PPU brass vs others

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Telum Pisces

Telum Pisces

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I loaded up some 45-70 rounds last night. After getting them all done, I just was messing around and weighing the completed rounds on the scale. One of my loads was significantly different in weight. So at first, I wondered if I didn't charge it with the right amount of powder etc... Bullets were all the same. Then I got to looking at the brass. One was PPU and the other was Federal.

The PPU brass as significantly lighter in weight. It was at least 30 Gr lighter. Does this lend itself to not being as thick or as strong to use over and over again? What does this say about PPU brass especially in the rifle reloading world?
 
The only PPU brass that I have is new 7.62x54r...which seems well made, so far.

I was reloading 38 spcl PPU brass with wadcutters and it only took about 2-3 loadings for the cases to split vertically.
 
More weight means more brass. If the outside dimensions are the same (which they should be to fit in the chamber), then the inside volume of the cases are different. This may or may not be an issue, depending on how close to the max you are on your powder charge and your expected consistency from round to round using mixed brass.
 
If I had a case that was 30 grains lighter I'd be pulling the bullet.I'd weigh the brass,powder charge and bullet to see where the difference is.In 40+ years of reloading I have gotten the wrong bullet in a factory sealed box a couple times.Maybe it is the brass but I'd want to know for sure.
 
What wild willy said.

My experience with PPU brass in the typically thin 22 Hornet has been good.
 
I reload PPU brass in 9.3x62 with no issues. As others have said I would deconstruct that cartridge to find out exactly where that difference is coming from . I would not shoot that round until I knew.
 
Ya it's possible, I know for a fact my 7x57 ppu brass is almost exactly 25 grains lighter then the batch of Remington 7x57 I have. I've used a bunch of ppu, probably a dozen or more different cartridges and it's normally lighter but it's good strong brass.
 
As far as brass weight goes, its important where is weight is lost. If its thinner overall that's not as bad as having a thin web, such as Federal .223 brass.

I've only used PPU for 7.5 x 55 and don't have enough loadings in yet to form an opinion. But initially I can't complain.
 
My experience is that PPU makes some of the best brass. It is in my top three whether handgun or rifle. I have reloaded some of their 243 brass eight times and it shows no signs of fatigue. Good stuff in my opinion. Best wishes
 
I had a horrible experience with their 38 S&W. The cases were too thick and after seating a bullet you could no longer chamber the new round. Same bullet in a Magtech or Remington brass was a non-issue.
 
I've got several firings on a lot of 7.62x54 and no issues. S&B......not so much.

What others said......that much weight difference, get out the collet puller or the plastic hammer
 
I've used ppu in several rifle calibers, all of them very good. PPU brass is very workable. Likely a good annealing. Some brands use a different alloy (copper/zinc) ratio. Alloy can be calculated by water volume vs. Mass. High zinc brass is somewhat harder & lighter. Low zinc brass is softer, & often cases are made thicker. PPU seems fairly soft to me, but I've not confirmed it.
 
I am with the 30.0 grains of weight difference is substantial.

My curiosity would force me to pull the bullets from the two cases and see how many grains of water they hold.
 
WeekendReloader said:
More weight means more brass. If the outside dimensions are the same (which they should be to fit in the chamber), then the inside volume of the cases are different. This may or may not be an issue, depending on how close to the max you are on your powder charge and your expected consistency from round to round using mixed brass.
Click to expand...
Actually, heavier means more copper and less zinc. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Zinc is lighter. More zinc is more brittle. Copper is what gives brass its elasticity. It's also what allows brass to sheer, which is why the zinc is needed, to prevent sheering. PPU uses more zinc and less copper - copper being more expensive than zinc, especially in eastern Europe.
 
In in your calibre and application ppu would be far more consistent than in a NATO load. I dont immagine that there are large orders to different groups, with time being a factor. I continue to research and develop data sets on their 308 brass and there are major differences in batches of cases. The white box military blister pack brass for NATO is not the same as the green and white box 168 grain match loads. The date on the packages is years appart as the expanded production into the civialian market. I dont believe you will experience any of these issues as the contract and specific needs dont really change.
 
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