How important are Norma cases when loading 10mm auto?

[Zaydok Allen]

My Lyman 49th manual indicates Norma cases were used with several 10mm loads. There is no explanation as to whether or not it is important or why.

Any insight? Is brass from other makers not up to snuff?

 

[Havok7416]

Norma provided the original loading IIRC. I use whatever brass I get my hands on. So far no issues, although I prefer my Starline cases. I just can't quantify why exactly.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I always hear good things about Starline brass.

I don't reload 10mm yet, but will be very shortly. I plan to stop buying factory ammo and just load all my own.

 

[ATLDave]

Using Norma is not important at all.

Starline is the gold standard. I have loaded thousands of starline cases. Almost all of the losses are simply that - lost brass. Very little mouth cracking, no loss of neck tension even after many, many loadings.

I am currently experimenting with xtreme brass. It is both heavier (about 6 grains) and cheaper than starline. The heavier weight comes with reduced case capacity. With light-for-10mm loads, it seems to give a little boost to both pressure and velocity versus the starline. I cannot yet report on longevity. Give me a few months!

I would steer you away from PPU brass (which I like in some other calibers), which loses neck tension and/or splits after a few loadings. FC brass seems to be OK, although not as consistent as Starline and seems to get chewed up/rounded over on the rim faster.

ETA: I even like Starline's nickel-plated brass, and it also seems very tolerant of repeated loadings (some brands of nickel-plating is prone to cracking or flaking after just a few cycles). I mostly keep that for the "business" loads that go in the woods-walking gun.

 

[entropy]

I always hear good things about starling brass.

And having a crow for an avatar makes it twice as funny!

Starline? That darn auto correct! Originally, Norma was the only brass around. Top quality, to be sure, but there's nothing wrong with most of the rest.

 

[Havok7416]

Using Norma is not important at all.

Starline is the gold standard. I have loaded thousands of starline cases. Almost all of the losses are simply that - lost brass. Very little mouth cracking, no loss of neck tension even after many, many loadings.

I am currently experimenting with xtreme brass. It is both heavier (about 6 grains) and cheaper than starline. The heavier weight comes with reduced case capacity. With light-for-10mm loads, it seems to give a little boost to both pressure and velocity versus the starline. I cannot yet report on longevity. Give me a few months!

I would steer you away from PPU brass (which I like in some other calibers), which loses neck tension and/or splits after a few loadings. FC brass seems to be OK, although not as consistent as Starline and seems to get chewed up/rounded over on the rim faster.

ETA: I even like Starline's nickel-plated brass, and it also seems very tolerant of repeated loadings (some brands of nickel-plating is prone to cracking or flaking after just a few cycles). I mostly keep that for the "business" loads that go in the woods-walking gun.

I have a lot of PPU brass and haven't had an issue in multiple loading, but maybe I just got a good batch.

I also use mostly nickel Starline cases so I can tell them apart from the .40 cases on the ground. They don't seem to crack and I've loaded them hot many times.

 

[ATLDave]

I accumulated roughly 1k PPU cases over the space of about 2 years, roughly 7-8 years ago now. The loss of neck tension after a few warm loadings was fairly pervasive. Every once in a while, I try using some of this stash of brass (usually because I am going somewhere where I think I will not be able to recover brass), and I end up having to pull down about 10% of my rounds because they have no tension. Unfortunately, I have not been able to figure out a test for this short of the step where I seat a bullet... they don't feel different during sizing, they don't measure or weight differently... I just have to accept the 10% waste of time. So I rarely use it.

Maybe it was one large bad batch. Maybe they've got it fixed. As I said, I am happy with their brass in certain other cartridges, so I wouldn't doubt it.

 

[WestKentucky]

All my brass is armscorp where I bought $25 cheap ammo to get a Delta Elite going. I still have brass, dies, bullets, ammo, etc but no pistol to go with it. I want to remedy that but the Witness that I want is just out of reach right now.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

And having a crow for an avatar makes it twice as funny!

Starline? That darn auto correct! Originally, Norma was the only brass around. Top quality, to be sure, but there's nothing wrong with most of the rest.

Yep, autocorrect got me.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Well I just picked up a Dillon quick change kit locally and 2 lbs of Accurate #9.

Guess it'll be loading 10's sooner than I thought. Self restraint is hard.

 

[Havok7416]

AA9 is a great powder for 10mm. Lots of flash and plenty of velocity.

 

[ATLDave]

Yep, a great powder for full-power 10mm. Meters great, good case fill. Particularly for 180 and up, it's the bee's knees.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Your previous recommendation is why I chose it ALTDave. I checked out the published velocities in my manuals and it looks like the powder to use. I'm mostly interested in 180 gr loads.

Power Pistol looks promising too.

So now I just need to order bullets, tumble some cases, and pick up some die lock rings.