Tcruse
Member
UPDATE:
Federal brass sucks.
I just got through measuring 100 CBC-headstamped units of 9mm brass I picked up at the indoor range where I shoot (this is the brand the range sells, manufactured by Magtech) for purposes of comparison. Of these, less than 10% were over .754" in length, and only two were greater than .755. Compare that to approximately 30% of Federal, which were often significantly greater than .001 over max.
To compare (100-count samples of once-fired brass):
Federal: minimum length: .750, maximum length: .758, average: .7536, case length standard deviation: .0019, average case wall thickness: .0116
CBC (Magtech): minimum length: .750, maximum length: .759 (one), average: .7529, case length standard deviation: .0015, average case wall thickness: .0123
Finally, I checked another 200 once-fired Federal cases for lengths above .754. Once again - approximately 30-35% exceeded .754.
Based on your definition of "sucks" you may be correct. However, unless you can identify a measurable problem with reloaded ammo using this brand, I would have to disagree.
Now, recently, I added a Dan Wesson 1911 Pointman 9 to my stable of guns and found that about 5% of my reloads have a problem. I was using Lee carbide sizing die and had it set to "recommended" values.
By adjusting it to "forcibly" touch the shell holder seems to solve the issue for the most part. The other part of the equation is that most of the brass had been shot multiple times using Glock Gen 2-4 firearms that are much looser in the barrel.
I went one step farther and started using the "U die" from EGW (?) witch is a Lee die manufactured to .001 inch smaller that the normal Lee die. This is 100%.
Depending on the sizing die the length of the case does vary some.
FYI - I also have had no issues with reloading the Federal/CCI aluminum cases. Probably not good for as many reloads but still good for several cycles.