disciplines.

That we nee to reload safely is handloading 101, the equivalent of saying don't point guns at people.

Regards,

Peter
 
I have used every type of brass I think that has ever been made at one point or another. Had good and bad out of every type I think I have used too, but for consistency and durability, lapua wins hands down. it really depends what you are gonna do with your gun though. If you reload to hunt, find 20 or 30 of your most consistent pieces of WHATEVER and you have enough to last you for a couple of years.

Hard core precision types rely on more than just the name or its hardness. most turn necks, inify primer pockets and bevel case mouths.

If you get more than 4 or 5 firings out of any brass it is going to stiffen up and need annealing. you are opening up a whole big cup of pain in the ass. you can spend half a grand on an annealing machine and screw up a few pieces while you learn to do it, or you can simply buy more brass.

If you are using a factory chamber just stick with good winchester or even federal. You will work any brass so much with each resizing that it will get hard, and i'm pretty willing to bet you primer pockets will start to slacken faster too. it happens with all brass given time.

if you have a custom chamber or barrel you will never regret buying lapua, because it will last you longer than anything if you look after it. I have 6.5x55 and 220 russian (6PPC) and 6BR brass that is so old I can't even tell you when I got it and they are still going strong.
 
PRVI brass; where can I find some? Thanks!

Great post; where might I find some PRVI brass in 7x57?

Thanks!

For commercial brass, I still prefer Winchester over the others.
I have not, as yet anyway, found any problem with this brass.
If I want top quality for a specific purpose. [making 6.5x55AI, forexample]
Then Lapua gets the nod.
Federal brass is too soft to suit me, primer pockets loosen far too soon.
R-P is middle of the road, and I do use it some.
One problem with R-P is reduced capacity in some chamberings. [7x57 is a good example]
Norma is great quality brass, but is soft in certain chamberings, for some reason.
Nosler brass, I have only tried in two chamberings, but found it "soft" like Federal brass.
I have some PRVI brass for my 7x57, and I do like it just fine.
Also have a bit of RWS 7x57 brass, and it is also high quality, but you cannot buy it as brass only, to my knowledge.
These are simply my opinions, of course, but based on a lot of reloading experience.
Regards, Eagleye
 
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