Federal Brass

[Potashminer]

Is there a difference between the brass in the bulk bags labeled "Federal Premium" and the brass that is used in the Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition?? Once fired, how do you tell the difference, if there is one?? I have never knowingly handled GMM brass to know. Is it different brass than used in the less expensive Federal ammunition, like Federal Classic??

 

[DANS40X]

Federal GMM may have been weight sorted....but I doubt it.

Federal brass of the 90's is good brass.

Federal/ATK brass is JUNK.

 

[Ruger007]

I find the factory loaded GMM Brass to be alright. Weights seem to be consistent. But still federal brass. Won't last more than a few loads. I don't pick up any unknown federal brass anymore. Had too many issues.
Looks identical as other federal brass. It probably is just that.

 

[PGW Steve]

I cringe at anything current with federal brass. I bought a bunch of 6.5 Grendel factory ammo and I could seat primers in the once fired cases with my thumb.

 

[skidderman]

I laugh at adds that seek high prices for federal brass. Sure it works but there are a lot better options.

 

[Potashminer]

Ads about brass for sale is what made me curious - I just saw one asking .20 for Fed GMM, .174 for S&B Match, .274 for Norma and .289 for Lake City - apparently all previously fired, no mention about shipping.

 

[Hitzy]

I use it in semi's, fire it once then leave it in the recycling bin.

 

[todbartell]

the best group I have ever shot was handloaded in Federal brass that originally was Gold Medal Match factory ammo

 

[209jones]

I haven't loaded Fed in over 30 yrs, I don't mind trying out Fed Premium with partitions in a new gun, but, have always found it to be slow ammo compared to box speeds, but usually pretty good accuracy, and I just toss the brass from it. I had primer pocket issues with it years ago, not because of the load either.

 

[seven_kittens]

I’ll have to remember this thread and post in the future. I’m using 308 and 300 win mag federal GMM for my reloads so I’ll find out how good it is. This will be once fired brass.

 

[bearhunter]

I've never had any issue with Federal GMM or even their bulk brass, whether used in semi autos/bolt rifles, handguns, shot shells.

I'm careful with keeping counts between annealings and it seems to last for several cycles.

Not sure what my Garand will do to the batch of ammo I'm going to load, with a couple of hundred Federal Blue Box once fired brass.

Some of my most consistent brass is Federal.

The only brass I've had issues with have been recent Remington, Privi and Winchester. Winchester being the worst.

Can't go wrong with Lapua/Norma/etc.

 

[duncansuds]

I get an average of 4x out of federal as long as my pressure is low/average. My rifle happens to like a 94% of max load best. When I was running this brass in my long range dedicated 308, I’d be culling about 15% of brass by the second reload cycle off factory load fired brass. It trims nice, forms easy. I use it for most purposes, my best of best for consistency is Lapua. Properly taken care of I have 10x or better.

 

[Nshunter01]

I started loading 6.5 creedmoor about a year ago. My brass options were Hornady, winchester and Federal. The hornady was absolute junk. Weights all over the place and inconsistent primer pockets. The winchester was pretty good but there were a few that were way different in weight. The federal were all very consistent and I get great groups with it. I always chucked federal brass in the past. but this newer stuff seems to be much better.

 

[remington jim]

I'm finding Fed 308 and 30-06 brass all Ok - Primer Pockets are tight still after 3 loadings on some - RJ

 

[Potashminer]

That is a good observation RJ - it seems most of my brass, of any brand or chambering, seems to eventually give out by loosing the snug fit of the primer into the primer pocket first. Sometimes 2 reloadings - sometimes 15 reloadings.

Is about why I pretty much buy new brass any more, or military brass with original primer still crimped in. Not so sure, any more, about ads describing brass as "once fired" - but all shined up from tumbler, etc. - so no real way to tell until seating a primer ...