Will Norma brass hold up better to repeated FL sizing?
- Thread starter rommelrommel
- Start date
mudgunner49
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Norma makes great brass, however how long it lasts under the stress of FL resizing depends on a number of things, most significantly how much over-sized your chamber is. The closer that it is to the size that the die reduces to, the less "working" (not sure if that term is correct) your brass will undergo and therefore the longer that it will last.
I have found most American brass to be as good so long as I work it as little as possible. I usually dedicate a lot of brass to a specific rifle, fire it in that rifle and then neck-size only. I have some 6.5x55 brass (Winchester) that has been loaded 12-15 times with no losses due to neck cracks or case separation as of yet.
blake
I have found most American brass to be as good so long as I work it as little as possible. I usually dedicate a lot of brass to a specific rifle, fire it in that rifle and then neck-size only. I have some 6.5x55 brass (Winchester) that has been loaded 12-15 times with no losses due to neck cracks or case separation as of yet.
blake
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
There are three rifle calibers where I use Norma brass exclusively and for the most part I've never found it to be any poorer quality or having any shorter a 'usability' life than than many of the north american brands. The only Norma brass I did have some difficulty with was their handgun brass.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
'Bang for the buck', especially for the more popular calibers, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the value you get from some of the standard North American stuff. Readily available brands like Winchester or Remington for example are hard to beat. That's what I'd go with
As I've mentioned previously, I use Norma brass in three rifles. For reasons of nostalgia I stayed with Norma for the 30-06 Husqarana I inherited from my Dad because that was his choice. I also use Norma in my 308 Norma Magnum for obvious reasons and I use Norma in my 7x61 S&H for the same reasons. With the 308 NM and the 7x61 S&H, Norma is basically the only game in town
.I had a bunch of older Norma brass,I found it to be softer than Winchester,so I got less loadings.The weight range wasn't as even as Federal,on par with Winchester or Remington. I do like the drilled primer hole compared to the punched . So from my experence I would say,not worth it.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
As I mentioned earlier, the only issue I've ever had with Norma brass was with some of the earlier production of that for some handgun calibers. I 'believe' the problem was one of metallurgy in that it 'seemed' softer than other brands. Any of the quality and durability comparisons I've done with Norma rifle brass VS that of any of the other popular brands available, it's proven to be as good and in some cases better.
I've recently acquired some of their latest production of an upgraded improved variety of brass for the 7x61 S&H, now called the 7x61 S&H 'Super'. Quality wise as far as weight etc is concerned, it appears to be as good as I've ever used. However, as far as reloadability and durability issues are concerned, time will tell
as I continue using it.Norma brass
By softer,I mean the primer pockets opened.I don't hot rod.The other brands didn't. I have no newer Norma to compare it to. For match ammo,I load Lapua.I have been very impressed by Winchester,one batch lasted over two dozen loadings until I got a neck split.
By softer,I mean the primer pockets opened.I don't hot rod.The other brands didn't. I have no newer Norma to compare it to. For match ammo,I load Lapua.I have been very impressed by Winchester,one batch lasted over two dozen loadings until I got a neck split.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
That problem with the primer pockets was the same thing I ment by "soft" but again, I only experienced that problem in older handgun brass. I'm missing something though. You'll have to pardon me,
but what are you referring to when you say, "I don't hot rod"?
In a recent issue of Handloader magazine, in an article on developing the most accurate load in 308, the writer did a test of a dozen or so brands of brass. I'm sure Norma went the longest before case separation. I think Remmington nickel plated and Remington plain were right behind. I'm not sure how scientific the test was, as I think he picked one case from each brand and fired over and over till case separation. If he performed the test with 10 or 20, I think it would tell a lot more.
By "I don't hot rod " ,I mean I'm loading a 30-06 not a 300WM, so I don't expect high velocities. At AR there is a bunch of data with Noslers Partions and various powders. N-560 gave 2800 at 62,000 with a pressure barrel. My large chambered,long throated,22" barreled,M-700 gives 2740. So I would guess the pressures were well under 270 levels,even likely under 60,000.
