Virgin brass, or once fired!

[338 dude]

Ive always liked Nosler brass and found it to be near perfect in consistency & neck tension while in virgin form more times than not. I know that others have complained about it but I never had a reason to.

Like it says fully prepped ready to load right out of the box

 

[7stw]

Like it says fully prepped ready to load right out of the boxView attachment 195120

Just ordered a box a few days ago. Was on sale!

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

It sounds like what I do to match prep my brass is done, since I'm completely unaware of how they ship I suppose they aren't thrown in a plastic bag either. Out of curiosity what is the main complaint with them price or weight spread maybe? They make their own brass from what I've been told, and some of the shooters up at the gunshop seem to be quite impressed with them. OK went and checked online, they are within 1/2gr of each other in weight and are priced comparable to peterson, lapua, and norma. I'll hafta search on here and see what the complaints are.

 

[DJ Fergus]

It sounds like what I do to match prep my brass is done, since I'm completely unaware of how they ship I suppose they aren't thrown in a plastic bag either. Out of curiosity what is the main complaint with them price or weight spread maybe? They make their own brass from what I've been told, and some of the shooters up at the gunshop seem to be quite impressed with them.

The main complaint I've heard is that the primer pocket loosens up quicker than the likes of Lapua. I can live with that for the other benefits I like about Nosler brass. And Lapua doesn't make brass in some of the cartridges I shoot but Nosler does.

 

[7stw]

It sounds like what I do to match prep my brass is done, since I'm completely unaware of how they ship I suppose they aren't thrown in a plastic bag either. Out of curiosity what is the main complaint with them price or weight spread maybe? They make their own brass from what I've been told, and some of the shooters up at the gunshop seem to be quite impressed with them.

Dave, I use Lapua brass, for my 7-08, just bought but not received a box of Nosler brass, it was on sale . I use Hornady, brass for the creed.
I have used nosler brass in the past, and that was the first rifle, that shot virgin loads, better then the subsequent reloads. That was a 300, rsaum.
The only thing I noticed, was the necks would work harden quickly, but annealing regularly fixed that problem. Overall life was good, pockets were decent, neck tension stayed firm throughout its life. I prefer the Lapua overall, but for the 270, it just happened to be on sale.
Be safe.

 

[338 dude]

It sounds like what I do to match prep my brass is done, since I'm completely unaware of how they ship I suppose they aren't thrown in a plastic bag either. Out of curiosity what is the main complaint with them price or weight spread maybe? They make their own brass from what I've been told, and some of the shooters up at the gunshop seem to be quite impressed with them. OK went and checked online, they are within 1/2gr of each other in weight and are priced comparable to peterson, lapua, and norma. I'll hafta search on here and see what the complaints are.
[/QUOTE

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

Thanks guys, search yielded replies from 2007 to present, batch to batch differences usually comes up and is from outsourcing from different makers. Seems I saw where they have went to manufacturing for themselves last year so maybe that is dated. I have loved lapua for some time now but lost patience with norma. I load for common plain vanilla cartridges and have switched to lapua on all but 7mm-08, think I will change that one next time as well. I kind of enjoy doing the various prep's associated with accuracy so guess I would just as soon do it as check to see its been done. Nosler sounds like good ready to shoot out of box brass and seems to show it for 7STW and Bean for sure. What ever shoots bugholes works for me.....its all about the accuracy

 

[milo-2]

Something has been bugging me about brass, virgin brass, either processed, or out of the box, versus once fired!
First of all, Butterbean , made mention of it in his thread, MY FIRST TIME, but I want to explore other people's thoughts, and experiences , with accuracy, from virgin brass, versus once fired.
I have had two rifles, in different calibers, that would , with virgin brass, shoot better groups, hands down, then it would with any combination of resizing, or lack of. Full length, partial, neck sized, didn't matter. It shot ok, but no where's near what the virgin did.
Secondly, do you shoot the whole box, or do do take out and shoot through a batch, then start over.
Thoughts and experiences appreciated!
Be safe All!

I do not want to get into a lengthy post here, but yes, I have had this happen on more than one occasion. And one cartridge sticks out more than others, 6.5x47 Lapua. Over the yrs, bringing new brass into service for each new chamber, I sometimes felt you could not mess this case up, it was that easy.
I refuse to prep new brass, even dinged case mouths, seat a bullet, it is as round as any tool you will use to straighten mouths. If you have 200 pcs of brass, and 5 dinged mouths, and only fix the 5, all you have done is changed the dynamics of those 5 cases.
So the conclusion, case expansion, energy expended, capacity all aside, IMO, it all boils down to the fact that you, no matter what you pull out of your hat, you will never duplicate that exact neck tension ever again, ever. One time deal.
One poster alluded to Lapua brass having some coating, very well may be, like I said, I do not do much prep other than a chamfer.
I just pulled a 25 saum barrel, 335 rds fired. I could not get any results after I started working with my 100 pcs of fired ADG brass. With new brass, the rifle shot a 3 shot, 3" group at 1450, waterline, I wish now I had drove down and took a pic so I had one happy memory of the rifle. Once my die touched that brass, it was all over.
Sidebar: I develop on new brass, make some minor adj once it is fired. I will continue this method, one experience will not change my mind.

 

[7stw]

Thanks guys, search yielded replies from 2007 to present, batch to batch differences usually comes up and is from outsourcing from different makers. Seems I saw where they have went to manufacturing for themselves last year so maybe that is dated. I have loved lapua for some time now but lost patience with norma. I load for common plain vanilla cartridges and have switched to lapua on all but 7mm-08, think I will change that one next time as well. I kind of enjoy doing the various prep's associated with accuracy so guess I would just as soon do it as check to see its been done. Nosler sounds like good ready to shoot out of box brass and seems to show it for 7STW and Bean for sure. What ever shoots bugholes works for me.....its all about the accuracy

Dave, for what it's worth, we all know that each of our rifles have their own likes and did likes, but I've had , believe it not, decent luck with Hornady brass. It needs work, but after the full boat of prep, it shoots well, and lasts. Annealing it really seems to help as well. I've got eight firings, on some of the first brass , which was originally factory ammo, in the creed, and I've gotten decent life from some for the 7-08. But, NOWHERE near as nice as the Lapua.

 

[Savage 12BVSS]

This ain't some lapua testimonial or anything but I can't beat the tight primer pockets, the close weight spread and high number of reloads (I get real disappointed if it isn't at least 10-12). Seems all the premium brass nosler, norma, peterson, ADG, and lapua are in same ballpark for price and you can always catch them on sale sooner or later as well. I just like to stay with a brand once I work up a load in it, it's why I hate to go from norma to lapua in the 7mm-08, but its time. You guys and a lot of additional poster's all have amazing luck with that virgin brass and you can't argue that. Keep me up on the 270 load results and aim small shoot small

 

[Blackhawk]

Really ???????? this has absolutely nothing to do with the question that was asked, One again we are in the ditch, I will also suggest you do your homework before you suggest That 7stw should re-evaluate his process

Well sir you certainly are entitled to your opinions
However I will stand by mine!!

 

[gbett308]

This is what gets me, in most of everything that I've owned, custom chamber included, MY best accuracy came from once fired, or twice fired.
On a whim, I loaded some ammo, for my 7-08 the other day, (Lapua), didn't process it. Primed, charged, and seated. Haven't shot it yet, wind has been crazy here.
Do you all process virgin brass, or wait until first firing. The premium brass, usually dosent need much anyway. ????????

I would recommend resizing at least the neck with virgin brass. I had some that I noticed the bullet seating tightly shaving the bullet slightly. This can cause a very hot load or high pressures...it's always safe to check or resize necks especially in magnum calibers.

 

[358 Guy]

I once purchased 50 rds. of Norma 270 Win. brass that would not chamber in my stock Remington 700 chamber until I ran it through a full length re-sizing die. I use a full length Redding S type bushing die and a competition shell holder that maintains 0.002 headspace. I check all my new brass in the chamber of the rifle it is to be fired in. As a rule, I usually just size the neck on new brass for uniformity.

 

[RevJim]

I still have had great results with Winchester, but I prep it too. I run it through a FL die (the neck is resized, just barely off the shoulder) I ream the primer pockets, deburr the flash holes, I use a Sinclair VLD inside neck deburring tool. I also crimp all my loads with the LEE FCD. I had one new WW cases in the 300 WSM that I had to cull. The round would feed through the magazine, but just inserted into the chamber, it would not allow the Kimber 8400 Extractor to snap over it. I chunked it hard, far away from my sight, with muttered words of hate, mixed with relief that I had discovered it at the range, and not in the field Aargh! Can't stand that, ha. ( Did I mention I was OCD for reliability? )

Now, recently, I bought some RWS .270 & 300WM. I still ream the primer pockets ( it just flattens the bottom of the pocket) run them through the FL die, use the VLD deburr. I don't weigh/sort the brass, I also crimp them. Both rifles, with the loads they like, give "outstanding" accuracy! Winchester factory loads in both grouped two to three times bigger! For Me, I use alot of Nosler ( but not for the 300s) and for the WinMag I've had good luck with Jagemann and Sig Sauer. If a new, prepped case groups well, consistently, I will load 20-50 loads in new cases and set aside, just for hunting. I then use the fired cases for practice or trying other bullets I am just playing with.