Winchester range brass, win vs w-w super

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DonnieM

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Do any of you guys know the differences between winchester brass and w-w super brass? The only visual difference I can see is that winchester brass has a thickening around the flash hole inside the case, w-w super is flat inside the case at the flash hole. So I'm thinking there may be a difference with case capacity? Any knowledge is appreciated.
Thanks, Don.
 
Checking the water weight capacity of these two makes will give you a fairly good idea.
Take one (or more) of each headstamp:
1. Clean and F/L resize
2. trim all cases to the same length
3. insert used primers (as drain plugs)
4. weigh and record each case individually
5. fill each case to brim with (room temperature) water
6. make sure outside of case is dry and then weigh and record each case
7. compare before and after weights - the highest weight gain has the greatest powder capacity
 
Can't you still buy winchester super x ammo that has the ww super head stamp? I was wondering if it was made specifically for high velocity ammo, by increasing the case capacity with the flat bottom on the inside of the case. Like I say, that is a notable difference so they are not the same case with different head stamps.
 
Instead of messing with water you can just prep the brass and weigh it. You know the outside dimensions are the same so any extra weight means less capacity.
Heavy cases are thicker and that thickness has to take up space inside the shell meaning less space for powder and therefore higher pressure than a lighter, thinner case given the same load.

I was under the impression the different headstamps were from different eras as the company reorganized or possibly different plants but I have no definite answer for this.
 
I just checked the box of 300 win mag super x ammo I have, the head stamp is w-w super. So the different era thing is not accurate, unless the box I bought months ago has been in storage for an era. Maybe I'll try calling winchester tomorrow.
 
DonnieM said:
I just checked the box of 300 win mag super x ammo I have, the head stamp is w-w super. So the different era thing is not accurate, unless the box I bought months ago has been in storage for an era. Maybe I'll try calling winchester tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I have bought winchester ammo from 6 years ago and the latest box was monday. All of it has said winchester never ww super.
 
I didn't state exactly what I meant understandably..........W-W Super X has always been loaded ammo and are Winchester trademarks..........their bulk brass used to say the same, now their bulk brass just says Win or Winchester and the caliber designation.
 
Just poking through some of my brass labelled winchester i have 308,06,.223 and 300 win, labelled ww super are my 303 and 30-30 is both winchester and ww super. likely the era in which they were made. some of the 303 is fairly new though.
 
Doesn't sound like anyone has a definitive answer, including myself. Like i say, ill try to get a hold of Winchester today and see if i can get an answer. I've researched the internet for the differences but its the same thing, just speculation. I guess i should clarify i'm looking at center fire ammunition, 308 win and 300 wsm. Not shot shells or rim fire. Might be a difference there as well.
 
Well that didn't take long, i got a reply from Winchester customer support. It says they haven't changed the dimensional spec of Winchester brass regardless of case head stamp. They are made to the same SAAMI spec regardless of head stamp. I guess this prompts some case capacity comparisons tonight and maybe some cutaways.
 
I have found Winchester brass to be relatively consistent through it's many different lots and head stamps. I have 284 brass that spans several decades and it is all within 5 grs weight variance..........however the new red and black bags of bulk brass are garbage and I will not be buying any of it any time soon. I have about 3 lifetimes worth of brass for most of my rifles so it doesn't concern me even a little that their QC has dropped below acceptable.
 
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