How good is federal brass...
- Thread starter death-junky
- Start date
The rifle probably was in NATO no-go spec, but you couple that with FL sizing (die touching shell holder) and I'm not surprised.
My old Nork was 15 thou over 308 min, add in FL sizing incorrectly and you are getting 20-25 thou stretch every firing. You need a few tools to correctly FL size for a large headspace semi.
Never been a 308 fan, so cannot speak for those Federal Match cases you mention. However, I have several hunting rifles that the best accuracy node
is at or very near max velocity/pressure for the chambering. From my personal experience, I avoid using Federal brass.
My B.I.L has a Vanguard, chambered 300 WSM. Federal Factory loads show excess pressure signs in it. Winchester factory loads show a bit more speed,
but do not mark the cases, or stretch primer pockets.
If you are happy with the Federal offerings, please don't let me change your mind.
Dave.I wasn't knocking your findings, or anyone else's on this thread one bit.
Federal brass is notoriously ''soft'' and I don't use it in rifles that require loads close or slightly over maximum, unless they have custom reamed, minimum spec chamber dimensions and even then, I only neck size.
I use the Federal GM Match brass for an Antonio Zoli 30-06 I have exclusively, simply because there was zero visible or measurable stretch on the cases or even a sign of an expansion type pressure ring, after the first firing.
In truth, all of the Federal brass I have has come from estate sales for the GM and the rest has come from range buckets.
I'm to cheap to throw it away and seeing as I know it's on the soft side, load it accordingly and keep it in boxes marked for specific firearms.
The nice thing about helping to maintain our range, is that I also empty the brass buckets, mostly 22rf and surplus 7.62x39, where I find quite a bit of once fired brass, for everything from 17/223 right up to the very odd 458 WM.
I give the unusable brass to a friend that does a fair bit of lost wax casting of belt buckles and other artsy fartsy stuff. The surplus just goes into one of the local metal bins and the reusable stuff goes home.
I'm never going to run out of brass for at least 25 different cartridges.
I have a 303Brit, unit match rifle that absolutely loves the old Federal Gray Box 174 grain, factory loads. This rifle has a tight chamber for an issue 303 No4 MkI Long Branch, I would almost say it's chamber was reamed with a custom reamer.
I've been through this before with a lot of folks who really dislike Federal cases for reloading.
Most of them insist on full length resizing, because they've read somewhere than neck sizing only can and will cause bolts not to close on the case in the chamber under field conditions. Can't change their minds or educate them on learning what their reloads should be tailored to for their particular firearms.
I know you are well versed in reloading and can understand where you're coming from, especially with max or near max loads.
I have firearms that work well with Federal cases, including a very accurate Tikka T3X chambered for the 223Rem and a great little Husky 8x57 loaded with 196 Norma Oryx bullets that I purchased from you.
I've got five reloads on 40 Federal Blue Box cases for that rifle and none of the primer pockets are loose and they've been neck sized only. 56.0 grains of H414sl10 over CCI 250, under 196 grain Oryx give me 2600fps. Not a light load but not maximum either.
Federal brass is notoriously ''soft'' and I don't use it in rifles that require loads close or slightly over maximum, unless they have custom reamed, minimum spec chamber dimensions and even then, I only neck size.
I use the Federal GM Match brass for an Antonio Zoli 30-06 I have exclusively, simply because there was zero visible or measurable stretch on the cases or even a sign of an expansion type pressure ring, after the first firing.
In truth, all of the Federal brass I have has come from estate sales for the GM and the rest has come from range buckets.
I'm to cheap to throw it away and seeing as I know it's on the soft side, load it accordingly and keep it in boxes marked for specific firearms.
The nice thing about helping to maintain our range, is that I also empty the brass buckets, mostly 22rf and surplus 7.62x39, where I find quite a bit of once fired brass, for everything from 17/223 right up to the very odd 458 WM.
I give the unusable brass to a friend that does a fair bit of lost wax casting of belt buckles and other artsy fartsy stuff. The surplus just goes into one of the local metal bins and the reusable stuff goes home.
I'm never going to run out of brass for at least 25 different cartridges.
I have a 303Brit, unit match rifle that absolutely loves the old Federal Gray Box 174 grain, factory loads. This rifle has a tight chamber for an issue 303 No4 MkI Long Branch, I would almost say it's chamber was reamed with a custom reamer.
I've been through this before with a lot of folks who really dislike Federal cases for reloading.
Most of them insist on full length resizing, because they've read somewhere than neck sizing only can and will cause bolts not to close on the case in the chamber under field conditions. Can't change their minds or educate them on learning what their reloads should be tailored to for their particular firearms.
I know you are well versed in reloading and can understand where you're coming from, especially with max or near max loads.
I have firearms that work well with Federal cases, including a very accurate Tikka T3X chambered for the 223Rem and a great little Husky 8x57 loaded with 196 Norma Oryx bullets that I purchased from you.
I've got five reloads on 40 Federal Blue Box cases for that rifle and none of the primer pockets are loose and they've been neck sized only. 56.0 grains of H414sl10 over CCI 250, under 196 grain Oryx give me 2600fps. Not a light load but not maximum either.
Yotarunner
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Alberta
So then why can I get 5+ firings from Winchester and Hornady yet complete failure on the second from federal.
Not using enough or using it wrong is more accurate. All I use is Hornady One-Shot and never had a stuck case despite the massive volume of loading done. Follow the directions, if you don't think you used enough, use a bit more...
Because the Federal brass is relatively soft and doesn't do well after a couple of maximum or close to maximum loads, especially when full length resizing, which is a must with semi auto rifles.
Hitzy is telling it straight. It's not rocket science.
Federal shot shell hulls are the same way in semi auto shot guns. Trap loads will last several reloads. Higher pressure hunting loads, especially those with low brass bases will have all sorts of issues.
Bassmaster
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- WMU 48 - Whitetail country
No issues with Fed pistol brass....yet, but Fed rifle brass gets recycled. To many bad experiences
Your lube is the issue. But it most certainly has nothing to do with the lube inside of the neck. Use Imperial sizing die wax and your problems will be solved. Immediately.
I will take all the FREE FC brass you want to send me ! RJ
RJ
Federal brass isn't for those that insist on loading their cartridges at, close to or over maximum pressures. That's it in a nutshell.
I have some rifles, notably a couple of Tikka T3s and a lovely custom 98 Mauser that are at their best, accuracy wise, when loaded to maximum or slightly over listed book pressures, with modern cartridges. I use Lapua brass for those rifles.
I have a couple of custom 98s chambered for cartridges that were popular over a century ago and they are also at their best when cartridges such as the 7x57 and 8x57 are loaded at or well above listed maximum loads, some of which are purposely held down to be safe in weaker actions. I use Lapua or Norma brass for those rifles as well as Gevelot, which may or may not be made by Norma.
If it can be found, 50 year old Dominion brass is exceptional and if taken care of seems to last forever. I have some 30-06 cases with over 60 reloads.
Making a statement, such as "I only load Lapua for my hunting loads" is fine, if you're only loading for one or a couple of rifles.
If you're loading for a half dozen of in some cases even more, such niceties aren't always feasible.
If you're loading for a half dozen of in some cases even more, such niceties aren't always feasible.
When people found out I was using Federal brass in my Garands they said it was crap and couldn’t get more than three reloads out of it. I thought okay over 450 free Federal brass loaded three times is over a years worth of shooting. I heard primer pockets would expand. I am on my seventh reload and have lost four due to neck splints. The head are getting marked up a bit but that’s normal with an semi auto. My load is 48 grs of IMR 4895 with 150 gr fmj
In my 99 savage 308 I am getting four reloads.Primer pockets are loose after the fourth firing. I am shooting a maximum load.
I know Federal brass is softer than other brass but when the brass is free I think it is well worth using. I don’t find Nosler brass any better. I find Norma and PPU last a long time. I have started using Lapua in a couple calibers. Only on my second reloads so hopefully they are as good as people say.
In my 99 savage 308 I am getting four reloads.Primer pockets are loose after the fourth firing. I am shooting a maximum load.
I know Federal brass is softer than other brass but when the brass is free I think it is well worth using. I don’t find Nosler brass any better. I find Norma and PPU last a long time. I have started using Lapua in a couple calibers. Only on my second reloads so hopefully they are as good as people say.
