Thoughts on adg vs norma capacity

[cohunt]

300wsm

I have a bunch of norma brass and brass weights range from 249-252 gr and they seem to hold around 214gr of alcohol

The new adg brass i have weighs around 233gr and holds around 215gr of alcohol

When I go to try the new adg brass is there any reson to drop my prior norma brass loads down a grain and work back up? Or would you start just a few tenths lower since it appears that the adg brass actually has more capacity than the norma

What would you personally do?

Maybe I'll be able to up my charge just a bit since the adg has a greater capacity

 

[Laguna Freak]

If I had zero signs of pressure with the norma brass, I would drop the charge 1 gr and work up with the ADG. Just to be safe

 

[cohunt]

Anyone else?

 

[RD57]

If your Norma brass loads are not loaded at the top of the recommended loads/pressures, and the liquid volume is based on fire formed Norma vs new un-fire formed ADG brass then you could probably safely get by with the same load. With the same conditions I tend to load a few tenths down with an identical load that I used with the previous brass (Norma in your case) during load development and shoot those. Compare velocities between the old and new brass (in your saved load development data) and decide which way to go from there.

 

[Dragoon300]

300wsm

I have a bunch of norma brass and brass weights range from 249-252 gr and they seem to hold around 214gr of alcohol

The new adg brass i have weighs around 233gr and holds around 215gr of alcohol

When I go to try the new adg brass is there any reson to drop my prior norma brass loads down a grain and work back up? Or would you start just a few tenths lower since it appears that the adg brass actually has more capacity than the norma

What would you personally do?

Maybe I'll be able to up my charge just a bit since the adg has a greater capacity

From what I have heard ADG is usually heavier or less capacity than others. It would appear this is not the case with your Norma brass. If the ADG is infact more capacity (when both are sized the same) they should be safe to use the same load because the pressure should be lower in the larger case. But, one must wonder where the difference is, or where the brass is thinner? I have had great success with ADG 6.5 PRC brass. However, always be safe, check and recheck numbers, and make your decision is based on facts.

 

[slick Nick]

Always better to be safe, not parts recovery. I find that working up a load is part of the relaxing art of shooting. Just my two cents. Good luck

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Not a WSM, but a 300 WM.

Pressured out 78.5gr N570 ADG and 80.7gr N570 Norma. Velocities were within 30 FPS.

BUT in a 6.5 PRC, Norma seems to be less. SO best to work up and find out.

 

[Huntaddict]

It sounds like this is a rifle that has already performed at your current load?

If so, I the case is < 95% full, I would try a couple of 5 shot groups +/- 1-3 grains with the new brass and your current specs to find out if it runs and groups. If it runs and groups - great. If not, then go through a full ladder test and go from there.

 

[Teri Anne]

300wsm

I have a bunch of norma brass and brass weights range from 249-252 gr and they seem to hold around 214gr of alcohol

The new adg brass i have weighs around 233gr and holds around 215gr of alcohol

When I go to try the new adg brass is there any reson to drop my prior norma brass loads down a grain and work back up? Or would you start just a few tenths lower since it appears that the adg brass actually has more capacity than the norma

What would you personally do?

Maybe I'll be able to up my charge just a bit since the adg has a greater capacity

The weight of brass does vary, a lot. It is virtually impossible to manufacture brass exactly the same every time. It's also impossible to know exactly were the weight varys. One case will be in the base, the other in the shoulder, or anywhere else for that matter. The same is true of internal capacity. Every cartridge will vary slightly. If you are going to try to compensate for 1gr of case capacity, you will be chasing you tail. Each cartridge will be different, and once you fire it, the capacity will change anyway.

 

[cohunt]

Norma is 1x fired and then resized with my fl size die, the adg is brand new out of the box

 

[quandary]

I just the ADG guys on a podcast. They discussed this topic. They indicated that often times the capacity difference is created by the wiggle room SAAMI specs give the brass. Generally .002. ADG uses a .001 standard. depending on which end of the standard the brass is will cause most of the capacity variance. Interestingly they also commented on their tiering of brass manufacturers. For what its worth they believe they make the best brass (of course) followed by Peterson and Alpha, then Lapua, then the others....

 

[cohunt]

Brass alloy often accounts for manufacture to manufacture differences in weights, that's why I also referred to case capacity-- it was strange to me as adg says their brass is usually thicker and has less capacity than other brands so start low and work up, yet their case capacity appears to be greater than the norma I have now

 

[HRM Johnny]

I hope that you will keep us updated. I would be very curious to know what the case capacity of the once fired ADG Brass will be.

 

[HRM Johnny]

Also, how many rounds do you get out of Norma versus how many rounds do you get out of ADG?