Brass question...

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km101

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A fellow shooter recently sold me 500 rounds of .357 brass. While cleaning and inspecting it I noticed that the majority of it was CBC and PMC headstamp. I don’t have any experience with either of these brands and wondered if they are quality brass. I load some pretty hot .357 loads and don’t wanna take a chance on faulty brass.

What is your experience with these brands? Yea or Nay?

Thanks
 
For hot loads, sort by headstamp for consistent pressure and crimp.

Both CBC and PMC should be fine until the mouths split. Might not live as long as Starline or Norma, but still good brass.
 
Rule 3 asked the magic question. How many reloads already? Personally, I would rather be safe than sorry.
 
I second the above comment. For revolver brass I have very little worry. Some lasts better. But other than that i load it and keep trucking.
Semi auto brass is a different story. I have brands of Brass I wont use new, much less of unknown age.
 
Same, I’ve shot Magtech .38, .357, .44 and .454 ammo and reloaded the brass without ever having an issue.

(Now their .22 LR is about the dirtiest ammo I’ve ever shot, but that’s a different issue!)

Always inspect before and after loading and you’ll catch the lemons before you fire them.

Stay safe.
 
Rule3: It’s range brass, so no way of knowing how many times reloaded. I’ve been through it and no obvious defects.

ATLDave: no worries about catastrophic defects or failures. Just wanted an opinion on the quality of the brass. Some brass (like American) I will scrap immediately. Just wanted to know if this was in the same category.

Thanks all!
 
CBC rim is sometimes out of spec. This is more of an issue during reloading than shooting.
It lasts as long as most do.
 
I'm partial to PMC and very happy when I come across some. I've loaded it in .38Spl and .45ACP. CBC is the headstamp used by Magtech. I see a lot of it at my local range is it is relatively inexpensive for non-reloaders.

I prefer either PMC or CBC to R-P brass in just about every caliber I reload for
 
It's fine. I've actually had some issues with s&b brass with the primer pocket not being beveled. And the Hornady leverevolution brass is too short, but those are the only 357 brass issues I've had.
 
"Rule3: It’s range brass, so no way of knowing how many times reloaded. I’ve been through it and no obvious defects."

Just load it. I don't know about you but at our range it's rare to find any revolver brass. If we do it is all once fired. Most reloaders don't leave revolver brass around.
 
I'm a big fan of PMC brass and have used it since I started loading 30+ years ago in .45ACP and .41MAG.

I'm not necessarily a big fan of CBC, just personal preference, but it would probably work just as well. I am suspicious of any range brass, and any more I don't keep it; the one exception would be .45ACP brass... the rest goes in the scrap bucket.
 
Both are fine. I wouldn't buy either new (that would be Starline) but I have a sizable number of both CBC and PMC that I will shoot out rather than sell or throw away.
 
I don't know about you but at our range it's rare to find any revolver brass. If we do it is all once fired. Most reloaders don't leave revolver brass around.
This is very true. About the only time you'll find a lot of revolver brass left on a range, by reloaders, is after a match.
 
Just out of curiosity, do you not use range pick up brass because you don't know how many loads it has been subjected to?

With the exception of .45ACP brass... I really don't find brass that I would need... that would be .41MAG, .45 Colt. I have a lifetime supply of .380, 9mm, and I don't shoot .38/.357 or .40.

I don't pick up range rifle brass, mostly because I don't know how it's been treated. In cartridges like .308 or .223, I have plenty of that already, too, and I don't think it's likely I'll find any .348 or .45-70 brass lounging around on the range floor.
 
With the exception of .45ACP brass... I really don't find brass that I would need... that would be .41MAG, .45 Colt. I have a lifetime supply of .380, 9mm, and I don't shoot .38/.357 or .40.

I don't pick up range rifle brass, mostly because I don't know how it's been treated. In cartridges like .308 or .223, I have plenty of that already, too, and I don't think it's likely I'll find any .348 or .45-70 brass lounging around on the range floor.

really, you never find 45 colt? I usually find 5-10 pieces every time I go. It's the taurus judge crowd that leaves it round.
 
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