Federal Gold Medal Match Brass

Lapua is really good quality brass. Federal brass is soft and the primer pockets get loose pretty quickly.
 
Federal makes our American long range 7.62x51 sniper ammunition and the Gold Medal cases are supposedly more uniform and a better quality.

Cartridge, Caliber 7.62mm Special Ball, Long Range, MK 316 MOD 0 (United States): A 175-grain (11.3 g) round specifically designed for long-range sniping consisting of Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles, Federal Cartridge Company match cartridge cases and Gold Medal Match primers. The Propellant has been verified as IMR 4064 (per NSN 1305-01-567-6944 and Federal Cartridge Company Contract/Order Number N0016408DJN28 and has a charge weight per the specs of 41.745-grain (2.7 g).
 
Gerald said:
Is this a really good quality brass?
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If it's the same brass they use in their federal gold medal ammunitions, then no, it's pretty much the worst brass that will actually function correctly in a rifle. If it's something else then I don't know, but I wouldn't bet much money on it.

Expect only 1 or 2 shots with federal brass. Then the primer pocket gets loose.
 
Federal cases have slightly softer brass than some other brands, and is somewhat thicker, so when used with the same loads that were developed for use in thinner / harder brass, pressure is higher and primer pockets tend to loosen early. It gets a bad rap from people who want to shoot the maximum pressure loads that their rifle will tolerate. If you load high pressure loads with Federal brass it only lasts a couple loadings. If you shoot moderate loads, it lasts for many loads. It is as consistent as most, not as good as Lapua or Norma but pretty good.
 
Gerald said:
Jerry this is the brass that comes with the 175gr Sierra Matchking BTHP. It says on the box Federal Premium Gold Medal
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The ammo is well known to be consistent and accurate. If the brass capacity varied significantly, then accuracy would suffer
 
todbartell said:
The ammo is well known to be consistent and accurate. If the brass capacity varied significantly, then accuracy would suffer
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Agree! I used the brass to hand load after firing the factory Gold Medal 168 gr SMK. I had 600 rds of factory and used the brass loading various 155 gr, 168 gr, 175/178 gr and 185 gr match projectiles. I found it to be no less accurate than Lapua brass but have only got 5 firings as of yet but still using it. Probably won't last as long as Lapua but not as bad as people are saying. My personal opinion anyway for what its worth.
 
Is there a head stamp notation difference between the gold metal match cases and the blue box version?

I see different listings between the two in the EE and i wouldnt be able to tell the differnce at the moment.

Regards
Ronr
 
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