How much do you separate brass for hunting rounds?
- Thread starter StevieK
- Start date
I separate by brand and use all the Federal up first. Two to four reloads and the primer pockets are getting noticeably loose. Once they are gone, I go to the brand I have the most of. Funny thing is, I haven't run out of Federal cases before I have picked up more from the range bucket. It seems to be all I shoot with, but my stocks of other brand and chamberings are growing all the time. When they stop making brass, I'll still be good. Won't have any Federal left, but LOTS of better brass. Starting to get a decent amount of PRVI .303Br and RP ..30-06 brass. As well as some PRVI 7.62x39mm brass. Tons of .308 and .243.
I'm saving ALL the PRVI for my .303Imp.
I'm saving ALL the PRVI for my .303Imp.
Then explain why guys wanting the utmost consistency sort their cases by water capacity. Why would they go through all that trouble when they could just throw them on the scale? I agree that for the average guy that's taking things a little far and it for the most part it's completely unnecessary to get good results from your handloads but when you say that just because they weigh the same they have the same case capacity I'm sorry to say I think you're wrong.
I guess what I'm saying is why would you risk introducing inconsistency to your loading just to save a couple dollars using random brass when you can just go buy a bag of matched brass from the local shop for $30-$50 which would last you for years as a hunter and at least a year as a range shooter who gets out fairly regularly?
In that case since you're not going to shoot beyond 150 yards you can pretty much use any brass you want and any bullet you want as long as you get you scope zero'd somewhere near the center of the group you'll be making. A little drift either way from POA isn't going to make a whole lot of difference at those ranges. The problem will come if you have an out of the ordinary shot present itself and you want to make a 200 yard shot and you end up hitting it in the guts or leg instead of the vitals. To me I prep for the worst and hope for the easy shot. Like you I haven't had to take a shot at a deer past 100 yards for a few years but I still prep my equipment and myself to be able to confidently make a 300 yard shot just in case.
Like I said earlier, it's all about personal tolerance and expectations. I don't like chasing wounded animals through the bush and I don't like the idea of the animal I shoot going through an agonizing death. My last 3 deer have all dropped within 15 yards of being hit.
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I need to stop giving away my Winchester brass, everyone seems to like it the best of the regular brass before you move up to Lapua and the other higher end stuff.
I've never had the chance to use lapua or any other type. Walked into bass pro Calgary about a year ago and they had 5 bags of Winchester 308, so I bought them all, once I go through these and can't find Winchester anymore, perhaps I'll try another type. Last time I was in bass pro they must have had 20 bags there, so might be awhile to try something new.
Kevin
Lol, last time I was there they had a bunch of starline 10mm brass and I was so tempted to buy it all but I already have 500 pieces of new (think it's winchester) 10mm sitting in the reloading room closet.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Yep, FC is crap. Plain old RP is my go to other than my Weatherbys.
I think the point is ....
If they weight the same and have the exact same exterior dimensions, then they must have the same interior dimension, therefore if they weigh different and have the same exterior dimensions, they must have different interior dimensions therefore different internal capacities.
Correct, weigh fire formed brass that has been trimmed to an equal length, then measure capacity with water, you will find that cases that weigh the same, hold the same amount of water. Simple physics!!! Basic math!!!
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I have a bunch of different rifles, so dont usually load to max. More likely to simply use a more powerful caliber. I load to max accuracy, find that range, and load up a bunch of loads for that rifle. Only when i am at max is the brass brand super important to me. Maybe a bit of a snob for the low end brands, and too cheap to buy the expensive stuff. That being said, i am really picky in prep, throw out brass pretty brutally.
I also have noticed that quality can really change over the years. Winchester brass used to be very good, now it is average.
I also have noticed that quality can really change over the years. Winchester brass used to be very good, now it is average.
Separate by brand, then by weight. If you only shoot one round you owe it to the animal and yourself to have the best round you own in the chamber at that time. If you have buddies that reload swap them brass for brass so you don't have to separate brands. Or swap for bullets, powder, or primers so you can try different components to find the best load for your gun. My best 22-250 load is from a much younger friend I swapped some powder with to try a few loads. As powder and components get more expensive it lets you try different things without breaking the bank. Even if you swap 50 you don't want for 30 you do, you are still way ahead.
for hunting I usually start with fifty new brass then trim,chamfer and debur, cleanup primer pockets and ream flash holes. brand varies. I like lapua but choices are limited. next is older Winchester the new stuff is crap, Remington and last federal. also some hornady and nozler but I think the nozler to be over priced. I don't weigh hunting brass as there close enough for hunting. they get put in a plastic box and there dedicated to one rifle. when the primer pockets start becoming loose I discard the whole batch and start again..
Thats debatable. I've used Federal exclusively for the last 25+years and have had spectacular results with them. RP doesn't do well in my rifle(Rem 700 BDL in .308Win) at all. From 600m DCRA to hunting in Alta, Nfld & Ont, Federal has been good to me. I've got the successful hunter crests (and hats) to prove it
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