Federal Premium 1x times fired cases

[Aquatic_Robotic]

Just got a bunch of 1x fired FGMM 308 cases. Price was right - FREE

Are these good for loading accurate rounds mid range (600 yards) F TR. I don't have any experience reloading with these cases, although I have fired quite few of them over the years. If good, how many times should I expect to make accurate loads with them?

Thanks

 

[timelinex]

From my understanding, they are good brass for match rounds, however they are on the soft side so the primer pockets generally don't last longer than 2-4 reloads.

 

[Aquatic_Robotic]

Anyone else reload these for F TR and tactical matches. Got about 800 of them, but don't want to waste time if I can't get at least 3 excellent reloads out of them.

Merry Christmas

 

[mdmp5]

Load them up. They are fine. Just be cognizant of softness over time

 

[Dan Newberry]

don't drive 'em like you stole 'em (even though you got them free) ... and they'll work.

The Federal brass alloy is different, to say the least. The brass is thicker, probably because of its softness it needs to be... and it will work harden faster than say, Winchester or Lapua. That means you'll do well to anneal it after the next firing, and just fire it twice and anneal again.

Use Federal's GMM load recipe of 41.8 grains of 4064 with 175's, or 42.8 grains with 168's and it'll treat you well for half a dozen or more firings. Overdrive it just one time, and your primer pockets will loosen as timelinex said above.

Good find. That brass should keep you going a while. Don't forget to check the trim length... it's probably fine, but you should check that to be sure you're not over 2.020 or so.

Dan

 

[RHunter]

Personally I would sell them since some are willing to pay top dollar for them (God knows why) and I would use that money to buy some Lapua brass... So in the end, you will have gotten Lapua brass for free and that is a much sweeter deal.

 

[codemancode]

I'm on 5 firings and primer pockets still going strong. Of course, this is with a moderate charge weight (44.5 varget). I got lucky on my lot of brass from what i understand. My buddy only got 2 firings out of his before they wouldn't hold a primer any more.

 

[pmclaine]

Im getting suspect of Fed brass. I stumbled into 500 free rounds of Fed 30-06 ammo and thought after first firing I would have a nice stash of brass for reloading. Second firing with a Garand safe load the necks split. Didnt matter if I was firing the ammo out of my Garand or 03 - splits.

Just prepped a bunch of .223 brass yesterday and all the brass was already way short. My trimmer didnt even come close to cutting it. Probably would have worked fine but the other 2-3K of brass I processed was at a common trim to length and I decided to toss the FC brass.

Friend at the range gives me all the FGMM .308 he shoots. I probably have 3-400 cases Ill be giving it a closer look when I prep/fire it.

Perhaps its me, perhaps its old brass in the case of the 30-06 but I dont have these issues with other brass.

 

[mb3]

I have been reloading with FGM brass for sometime and so far I haven't noticed any problems with the primer pockets. The brass seems pretty constant in weight and quality. I load it four times then anneal, and the brass seems fine. I have four batches of brass I circulate and I try to get eight to ten loads before I scrap it, but I would guess it could last longer. But I am not loading to max pressure. I try to keep my .308 loads around 2530 fps, out of a 20 inch barrel.

 

[Aquatic_Robotic]

Thanks guys, I'll put them to good use. I do not have a way to anneal, but been thinking about it. Seen a lot of different ways to do it. Some cheaper than others, but lots of ideas. I know they are pricey, but I like the Giraud annealing system. I have a Giruad trimmer and it has made trimming cases so much faster and easier.

What do you guys use??

 

[M14 Shooter]

If you decide to use the Federal Brass.Killshot44 does a great job cleaning and annealing brass for a fair price.

Regards,Mike