factory federal brass
- Thread starter fuerza o razon
- Start date
Almost all of my 45 acp, 44 mag and 460 S&W are Federal, they reload fine.
I have had the primers fall out of Federal on the first firing on a factory load. I avoid Federal rifle brass. I do like Federal match primers for all my long range loads and have fired several thousand Federal Top Gun shot shells at skeet without a problem.
My experience as well. I was able to push primers in with my fingers after 1 firing.
Well, take it with a grain of salt. This sort of thing goes in cycles. In the last 35 years, at various times, it's been soft Winchester, soft Remington, soft Bell, etc. This too will change. I've had good Federal and bad Federal. Wish I could give you a more definitive answer, but there it is. - dan
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
All the federal I have had I got 2-3 firings before it wasnt useable. They had loose primer pockets, and the necks wouldnt size anymore.
I have reloaded FC brass with no issues even after multiple re-loadings. I do remember there being an issue a few years back with a batch that was identifiable by the lettering size on the headstamp. Some of the reloads I have done with Federal brass are larger rifle calibers with hot loads and still no issues.
It is probably more like "dan belisle" stated.....a bad batch of brass pops up every now and then with all the manufacturers.
It is probably more like "dan belisle" stated.....a bad batch of brass pops up every now and then with all the manufacturers.
- Location
- Southern Ontario
I have several dozen Federal .38 Special brass that won't fit in the shell holder of my loading press.
I don't know if they expanded after their first firing, or if they started out that way. It may be that batch, because I have hundreds more of the same headstamped brass that work just fine.
Evidence of soft brass? Anyone else experience this as well?
I don't know if they expanded after their first firing, or if they started out that way. It may be that batch, because I have hundreds more of the same headstamped brass that work just fine.
Evidence of soft brass? Anyone else experience this as well?
Federal's American Eagle brand was noted for loose primer pockets on their .223/5.56 cases and they had thin webs at the flash hole.
Below, loose primer pockets were traced to thinner brass in the web area.
I found out about this when I tried reloading once fired Federal brass for my AR15 and was having over a 50% failure rate for loose primer pockets.
The website AR15.com has done several informative posting by the reloading moderator on these type cases and how to check them before reloading. A two inch rod was used to measure web thickness to find these defective Federal cases. BUT Lupua cases are thin in the web area also but the brass is harder and Lupua does not have this problem.
On the flip side of this our American Lake City Army Ammunition plant is run by ATK who owns Federal but the standards for military cartridge cases are higher.
Below a test was done on .308 cases fired in a new Savage rifle.
Not all brass for cartridge cases is made the same and there has been many changes in "who" makes and supplies the brass in the last ten to fifteen years. There is a reason why competitive shooters have switched to Finnish made Lapua brass...........and that is quality.
Wired leader's post #9 above hit the nail on the head, I have good Federal cases and bad Federal cases and many say the problem was corrected.
Below, loose primer pockets were traced to thinner brass in the web area.
I found out about this when I tried reloading once fired Federal brass for my AR15 and was having over a 50% failure rate for loose primer pockets.
The website AR15.com has done several informative posting by the reloading moderator on these type cases and how to check them before reloading. A two inch rod was used to measure web thickness to find these defective Federal cases. BUT Lupua cases are thin in the web area also but the brass is harder and Lupua does not have this problem.
On the flip side of this our American Lake City Army Ammunition plant is run by ATK who owns Federal but the standards for military cartridge cases are higher.
Below a test was done on .308 cases fired in a new Savage rifle.
Not all brass for cartridge cases is made the same and there has been many changes in "who" makes and supplies the brass in the last ten to fifteen years. There is a reason why competitive shooters have switched to Finnish made Lapua brass...........and that is quality.
Wired leader's post #9 above hit the nail on the head, I have good Federal cases and bad Federal cases and many say the problem was corrected.
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07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
I got 3 reloads from federal 7mm mag before the primer pockets were too loose. This brass was fairly new.
Some older 270 brass from the 90's I'd saved faired a little better.
When I buy brass I use Remington.
Some older 270 brass from the 90's I'd saved faired a little better.
When I buy brass I use Remington.
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
With 9mm Federal brass, I find that sometimes the bullets are loose after seating. This only happens with the odd case, but is PITA, because then I pull the bullet and dump the powder and push out the primer. Sometimes the primer pockets are loose after only one or two reloads. You would almost think the cases are thin, because they are sized down on the OD and the ID is sized with the same inside sizing die just enough to start the bullets. Don't find this problem with Remington or Winchester brass. Consequently I have a great quantity of Federal 9mm brass because I keep using the other makes as long as I can scrounge enough at the range. More people shoot the Federal, because it seems to be on sale more often.
Bill
Bill
