Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

This section is for reloading and ammunition only, all loads found in here are used strictly at your own risk, if in doubt ask again.
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should treated as suspect and not used.

Moderator: dromia

Forum rules
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.

Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
Message
Author
dirtbag
Site Supporter 2022
Posts: 896
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:13 pm
Contact:

Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#1 Post by dirtbag »

Hi there and happy new year.

I have been handloading for all my guns for a small while now. Before handloading I used to use prvi and saved a lot of the brass, of which I now reload with. Others I have either had uses cases thrown in with a gun purchase , or I have purchased once fired. Most of the brass has been reloaded multiple times, and have been dropping slowly.
So I have been looking going for new brass because i need some, and to see if I can get some more consistency (better results), so I would appreciate some advice please.

I shoot mainly milsurps, with a small collection of "modern" rifles in 308, x54R, and .223. Ranges from plinking / target at 100 yards, then target to 200 - 1000 yards. From longer distances I am happy to stay in the black basically with my equipment.
Seeing the prices of new brass (such as Lapua vs say S&B) and conscious of the term " you get what you pay for" , should I be investing more in the brass, if so what warrants the differences in prices ?

Rest assured I am not asking for load data or recipe's, just advice on brass cases.
Thanks in advance
User avatar
20series
Site Supporter Since 2019
Posts: 4838
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:42 am
Home club or Range: Oundle R&PC
Location: Chelveston, Northants
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#2 Post by 20series »

I just buy Lapua as a rule, always consistent and lasts for ages.

Alan
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools!!
Douglas Adams, 1952-2001 RIP
User avatar
mag41uk
Posts: 1838
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:50 pm
Home club or Range: Aldershot R & P Club
Location: Reading
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#3 Post by mag41uk »

Lapua is deemed top end. Peterson brass is also very good.
But you cant go far wrong with once fired GGG in 223 and 308. It cheap to buy and is easy to work.
User avatar
Alpha1
Site Supporter Since 2020
Posts: 8553
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:27 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#4 Post by Alpha1 »

Lapua or once fired GGG. Just bear in mind GGG has crimped in primers so you need to remove the crimp before re loading. Invest in a annealing set up. I use others but these are my go to brass cases.
dirtbag
Site Supporter 2022
Posts: 896
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:13 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#5 Post by dirtbag »

Thanks everyone. Coincidently I use lapua in my .308 and GGG in my .223.
The other guns is mainly prvi cases, with some RP too.
capper
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:34 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#6 Post by capper »

I’ve had much better life from my cases since I started annealing them, I only use them in batches of 50 or 100
rox
Posts: 1895
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:33 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#7 Post by rox »


Alpha1 wrote: Sat Jan 01, 2022 12:16 amGGG has crimped in primers
Not necessarily. It depends who previously loaded it (if anyone). Generally, if the case originated from GGG-loaded ammunition then it is likely to have been crimped (whether military, commercial or special applications like NRA GGG 'Imperial'). GGG also supply cases which you might obtain either as new brass, or from ammunition loaded by commercial loaders like HPS, and these are unlikely to have been crimped.

I've used a great deal of both types with great success. However, do watch out for GGG brass from the 2019 batch of NRA 'Imperial', and any others that were susceptible to the same issues. Some of these exhibited dramatic stretch after one firing - I measured 7.62 cases as long as 2.040", some with visible stretch marks at the web, some even starting to separate, and some without marks but showing significant thinning at the web when sectioned. Inspect, measure and be sure of the provenance.

Left: Uncrimped GGG case. Right: Ring crimped GGG case.

IMG_2437.jpg

User avatar
Alpha1
Site Supporter Since 2020
Posts: 8553
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:27 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#8 Post by Alpha1 »

All of the GGG cases I have purchased and used have been once fired 308 cases they were all crimped. Just some thing to watch out for.
stottycake
Past Supporter
Posts: 283
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:10 pm
Home club or Range: Tcsc,.gardners guns,
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#9 Post by stottycake »

20series wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:53 pm I just buy Lapua as a rule, always consistent and lasts for ages.

Alan
goodjob
dirtbag
Site Supporter 2022
Posts: 896
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:13 pm
Contact:

Re: Purchasing new brass advice and expectations

#10 Post by dirtbag »

Thanks all for the advice. Much appreciated
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests