Whats good brass to reload?

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Enron Exec

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What brand of ammo has good quality brass that is worth saving for reloading? also where is a good place to pick up brass casings? I picked up a Sig SHR 970 in 300 win mag and would like to start reloading for it. I'll be shooting 100 and 300 yard paper targets so nothing super fancy but id like to try longer ranges of course as i progress. Thanks. :)
 
Honestly, I've always felt that new brass is new brass regardless of where it came from. as long as it was from new factory ammo, I'll save it and reload it later. I don't know about rifle rounds, but I've been very happy with the brass from Wally World ammo for my pistol rounds (.40S&W) and whatever I can find locally in 10mm. then again, I'm loading for volume, and I'm not overly worried about accuracy.
 
For .300 win mag? You'll probably be content with the 60 random pieces you'll pick up in your lifetime. :D

Seriously, that ain't a round I pick up off the ground with any regularity. But if you are more fortunate, split them into batches and use a certain headstamp for a certain load. That way, your range data will always match your field estimates.

If you prep well, it's all pretty much the same quality.
 
I Only Do Handgun Calibers Anymore

so I prefer virgin brass from Starline, if I'm working up a specific load.

OTOH MagTech, Federal, Winchester, and S&B once fired brass works well
for less than maximum handloads in 9m/m, .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .45 ACP,
and .44 Magnum.

When I handloaded for rifles, I always preferred Federal brass; but I was
staying way below maximum loads. :scrutiny: ;) Once fired casings are also
available on-line from Scharch Manufacturing Company in Colorado for
a reasonable price. It comes roll sized and deprimed, as an advantage.
 
Generally, any brass is good as long as it isn't A-MERC ("Amercian Ammo" brand). Do not confuse this with American Eagle, which is made by Federal and is very good.
 
I've split Starline and Double Tap (both starline I think) in 10mm on their second loading. All reloads were well below max with Unique and Blue Dot powders. All other in 10mm have run fine for many multiple loadings thus far, about 5 reloads plus original factory loading. Those would be Federal American Eagle, Remington and Midway. I don't have any faith in Starline due to my experience, but it is purported as great brass, but I don't happen to agree due to my experience. However, first factory loadings were all fine.

No issues with any other brass in 9mm, 40 and 45 to date. Those include about 8 or more brands of brass.

As for rifle, never had any issues with Federal, Hornady, S&B and Remington in 223. Never had any rifle brass issues for that matter, and I have a 300WSM hunting rifle, and it runs about the max pressure of any rifle loads at 60kpsi. As stated, pick what you want and go for it. If it were me, I'd either stick to one brand/lot for consistency and amass about 3 or 4 boxes and just roll from there.
 
For my .300 I tend to favor Remington brass. Primarilly because I perfer Remington factory rifle ammo (core-locs) for hunting and accuracy when I'm not using my handloaded rifle ammo.

Peace
ST~
 
Good brass

Enron Exec--As pointed out, you ain't gonna find a lot of .300 Win Mag brass lying around at the range. It's pricey, so people who reload will snap it up.

Also as pointed out, anything but A-merc is usable brass to reload. (Don't bother with steel or aluminum cases however!) I've never seen A-merc brass in anything but pistol calibers. Any of the "big names" in American ammo use good brass, rifle or pistol, which reloads just fine.

Oh, and watch out for Berdan-primed brass, also. It's reloadable, but only with special equipment and special primers. It has 2 small flash holes instead of one larger central flash hole. Don't think there is any Berdan primed .300 Win Mag anyway. If you find any Berdan-primed cases, they make dandy scrap brass.

For pistol reloading, the quality name is Starline brass. I can't imagine why Jeepmor is having a bad time with it--Starline generally enjoys an XLNT reputation.

For rifle reloading, the Cadillac brands of brass are Lapua and Norma. Nosler Bullets says they put out brass now, of high quality, but no experience with it.

Top-grade brass will be more uniform in metallurgy, weight and thickness, as well as having the flash holes drilled rather than punched. Makes more uniformity in yr loads, with less case prep. If you're after the finest accuracy, the extra expense is worth it. Or just if you're fussy about your brass.

If you're less fussy, any of the major manufacturers' brass will do just fine. The more "into" reloading you get, the more fiddling around you will do with yr brass. But as a starting reloader, get the basics down first before you begin sorting brass by weight, reaming primer pockets, turning necks, etc, etc.

That's one of the neat aspects of reloading--You can make cheap, good, decently accurate, hunting ammo and be perfectly happy with that, or you can go to all sorts of extra work and hassle to wring the ultimate in accuracy and/or velocity out of yr loads, or anything in between.

Just follow the recipes in the loading manuals, don't get creative, play safe, and it is a lifetime pursuit. Enjoy.
 
Last edited:
For my .300 I tend to favor Remington brass. Primarilly because I perfer Remington factory rifle ammo (core-locs) for hunting and accuracy when I'm not using my handloaded rifle ammo.

Peace
ST~
Click to expand...

You can have it both ways, I buy remington bulk pack bullets (CL PSP) from midway to reload for most of my rifles.
 
Wow, what a wealth of experience, thank you guys.

My first reloading book, "The A B C of Reloading" just came in and will be a welcomed addition to the john's reading collection. :D
 
I have 98 A-Merc .45 cases. They are just sitting on a bench out in the shed, all lonely like.
 
I agree pretty much with everyone.

I use whatever cases I can find, with the exception of A-MERC (which I throw in the scrap pile without even thinking about reloading them)...

If I had a choice and didn't have to pay for them, I'd pick Lapua, Norma and RWS cases first.

However, you don't often see those cases just laying around for the picking up...:)

All other boxer primed cases work pretty well, with the exception of (A-MERC again, of course) some of the Chinese 9x19mmP cases (some of which tend to be too soft). I always resize the Chinese cases and use the 'good' ones and discard the ones that are too soft.

Forrest
 
Throw away those A-MERC .45 ACP brass, you'll be happier not to mess reloading with them.

Or better still, sell them at the recycling place.
 
Well, it is a .300 WINCHESTER Magnum, isn't it?

Remington is probably ok, too.
Serious target shooters buy a lot of Lapua brass.

Federal has an Internet Reputation of making accurate ammunition... in soft brass. I have some soft Norma brass that came with a rifle trade.
Internet reports may exaggerate Federal softness and Norma may be doing better now, but I see no need to take the chance on calibers available elsewhere.
 
I also like Starline for handgun. Winchester a strong second. In rifle I go with Winchester. I only load for .308 and .223 in rifle but in those calibers I go with the total Winchester package, bullets, brass, powder and primers while using their suggested loadings. I have gotten good results. Bill
 
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