poor federal brass

[bruno]

i just inspected 100 federal cases, once fired from factory cartridges, and some of them are quite noticably more beveled around the case head, Also some of the primer pockets are way off-center. they both obviously worked, as i was the one who fired the factory round, but are these ok to reload? specifically thinking of the off-center primer pockets.

 

[SeamusMac]

I'm not sure where I heard it but someone voiced a lot of displeasure with Federal brass for reloading, and I've stayed away from it.

 

[gunster-old]

I think you mean the flash holes are off centre. If that's the case then they should be safe to reload although accuracy may suffer. I've never seen primer pockets off centre but if they are I'd trash them.

 

[sunray]

Federal brass tends to be softer than most other makes. It's reloadable, but doesn't last as long.

 

[dusty61]

I`ve used Rem cases with good results, but i prefer Win brass. I`ve never seen off center primer pockets but have seen guns where the firing pin is off center abit. Also have seen guns with cambering off center abit.

 

[jim webster]

i gave up on trying to use federal brass...way to soft and i have ripped off to many rims on it to ever go back to it again..

 

[todbartell]

i find their primer pockets loosen up on normal pressure loads

 

[pac_man]

Although I haven't tried it yet, I've been told to use CCI primers when using Federal brass. The reason being that Federal brass has sloppy primer pockets and CCI primers are slightly larger than Winchester primers. You might want to try it, I know I will once I start reloading again.

 

[RePete]

I've said it before, that Federal primer pockets open up after the first reloads. Especially .223.

.308 are a bit better, but only for 1 or 2 more reloads.