Hornady Brass

[matchbook454]

So I just started reloading and as a machinist I want to check everything that I do. While checking g my brass (240 pcs) I had a weight variation of 12 grains! Then after sorting, sizing, loading some I checked things like neck runout and bullet runout. I had .0005”-.0015” neck runout on resized cases and bullet runout from .001” to .0035”. This had me a little concerned that something may have been wrong with my set up. Fortunately I bad 2 boxes of factory loaded Hornady and checked those. I found loads with .008” tir bullet to case! Now, I’ve had decent results shooting factory and have been told that the my reloads will shoot fine and Hornady is not horrible but as an anal retentive precision machinist I feel that I will be looking for higher quality 6.5 CM brass! ?‍

 

[Alabusa]

So I just started reloading and as a machinist I want to check everything that I do. While checking g my brass (240 pcs) I had a weight variation of 12 grains! Then after sorting, sizing, loading some I checked things like neck runout and bullet runout. I had .0005”-.0015” neck runout on resized cases and bullet runout from .001” to .0035”. This had me a little concerned that something may have been wrong with my set up. Fortunately I bad 2 boxes of factory loaded Hornady and checked those. I found loads with .008” tir bullet to case! Now, I’ve had decent results shooting factory and have been told that the my reloads will shoot fine and Hornady is not horrible but as an anal retentive precision machinist I feel that I will be looking for higher quality 6.5 CM brass! ?‍

I am a Machinist by trade as well and spent much time measuring before reloading. After a while, you will learn that it is a waste of time and that most things aren't as critical as they seem. You will learn where to pay close attention and where it doesn't really matter.

Put down the calipers and indicators and just reload.

 

[supercorndogs]

All those numbers sound pretty normal to me. Neck runout in sized cases is from the reloader not the brass. You will get those runout numbers, sizing anything with your set up. The brass is formed by the die.

 

[918v]

12 grain spread in case weight tells me you’re using cases from different lots.

Even if you use perfect cases in perfect dies, you will still get runout.

Runout is caused by misalignment and stress in the brass. You will never be able to cure the latter. If you get 1-3 thou runout then you’re doing well.

 

[matchbook454]

12 grain spread in case weight tells me you’re using cases from different lots.

Even if you use perfect cases in perfect dies, you will still get runout.

Runout is caused by misalignment and stress in the brass. You will never be able to cure the latter. If you get 1-3 thou runout then you’re doing well.

They are from different lots. I still though that was a lot of variation though???
Thanks for the info though. It seems as if my dies are correcting some of the runout as my loads are better than the factory loads. So far anyway.

 

[918v]

If you look inside the cases you will see that the heavy cases have a different firewall than the light cases.

 

[SmartDonkey]

Seeing as you are a self identified "anal retentive" person,- remember to buy the same lots. That goes for brass, primers, powder and bullets. I've seen bigger spreads in weight from lot to lot on much more expensive brass than Hornady. I do think there's some valid reasons to switch from hornady (when possible) but not because of your measurements.