Regarding Brass

H4831

H4831

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Interesting to read the controversies over brands of brass for reloading. CIL made top quality ammunition and components for many years, under the Dominion Cartridge Co name, with various headstamps, ending with Imperial. However, When CIL sold the ammunition branch, the new company called the ammo "IvI Imperial." The IVI Imperial ammunition I tested with a chronograph was much lower velocity than what was advertised. Some writers called Imperial junk, while others praised it. No commercial brand of ammunition on the market is "junk." One writer called it junk because he had head seperation which is caused by excessive head space, either the fault of the rifle, or the brass was shortened too much in the sizing die.
I don't suppose there are many reloaders left out there who have used Norma ammunition. I got as many as 30 reloads from 30-06 brass, but some reloaders called it junk, or something similar. You just can't please everybody!
 
I never thought much of CIL factory ammo. The KKSP's wouldn't group - although they worked well on game...which was the point I suppose, Sabertips were the original Ballistic Tips...and at high velocity acted accordingly, and my all time favorite which I loved to hate was the CPE...yes the copper point expanding, great pointy high BC bullet - ideal in a .30-06, but they loaded .308" CPE's in .303 brass! Go back ands check out their old adds from the '60's, they offered that bullet only in the '06 and the .303 , trouble was it was the same bullet. I also recall getting twice as many duds in a case of .22 LR as any other brand I ever tried. Lots of guys liked their shotshells though.

As for CIL brass, I haven't loaded a mountain of it by any means, but what I have loaded seemed pretty good - .22 Hornet, .222, .243, .30-30, .30-06, and .303 Brit. None of my reloads caused Imperial brass to fail any sooner than any other brand. I had a pail full of IVI 7.62X51, which was copper colored rather than brass. That stuff was pretty consistent as I recall.

I was always a little puzzled by the assortment of lettering styles on the heads of CIL brass. It would of been interesting to weigh some of that stuff to see if one style of lettering would designate brass which was slightly more consistent or lighter than another.
 
I've had several of the Imperial brass split on the shoulder on it's first firing. Seen several in the brass bucket as well.
Any Imperial brass goes in the scrap bucket.
 
Re CIL BRASS

Boomer said:
I never thought much of CIL factory ammo. The KKSP's wouldn't group - although they worked well on game...which was the point I suppose, Sabertips were the original Ballistic Tips...and at high velocity acted accordingly, and my all time favorite which I loved to hate was the CPE...yes the copper point expanding, great pointy high BC bullet - ideal in a .30-06, but they loaded .308" CPE's in .303 brass! Go back ands check out their old adds from the '60's, they offered that bullet only in the '06 and the .303 , trouble was it was the same bullet. I also recall getting twice as many duds in a case of .22 LR as any other brand I ever tried. Lots of guys liked their shotshells though.

As for CIL brass, I haven't loaded a mountain of it by any means, but what I have loaded seemed pretty good - .22 Hornet, .222, .243, .30-30, .30-06, and .303 Brit. None of my reloads caused Imperial brass to fail any sooner than any other brand. I had a pail full of IVI 7.62X51, which was copper colored rather than brass. That stuff was pretty consistent as I recall.

I was always a little puzzled by the assortment of lettering styles on the heads of CIL brass. It would of been interesting to weigh some of that stuff to see if one style of lettering would designate brass which was slightly more consistent or lighter than another.
Click to expand...

The 180 CPE was also my favourite in the 30-06. Shot more moose with it than any other bullet. I am looking at a 1962-63 Ellwood Epps catalogue. On page 26 they list CIL 30 cal .308 bullets and bullets for the .303 Br, including the 180 CPE, which they state as being .311. That has to be right.
For accuracy try the 220 (KKSP if you can) in a 30-06 with the standard 10" twist, with a stiff load of 4831! A well tuned rifle gives amazing acc.
 
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