Brass: winchester vs hornady

[coondogger]

Although the internet is rife with complaints about unfired winchester brass, I’ve not had any problems with it. In fact, I’ve only had problems with the pricier Hornady brass. I’m wondering what people on this site have experienced with new brass from these two companies.

 

[Blue68f100]

The new Brass I have got from Win was a mixed bag. Meaning I have 1-3 that were not usable/bag. Contacting the mfg they normally make good on them. It's just that you have to take the time to get them replaced. I would buy Lapua for target and Starling for ever thing else for rifle brass.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The only brass I buy is Starline. Buy once, cry once.

Nothing else has been very consistent

 

[Bfh_auto]

I haven't had issues with Winchester brass.
I have had some issues with Hornady brass.
This is skewed by the fact I use more Hornady brass.
I'm not a fan of Hornady once fired brass. I don't know why, but the primer pockets tend to be loose.

 

[Rule3]

For what caliber, rifle or pistol?? Range use. precision long range, competition award winning trophies??
What problems out of how many?

"Just the facts mam"

It's brass.

 

[sequins]

I like Lapua and Starline. I have a hundred or so Lapua cases and five hundred starline for my rifle calibers. Lake City is good too. Haven't loaded hornady or winchester except as range pickup and I use that kind of brass for plinking only.

 

[rskent]

I have used a bunch of Winchester brass. The last few years I started having a very high percentage of split necks. That got me annealing my brass. Now I get even less split necks than before.

 

[jags]

Starline is my first choice. If they don't have the caliber I need then it's Winchester. Have never used Hornady.

 

[iShoot17]

I use a lot of Winchester brass and like it. I had a very bad, and frustrating, experience with Hornady 338 Lapua brass. With factory ammo, the brass would essentially seize the action. A rubber mallet was required to break the bolt loose. I haven’t gone back since with those handful of pieces of brass.

With that said - they are the only manufacturer of some calibers I have worked my way into. I suppose I’ll have to give them another try for 375 Ruger!

I love Lapua and Starline, but they don’t make brass for a lot of the cartridges we shoot. I buy it when I can and fill in otherwise with Winchester, then RP or FC, then Hornady.

 

[jmr40]

I load for 308, 30-06, and 6.5 CM. I can find no difference between Hornady, Winchester or Remington brass. I have some S&B brass for the 6.5 and it seems to work just fine too.

 

[Varminterror]

Rifle brass: Hornady >> Winchester.

 

[glc24]

When I first started reloading, I bought once fired 40 S&W and 45 ACP Winchester both brass and nickel! I didn't encounter any issues!

 

[slickracer]

I don't like Hornady .357 magnum brass...they are noticeably shorter than Federal or Winchester.

 

[frankmako]

i think i have used just about all of the brass made. now i buy starline.

 

[Obturation]

I've had winchester brass that has anomalies, rims of differing diameters and thickness. I have had trouble with the hardness of starline brass (still working through it). I like starline generally but federal brass has always been my favorite, just seems to be reliable and consistent .

 

[Random 8]

Rifle brass: I've used extensively Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Norma and PRVI brass. Of the above, I've had the best luck in terms of longevity with Remington and PRVI. I've produced ammunition suitable for my purposes ranging from hunting to 300m Match shooting to CMP games matches with all of the above. I have had a large percentage of premature failures (within 5 firings of loads that are not hot-rodded) with Winchester brass. It is always splits in the neck area. This problem has been severe in my M99 Savage with .300 Sav ammo, only getting 3-4 firings (may be particular to the rifle, but my Rem brass made it through 6 or 7 firings until a 3rd trim relegated it to the scrap bin), but I have also noticed it in .280 Rem, but with 4-5 firings. Lapua brass is great, but I only have it in one caliber and haven't run it through enough firings to draw any conclusions on longevity.

Pistol brass: Winchester doesn't seem to last as long in my .41 with full house loads as Rem. Still working on my Starline brass, not enough firings to draw any conclusions. All 3 have produced high quality ammunition.

 

[Rule3]

I don't reuse brass, For each and every load I buy new brass, whatever is the most expensive, Saves on cleaning it all with a magic solution of liquid and then polishing along with the primer pockets.

 

[sparkyv]

Rifle: I prefer WIN over HDY. I find resizing HDY takes more effort, but in the end, both can be made to perform satisfactorily. REM is also good.

Handgun: WIN is my go-to for smaller calibers. I toss 9mm REM brass as the rim is smaller and sometimes pulls out from the shell holder. For big bore magnums, I use Starline.

 

[Catpop]

Of the two, I use Remington. Oh wait that wasn’t a choice- Sorry!

Sparkyv——- will you save your
9mm Remington brass for me?

 

[kerreckt]

Starline and PPU. No problems and many uses. FWIW.

 

[Bartojc]

Never bought new Win or Hornady. I've used both after picking up on the range, and out of the two Hornady seemed better to me. The only new brass I have bought has been Starline, and it has been great.

-Jeff

 

[CptnAwesome]

I've used Winchester and Hornady with no problems. I'm sure I'll eventually get a bad batch of something though. It's inevitable

 

[Steve S.]

I am another reloader that does not notice a difference with different brands of brass; I am not sure what to look for to consider one brand being better than another. If I were to want to purchase premium brass, the only barometer I know of is from opinions such as this - drumbeat of Lapua or Starline. However, my experience with WW has been splendid. Sometimes being in the dark has it’s advantages.

 

[lightman]

I have used a lot of Winchester brass over the years. But they have some well documented QC issues. Its not uncommon to have a few damaged cases per hundred and to suffer several neck splits on the first firing. Their brass from factory loaded ammo seems to be much better.

I have very little experience with Hornady brass but what I have used seems to be ok.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I am another reloader that does not notice a difference with different brands of brass; I am not sure what to look for to consider one brand being better than another. If I were to want to purchase premium brass, the only barometer I know of is from opinions such as this - drumbeat of Lapua or Starline. However, my experience with WW has been splendid. Sometimes being in the dark has it’s advantages.

Main thing I look for is tight primer pockets, off center flash hole, and longevity. Weight sorting doesn't make enough difference for me give a thought to it.