Best Brass ?

[Woodlander]

I use Lapua in 6br and .223, had a split neck on a piece of .223 after only 3 firings. A few split necks and loose primer pockets on the 6br, but these were many times fired.
For .204, I use Nosler, but also have some Norma from a member on here.
Is it true that Norma make Nosler brass, I’d heard that somewhere? Also that Sako brass comes from the same factory.

 

[Humpy]

The finest brass I have ever loaded from Europe is DWM 8X60S. Primer pockets were very snug and I suspect would last many loadings. Now that being said if you have access to IMI (Israeli Military Industries) I suspect their brass would be excellent as their 7.62 is loaded on a line that came out of Frankford Arsenal when it closed down and assuming same specs with a snug chamber I have easily obtained 90+ reloads on my MILSPEC us 7.62 Match cases and primer pockets are still snug.

If you try and push commercial brass you will most likely note the primer pockets getting larger and when happens you will get gas leakage around primer and cut a circle around the striker opening consistent with the edge of the primer location. This looks bad should you want to sell it down the road.

I have loaded 8X60S and 9X56 Steyr ammo. The 8x60S was loaded for a friend who shot one before the died last year. I hope to be able to get it from his estate as I understand his guns are being sold. I have had a 9X56 M1905 since about 1980. I made brass for the 8X60 from 30.06 US MILSPEC match cases and I will probably make some for the 9X56 from same cases shortly as I want to load some 180 gr. handgun bullets it it for cheaper shooting.

 

[8x57]

Is it true that Norma make Nosler brass, I’d heard that somewhere? Also that Sako brass comes from the same factory.

No its not a rumour, Norma make cases for a number of different companies. If you search way back on this site you will find a photograph that a site member posted showing numerous brands that Norma produce cases for.
Norma are not the only ones to do this, the firearms industry is the same as many other industries and produce products for other companies and bearing head stamps other than their own.

 

[Woodlander]

Does this mean they all come off the same line, using the same materials and same machinery? Meaning whichever headstamp, they should be interchangeable?
I’ve meant to try my Norma and Nosler side by side, just never got round to it.

 

[8x57]

Does this mean they all come off the same line, using the same materials and same machinery? Meaning whichever headstamp, they should be interchangeable?
I’ve meant to try my Norma and Nosler side by side, just never got round to it.

That is I suppose a possibility.

 

[Longstrider]

Quite a lot of replies to that one then ! One name that seems to crop up more than anything else is Norma. This might explain why the Norma brass I'm thinking of buying (New) is nearly as costly as the factory ammo I've been using until now !