What is your favorite make of brass you reload and why?

[JC in Calif]

I have used Nosler brass since it was introduced to the market after eons of reloading with Remington and Winchester brass. Always had short case life with Winchester brass so I I only bought it when Remington wasn't available. After buying a 7mm RUM that changed. Although this particular caliber is the King of brass eater's I was able to get sub MOA groups by using Nosler brass weighed in close weight to each one I loaded. Would like to know what may be better and why or what are your experiences with Nosler brass?

I use Lapua when possible. I have used Nosler for my .257Wby and 7 STW brass. I have been pleased. It has held-up well and primer pockets have stayed tight through multiple reloads.

 

[waveslayer]

ADG, Lapua , and whatever I can find after those two

 

[freddiej]

Until I found Lapua brass my go to brass was Norma. for hunting it was Hornady and Norma brass. I had Winchester, Remington, and federal but I just did not like them as much as Norma and Hornady. Remington brass never lasted more than 2 or 3 loadings even if I annealed it between loadings. the worst was 30-30. I would loose 40% to 80% of new brass when loading 30-30 or 32 Win Special. 17 Rem I lost 20% to 40% of each batch of reloaded brass. I started out with 600 pieces, after 2 loadings and anealings I have less than 300 pieces left. I absolutely loathe Rem brass. winchester, Norma, and Hornady stayed around much longer. I still have some Norma 270 Win brass from when I was 16. Norma has been a rockstar for me. When I got some money and wanted good brass I bought Lapua brass for my 300 Win Mag, 7MM R/M for my 270 wildcat, and more Norma for my 270 Winchester. then I found Nosler brass. Nosler has been just as good as Lapua for me.
IF I could replace all my Win, W-W, Super X, Hornady, R-P, Federal, and any brass that was not Nosler, Norma or Lapua with Lapua, Norma and Nosler, I would in a heartbeat.

 

[Old Infantry Guy]

Have to be #1 Lapua, #2 Norma, #3 ADG I just recently started trying out. The Lapua in my 6br is unquestionably the most consistent in every way...weight, dimensions, case volume. I get an ES of 4fps with that combination. Norma is on par with that but a little harder to get in my calibers. The ADG has been very consistent in my 224V as well and availability is good. It does have a slightly wider case weight variation but only by tenths of grains.

For 6.5 Creedmoor Lapua is, hands down, the best. Just purchased a Riger Hawkeye in 6.5 PRC. Just now finishing load development. Lapua doesn't make 6.5mm PRC brass, so I'm working with Hornady and ADG, the only manufacturers I can find. The differences I've found is in weight consistency and neck wall thickness. In fifty rounds there was a variance of 4.1 grains in the Hornady, but only 1.2 grains in the ADG. The Hornady neckwalls varied .0015". The ADG varied less than .0005". So far, I'm quite impressed with the ADG, though this is my first time out with any of their products. I don't know yet how either brand shoots, though. I have no definitive results for accuracy, which is the only real test of any product. It's just too early in my load development.

In my 6.5 Creedmoor the Lapua was superior in every way to Hornady and Starline. Big difference in accuracy with the Lapua and all the rest.

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

Speaking of 6.5 Creed specific brass, Prime has been pretty decent for the $. Only used it for 6.5 so far but, if you don't want to be limited to small rifle primers, it's worth a look.

 

[Gone Ballistic]

Have to be #1 Lapua, #2 Norma, #3 ADG I just recently started trying out. The Lapua in my 6br is unquestionably the most consistent in every way...weight, dimensions, case volume. I get an ES of 4fps with that combination. Norma is on par with that but a little harder to get in my calibers. The ADG has been very consistent in my 224V as well and availability is good. It does have a slightly wider case weight variation but only by tenths of grains.

Now that is an exceptional ES anyone who reloads would love to achieve!

 

[Gregory Copley]

No denying Lapua is the most boring (in the best possible way). You don't do anything to that brass other than resize and the very occasional trim. So BORING!
With other brands of brass, it feels like a real accomplishment after chamfer flash holes, neck turn, weight sort, give them all an initial trim to start with the same length, etc. Feel like I've earned a good group after that.

Lol, Man Stuff

 

[Gone Ballistic]

First, I like brass if it lets me shoot. And especially if I can use my standard loads.

Secondly, I've had many experiences that are different from those on this forum.

For example, I had one batch of Norma in 416 Rigby. 59 cases were 327-330 grains and 41 were 337-340 grains. Go figure.

Then I had a bunch of 338WinMag Nosler brass and a bunch of them started showing up with split necks.
Go figure.

And, I've used Hornady with happy results.
First, they keep 416 Rigby in stock.
Secondly, they do 375 Ruger.
So thirdly, I've been using them for 270Win and 338WinMag, too, with only good to say.

Finally, I'm happy with Lapua. I've got some in 308win. But I don't see much difference, YET, between them and Starline, except price.

So give me any decent brass and I'll go hunting.

Well said. I loaded Remingtons for my 25-06 up to 14 times before seeing any splits and at the time knew nothing about annealing brass. Didn't have any problems killing rock chucks or coyotes with them either. But, after getting a chronograph and seeing the ES I realized to be consistent with long range shooting I had to do something that brought me consistency. Sometimes I get thinking that I am over thinking what is necessary. But to shoot a target at over 3500 yards everything has to be as perfect as you can make possible. Luck only fits in the equation regarding how the weather conditions are when you finally make the hit.

 

[azsugarbear]

1) Lapua
2) ADG
3) Norma

 

[Gone Ballistic]

1) Lapua
2) ADG
3) Norma

Have you tried Nosler?

 

[Gone Ballistic]

For 6.5 Creedmoor Lapua is, hands down, the best. Just purchased a Riger Hawkeye in 6.5 PRC. Just now finishing load development. Lapua doesn't make 6.5mm PRC brass, so I'm working with Hornady and ADG, the only manufacturers I can find. The differences I've found is in weight consistency and neck wall thickness. In fifty rounds there was a variance of 4.1 grains in the Hornady, but only 1.2 grains in the ADG. The Hornady neckwalls varied .0015". The ADG varied less than .0005". So far, I'm quite impressed with the ADG, though this is my first time out with any of their products. I don't know yet how either brand shoots, though. I have no definitive results for accuracy, which is the only real test of any product. It's just too early in my load development.

In my 6.5 Creedmoor the Lapua was superior in every way to Hornady and Starline. Big difference in accuracy with the Lapua and all the rest.

I am not familiar with ADG but, with tolerances that good, I am going to be checking some out.

 

[Gone Ballistic]

i buy bulk once fired Lake City 7.62 and 5.56 brass because the cases are made of harder brass.

The second reason I buy once fired brass is it is a fraction of the cost of new brass and I'm a cheap bastard.

Below the weight variation and uniformity is above average.

I understand your point and, like you, have bought thousands of. 223 once fired brass to use for prairie dogs and other varmint shooting when volume is more important than ES consistency is. Loading 4-6 thousand rounds for a four day prairie dog shoot is tedious and time consuming. But making a kill 600-1200 yards requires everything you can do to make your loads as equal as possible. By having the closest ES possible is the one big equation in consistent long range shots. Thanks for your reply

 

[Gone Ballistic]

I used some of the gunwerks brass recently and it was great. Huge fan of Lapua, Norma and nosler.

I wonder who makes the brass for Gunwerks? It is either Lapua or Nosler but I am leaning towards Lapua. Your thoughts?

 

[SilverbulletMAG]

I wonder who makes the brass for Gunwerks? It is either Lapua or Nosler but I am leaning towards Lapua. Your thoughts?

ADG