Is US factory ammo intentionally made with one-use brass?

[steelgray]

People seem to have forgotten this, but Ellwood Epps solved the whole supposed problem of 303 British suffering head separation problems - way back in the mid 60's.

Specifically, if you review the 1965 Epps custom catalogue you will see that Ellwood Epps developed a proprietary cartridge called "303 Epps improved". As shown in the logo that Ellwood Epps adopted at the time, "303 Epps Improved" was cleverly devised so that the entire cartridge travelled down range, as one unit! As noted, this feature is shown in the logo that Epps adopted, at the time.

The advantages of this innovation are obvious. Since the projectile and cartridge case never separate, there can be no headspacing problems! Also this approach resulted in a fantastic increase in "retained mass" and, therefore, stopping power. In fact, there is a photo on the web showing the results he got from this fantastic round - specifically where he bagged three huge moose with one shot!

I have no idea why this innovation never caught on.

 

[thump_rrr]

I've not run into this soft, useless brass. Really, it's the cheapest component, even if you only get say five firings, it's pennys per shot.
Manufactures, may get away with poor brass during this ammo crisis. However, the small amount they save will not equal the reduced market share in the future when better brassed factory choices are available.

Years ago I preffered WW, Winchester. Now remington factory brass is considered better. Course there are boutique cases more desire and 0ricey; lapua, nosler, another tier down Peterson, star line, and in their own mind hornady.

I haven't seen a decrease in quality however for me range pickup brass is just that, free brass.
I won't go as far as saying that is the cheapest component besides common calibers such as 9MM, 45ACP, and maybe 38spl or 357Mag.

Starline 460S&W brass is now $130/100
Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor brass is $184/100

The problem with range pickup bottleneck brass is that it's just a bunch of mixed brass.
Trying to get a few hundred pieces to have uniform weight and case volume isn't happening.

I have processed close to 1 Million pieces of brass and can't say that the brass being produced today is of lesser quality from years past.
I've always disliked Hornady brass from how much thinner it is compared to other brands to their shorter length cases in their FTX ammo line.
I've also been a fan of Starline brass although I've never used any of their bottleneck cartridge offerings.

 

[gunlaker]

People seem to have forgotten this, but Ellwood Epps solved the whole supposed problem of 303 British suffering head separation problems - way back in the mid 60's.

Specifically, if you review the 1965 Epps custom catalogue you will see that Ellwood Epps developed a proprietary cartridge called "303 Epps improved". As shown in the logo that Ellwood Epps adopted at the time, "303 Epps Improved" was cleverly devised so that the entire cartridge travelled down range, as one unit! As noted, this feature is shown in the logo that Epps adopted, at the time.

The advantages of this innovation are obvious. Since the projectile and cartridge case never separate, there can be no headspacing problems! Also this approach resulted in a fantastic increase in "retained mass" and, therefore, stopping power. In fact, there is a photo on the web showing the results he got from this fantastic round - specifically where he bagged three huge moose with one shot!

I have no idea why this innovation never caught on.

I like it! Having the whole cartridge go down range solves a few problems. I wonder if you can just pick up the fired cartridge off the ground and use it again like an arrow? This would solve the primer shortage problem quickly

Chris.

 

[steelgray]

I like it! Having the whole cartridge go down range solves a few problems. I wonder if you can just pick up the fired cartridge off the ground and use it again like an arrow? This would solve the primer shortage problem quickly

Chris.

Someone suggested to me that the reason that 303 Epps Improved never caught on is because having the whole cartridge travel downrange to take the game resulted in too much wasted meat. This was probably due to shock caused the protruding rim as the animal was struck.

 

[6.5 shooter]

You control the market place. Buy crap brass get crap results, buy better stuff, better results. Much like reloading equipment or computers, garbage in, garbage out.

 

[jethunter]

.... Much like reloading equipment or computers, garbage in, garbage out.

or wasting time reading this thread for example.

a thread based on a youtube video produced by clickbait artists.

 

[steelgray]

or wasting time reading this thread for example.

a thread based on a youtube video produced by clickbait artists.

Can you explain how this thread is "... based on a youtube video produced by clickbait artists"? Do you have a basis for that comment or are you just trying to say something malicious just for the sake of it? Pretty sad.

 

[jethunter]

Cut and paste from the same link you supplied:

We do NOT have the metallurgical expertise to infer that any particular alloy shown above is “better” than another. The alloy “blend” is merely one of many variables that can have an impact on the performance and quality of the finished product. Annealing times/methods differ and some cartridge brass is extruded while other cartridge brass is made with the traditional drawing process. Readers should not presume, on reading the above chart, that they can identify the “best shooting” brass simply based on the constituent metals in the various alloys.

 

[iron cat]

So you cannot compare it with any other American Company brass. Only Remington did some years ago.
Load up your Lapua 6BR brass with a full case of RL15 and a 105-108 bullets, you will see no more than 5-6 firing of that case.

.

If I only got 5 loads out of a piece of brass I'd be changing something.
For years I have shot 30 grains of Varget with a 105-108 bullet in my 6mmBR's (I have owned 5 of them) the latest batch of Lapua brass is on its 15th loading . I d not anneal.
Cat

 

[Andy]

This thread is excellent material for a meme...