Any problems using mixed 44 mag brass?

[duck911]

Hi all,

I typically use Winchester brass exclusively for my 44 mag reloading, but I also have about 200 R-P, Norma, and S&W mixed brass.

Assuming they are all trimmed to the same length for crimp purposes, will I come across any consistency issues (reloading, accuracy, or otherwise) using the mixed brass along with my other stuff?

I know it's SAFE (I load moderate loads only), but will performance or consistency suffer?

thanks!

--Duck911

 

[ReloaderFred]

I load mixed brass for my .44's. I've tried sorting them, but didn't notice any difference "on target", so I stopped doing it.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[csbassplayer2003]

I haven't reloaded 44 mag, but for the other calibers it doesn't seem to have much of an effect as long as all the powder measurements and OAL are consistant. TBQH Winchester is ok brass, but if it wasn't that whitebox was so cheap to constantly supply brass, I wouldn't be using much. The 45 box I have of prepped brass has all sorts, Winchester, aguila, Federal (before they went to Small primers) remington nickel plated, starline, etc... they all shoot about the same, some just might be more durable than others down the stretch, espec with high pressure ammo like 44 mag and get more reloads, but otherwise I can't see why it would vary enough to matter.

 

[evan price]

I never noticed any difference and my 44 mags run the gamut of headstamps- hornady, cbc, pmc, starline, WW, RP, Federal, BHA, IMI, you name it I have probably got some of it. Case capacity is huge and even a grain or so of difference is negligible. As long as your crimps are right it's good to go.

 

[Walkalong]

If it makes a difference, I cannot shoot well enough to see it.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

no noticeable difference here either if any and this is out of my
629
DE44
ruger carbine 44

now if there a little hot the 629 is the first to act up but this has nothing to do with any mix case

 

[243winxb]

Had some Super-Vel once fired brass i bought from an ad in shotgun news ages ago, bullets jumped crimp. Now i buy new empty brass for the 44mag & other calibers. If i see a shooter fire new ammo, i will collect the range brass. It lasts a long time even with hot w296 loads. Accuracy is beter with brass all from the same lot/brand. Put a scope on a T/C contender or a M29, and compare.

 

[ranger335v]

"I know it's SAFE (I load moderate loads only), but will performance or consistency suffer?"

Well, how much difference a component mix/swap might make is dependant on how different it is and we don't know what that will be. Only thing we can say for certain is that inconsistancy of components never improves consistancy of the performance. ??

 

[Slamfire]

When you are dealing with handguns, aiming error, differences in hold and trigger pull are going to be greater than any errors induced by differences in cases.

I was just examining my chronograph data and did not find good comparisions, either the mixed case sample was too small, or I did not fire the exact same load mixed cases and similiar cases.

I can't tell any real difference, and that includes in my Marlin M1894. That rifle is not stiff enough to pick up changes due to cases.

 

[Funshooter45]

About the only difference I have noticed is the Remington brass is thinner. So it has a way different feel when going through my sizer, expander and crimping dies. But I've never noticed any difference as to how it shoots. I have more Winchester brass than any other, but my favorite is Starline. Actually I have only had a very few cases ever split on me, but not a single Starline ever.

 

[Walkalong]

If you are shooting reduced loads the thinner Remington is a plus as it expands to seal the chamber a bit easier. Keeps things cleaner.

 

[gamestalker]

Mixed, sorted, doesn't really matter so long as your trimming to same length, in my personal opinion. I get in these moods and will sort for a couple of loadings, and then suddenly not. The only real headstamp sorting I do with any serious regard is high powered rifle brass. Since I like to load up with large charges of slow burnig stuff, variations in case capacity between brass will have a noticable effect. But my handgun loads, even the magnum's, do just fine with what ever comes out of the tumbler on that day.

 

[FROGO207]

Even where I load at near max with the 44 MAG I cant shoot good enough to notice a difference with my SBH 10'' at 100YD, the others are used with closer targets and remain accurate also. All my handgun brass seems to not mind being mixed. The only exception would be balloon head type brass and I do own some in 45LC so I do load those only at BP levels with Trail Boss.

 

[rondog]

YES! Stick with the Winchester exclusively! And send all that other nasty brass to me, I'll dispose of it properly.

 

[BigN]

I found that when shooting at 25 yards in 44 mag that all brass is equal. When you're messing around at 100 yards there is differences in accuracy between brass companies. I bought my 44 for trail work and any shots I'd take with it would be close range so for me it doesn't matter. Just depends on what you're using it for.

 

[duck911]

thanks all! I'll do some trimming and see how the odd brass shoots.

Appreciate the feedback,

--Duck911