Best quality brass…

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gixer1

gixer1

Well-Known Member
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What would you say is the best or worst quality brass?

I rate Lapua…although am trialing some
Alpha at the moment and going to try some Peterson.

The one I’ve had the most issues with is S&B, and from looking on the web many seem to have a similar problem (undersized primer pockets)

Also worth a mention is PPU and starline, it’s simple and effective in most chamberings.

Regards,
Gixer
 
I use Lapua in .223 and .243. V good.
.204 Nosler or Norma. However one batch of Nosler was terrible quality. 5% split or defective necks absolutely dreadful. Winchester in 204 debatable had one batch which developed loose primer pockets after 3x reloads.
It's a shame Lapua don't make .204 brass.
D
 
In my 6mm br Lapua.The .204 is Norma & old Winchester brass.
Used RP brass in the .204 found it OK but not as good as the above.
 
I've no issues with Remington brass in 204,bought 100 pieces almost 7 years ago and still using it, S&B brass in 6.5 is almost as good but both took alot of fettling with flash hole deburring and primer pocket uniforming, both lots are annealed after every use, all resizing is done in Le Wilson dies,necks are sized using mandrels
 
In my experience.......

Hornaday.......terrible
Lapua......great
PPU........ fantastic value for money not far behind lapua
S&B.........not as bad as hornady but not great.
GGG.......not too bad
Federal..........meh
Rem........using it to make Ackley.......not got an opinion yet.
 
Iamtheferryman said:
In my experience.......

Hornaday.......terrible
Lapua......great
PPU........ fantastic value for money not far behind lapua
S&B.........not as bad as hornady but not great.
GGG.......not too bad
Federal..........meh
Rem........using it to make Ackley.......not got an opinion yet.
Click to expand...
Lapua RWS Norma and then PPU in my opinion. I use all of those in my calibres 😀
 
I’ve used Lapua in most every chambering I’ve been able to and rate it highly. It’s not been without issues though. I also use a lot of RP brass in .223 / .243 / .260 /.300WM and it’s held up just fine with some lots into 6 or 7 firings and still going strong. The only one thats started to loose primer pockets is the .260 but I have exactly the same issue with Lapua. Also have had good success with Winchester brass in .223 and .243. I do anneal after each firing and SS clean.
 
Lapua is rated as some of the best
But is very hard and work hardens very quickly benefitting from regular annealing

Norma is also excellent but much softer and doesnt require annealing as much

RWS, Sako also good factory offering

Some of the worst i have seen are…
Winchester - inconsistent, voids and anomalies
Hornady - weak at the head, primer pockets slacken very quickly, require work hardening to be of use long term
 
Lapua is my first choice but they don't make brass for some of the cartridges I load.

For my 22 Hornet I use RWS brass and I have found it to be very consistent. Their 6.5x55 brass is also very good.

Norma 25-06 brass has severed me very well for the five different rifles I currently load for, three of which belong to my wife and me.

The first brass I ever used was Sako in 22-250 and that was 47 years ago. My records show that I loaded that brass 12 times before I replaced it.
 
Surprised there is not more mention of Alpha and Peterson as I was always under the impression they were up there or better than Lapua…although I did have some bother with Alpha being a bit rough in the neck area from new but it’s fine after being tumbled.

I’ve never tried ADG….doesn't seem that popular over here I guess.

Regards,
Gixer
 
I tend to use RWS or Sako and rate these above all, some of my swede RWS cases have easily had ten fairly sporty reloads and still the pockets hold firm. Lapua has also been good in my 223, it’s very consistent case to case but I’ve not used it in larger chamberings. Then Norma, I’m using that in my 308 currently and don’t worry too much when I loose one as I have a load of Sako to move back to soon. PPU has also been acceptable in my limited experience but I’ve not used it that much.


Hornady is poor quality imho, the primer pockets get loose so fast even with a moderate load plus the brass just feels thin and poor quality. Ive not tried any other brands so I’m unable to comment.
 
only use ppu, for the 308, always worked for me, not a target shooter, but confident with being accurate.
 
gixer1 said:
Surprised there is not more mention of Alpha and Peterson as I was always under the impression they were up there or better than Lapua…although I did have some bother with Alpha being a bit rough in the neck area from new but it’s fine after being tumbled.

I’ve never tried ADG….doesn't seem that popular over here I guess.

Regards,
Gixer
Click to expand...
I have it on some authority that ADG is very good.
I'll be running it in the 300PRC.
 
I’m still using Norma .222Rem brass that was ‘well used’ when I was given it 25 years ago so that speaks volumes. Also using Lapua & Sako brass with zero drama. Bought Federal factory ammo for it many years ago thinking I’d then be able to reload but necks were splitting on first (factory) firing so it got binned!

My go to for the .308W over the years has also been Lapua but I have used Norma a lot & now, simply because I was given 1000 once fired cases & have been able to batch them by volume, I use RWS.

The 6mmBR has been Norma & Lapua but due to differences in case volume I now only use Lapua - nothing wrong with the Norma brass, I just wanted consistency & had more of the Lapua brass.

As for the 6.5x47 Lapua… well, take a guess 😂

Only ever used it as loaded ammunition supplied by them but HPS were using PPU brass last time I bought any so they obviously rated it.
 
Ive been using Remington brass in my 222 for 20 years and still going well i get a split neck about 1 in 150-200 rounds, I can take that on the chin, ive got 100 Lapau primed up, just havent needed to use them yet
 
Nearly all my .223 and .308 brass is IMI
Lapua necked up 6.5-284 and Norma for the .284W, Got some Peterson .284W for the other rifle, but not tried it yet.
Best ask @Laurie !
 
Starline for 6.5CM's, 300BLK and 44Mag
RWS and Sako/Norma for 308's

Also very impressed with the S&B 6.5CM brass, annealed every 3 firings it's up to 10 firings with no loss of accuracy.

Worst I've had, PPU 44Mag, Hornady 6.5CM
 
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