Rifle brass: best value

[Walkalong]

Are high priced because they're European made and nothing else.

It's better brass.

 

[hdwhit]

Sunray wrote:
...collapsed case mouths are easily fixed with needle nosed pliers.

Out of round, I would agree, but if the lip of the case mouth is folded over as part of the collapse, they're not worth my time and go to the recycling bin.

 

[Tony k]

"...Lapua and Nosler to be "high grade" brass..." Are high priced because they're European made and nothing else. U.S. has duty on their stuff too.
Federal brass is known for being softer than other brands. Only means it doesn't last as long.
"...How about PPU..." That's Prvi Partizan. Good stuff, but not exactly in reliable supply.
"...dented or has a collapsed case mouth..." Dents don't matter and collapsed case mouths are easily fixed with needle nosed pliers.

Nosler is imported? I figured they were some other domestic brand with a Nosler stamp.

For that matter, how many actual brass manufacturers are there? Fewer than 10 in the US? Does Barnes and HPR and Black Hills actually make their own brass?

 

[WelshShooter]

Lapua is always my go to rifle brass if they make it for my selected calibre. In the UK, it is actually cheaper than buying Remington or Hornady brass - or rather to say that after importing Remington and Hornady brass is too expensive to be considered. Privi Partisan, or PPU, is good brass but needs a bit of work before loading. Sellier and Bellot brass is brittle and breaks after a few loadings, even though I'm only bumping the shoulders back 0.002" to 0.003" and using mild handloads. Federal brass is soft and primer pockets come loose within half a dozen handloads. I have some Lapua brass on 8 loadings with no negative effects yet.

Starline is my go to brass for pistol calibres. I used Remington brass for .357 but found the case walls to be too thick and caused issues when sizing. Magtech brass is terrible; bought 300 .30 carbine cases (I consider .30 carbine a pistol calibre due to non-bottleneck appearance) and all of the flash holes needed deburring. The brass metallurgy was terrible, 5% of the cases ruptured on first firing and another 5% split at the case neck. This was the only brand available to me at the time. Starline brass has worked amazingly well in my .357 and .38 special loadings. I mostly shoot gallery range loads (i.e. 158gr lead and small charge of pistol powder) and the only time I scrap a piece of brass is if I've stepped on it inadvertently .

 

[dh1633pm]

I use Lake City for 223, 308, and 30-06. For pistol and some others starline. Others are a mix match. But I always try to get all the brass for one particular caliber the same brand.