Virgin brass vs. once fired.

[Tiny Tim]

I don't generally clean it but have FL sized to fit in a tight AI chamber. Brass would allow bolt to close, but with more difficulty than necessary. It's a brass/ chamber relationship. Some combos need a little tweaking.

 

[Rosebud]

I back off the bump part of my shoulder bump neck size die and run all the new brass through. Have removed any neck damage and all have clean round necks.

 

[Marine sniper]

I use corn cob media, what is your method?

Same.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

Don't forget brass manufacturers recommend a somewhat reduced load on the first firing. Like 10%. Greatly prolongs case life. Play with the first load, break in the barrel if its new and try to get a good idea of ideal seating depth or close.
Then it's game time. Good luck.

 

[AZ82New]

I want to make sure I understand you…..you literally just run the brass after firing through your die and reload right away?

Doesn't your die get all gunked up with carbon? Wouldn't your primer pocket eventually not even be able to seat the primer?

 

[R. Cram]

I put a new barrel on one of my ruger precision rifles for hunting amd chambered it in 30-284 and chased my tail for probably 100 shots with new .284 brass untill I ran some through neck sized only then the groups switched from about 1 1/2 min 5 shots 200 yds to 5/8 min, I'm going to take it to a 600,800,900,and 1000 yd match next month and see if it seems to shoot. this cartridge probably isn't the best for a short action but I found 190mk's seemed to shoot better at mag length than close to the rifling and same with some 180 hornady bt hunting bullets, during load development I thought the whole 30-284 concept was a mistake untill I happened onto the neck sizing vs new brass. I also fluted the barrel because I hate contouring the outside of the barrel so laziness convinced me to flute it to save weight but that also became a question during load development

 

[Rosebud]

I want to make sure I understand you…..you literally just run the brass after firing through your die and reload right away?

Doesn't your die get all gunked up with carbon? Wouldn't your primer pocket eventually not even be able to seat the primer.

I want to make sure I understand you…..you literally just run the brass after firing through your die and reload right away?

Doesn't your die get all gunked up with carbon? Wouldn't your primer pocket eventually not even be able to seat the primer?

No, I anneal the brass, run it through the neck, bushing shoulder bump die. Then put it in the tumbler. The case body isn't touched. It is form fit to your chamber. You don't have to trim the case, or very little at least. I haven't cleaned out a primer pocket in a decade. It's just busy work. Don't over think this stuff.

 

[Rosebud]

No, I anneal the brass, run it through the neck, bushing shoulder bump die. Then put it in the tumbler. The case body isn't touched. It is form fit to your chamber. You don't have to trim the case, or very little at least. I haven't cleaned out a primer pocket in a decade. It's just busy work. Don't over think this stuff.

One more thing, when you're neck sizing you are using A carbide bushing . No sizing lube is needed. No gunk to cause issues.

 

[Mark37082]

I do very little prep on new brass. I check neck tension and condition. On premium quality brass I have found very few issues. I use corn cob media after I de-prime, check all primer pockets and remove all media after first firing. I typically only neck size using Redding bushing neck die after checking for bolt closure tension. Shoulder bumps and body dies are only used when chambering tightness and bolt close tension dictates. I don't like to over work the brass until it tells me it's needed.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

Never a bad idea to use at least a mandrel on new brass.
or expander ball if that's what you have.
at least your necks will all be circular for round 1.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I'm a little different from others here! On ammo I'm only hunting with I do load development with whatever bullet I intend to use, using the Virgin brass. Then load up the remaining seventy five or eighty rounds and hunt with it for the next couple of years. When I'm down to about twenty or so then I neck shoulder bump, then reload knowing I'll have to drop the charge a touch and work up. Components are far to expensive to just shoot up hundreds of hammer bullets and primers to get second or third firings as some reccomend. When the Virgin brass will shoot great. I tell this the people I load for, when you have shot these up come back, we will work up another load for the once fired. Or maybe my pockets just aren't as deep as others. If it was PRC shooting I'd go a different route.

You can use 2nd and not high dollar bullets. The other is I develop a round for a rifle that's about all I ever use it in after that. That's what takes the time in getting a round develop of it and know how it's doing down range.

 

[Rosebud]

You can use 2nd and not high dollar bullets. The other is I develop a round for a rifle that's about all I ever use it in after that. That's what takes the time in getting a round develop of it and know how it's doing down range.

True, but your still burning through expensive and hard to get large rifle primers and powder.

 

[FEENIX]

True, but your still burning through expensive and hard to get large rifle primers and powder.

Yep, that's why I have hydraulic forming dies too.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Yep, that's why I have hydraulic forming dies too.

Didn't watch it yet. How close to final dimensions does it get you?