QUESTION: 45-120 Brass Quality

Re3iever

Re3iever

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Newfoundland
I have (4) different manufacturers of 45-120 brass, the headstamps are as follows

  1. Bertram 45 Basic
  2. HDS 45-120 SS
  3. RCBS 45 Basic
  4. TEN-X 45-120

Can anyone help me as to how one compares to the other?

Thanks, Retreever
 
Of those I only have experience with Bertram. Years ago I bought several boxes for my .45-110. Several of them split lengthwise on the first firing. I got rid of them and now use Norma.

Chris.
 
I've only used HDS and have had no issues after about 4 loadings. That being said, I use only black powder and really baby that calibre brass with cleaning, drying and sizing as little as possible.
 
I ve used the RCBS 45 basic years ago when I had a Shiloh in 45/120 and found them to be of decent quality.Mind you I never used smokeless and neck sized my cases only.
 
The only case failure I have ever had with 45-120 was with HDS. The case separated completely about mid body. I have a mixture of RCBS, HDS and Bertram that I separate according to headstamp. I was shooting cast 425 gr GC over Pyrodex.
 
Ol' Flinter said:
Anneal your brass before using it and again about every 10 shots.
Click to expand...

I don't think annealing would have helped my 45-110 brass because it split right down the middle, from maybe half way down, and then all the way to the case web. I generally anneal all of my 45 cal brass these days, but only to the depth that the bullet seats. To fix that Bertram brass you'd have had to anneal it all the way down to the web which is not something I'd recommend.

The best way to fix it was to switch to Norma brass. I've never had the slightest trouble with it. I would never buy Bertram again, unless there were no other options.

Chris.
 
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