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Which brass is better...?

#2
Re: Which brass is better...?

I had some once fired PMC brass that I weighed to check consistency. There was as much as 15 grain difference between the lightest to the heaviest. I put them all in my scrap metal pile.
 
#4
Re: Which brass is better...?

Depends on what you are loading for. I've loaded once fired PMC for 100 yard reduced matches, shoots okay. My XTC ammo is loaded in BHA once fired, which is WCC. I'll probably load this brass a few times. For Long Range I load Winchester virgin brass.

I don't know how PMC would do further out but I notice a lot of difference on the press when I size it. Some are easier than others, almost all are easier than BHA.
 
#7
Re: Which brass is better...?

For 600 yard prone my choices in order would be;

1. Winchester (sort by weight and set aside the highest and lowest, also is ready to go with no primer pocket swadging and crimp removing)
2. LC sorted by weight
3. Lapua (last due to price, I just can't seem to justify it in my head for the gas gun)

Of course that's just my $0.02.

If you must use the PMC and PPU brass, use it at the 200 yard line. Honestly to me it's not worth the effort to reload it for other than plinking ammo. Then again, I'm swimming in LC brass so I wouldn't even bother then.
 
#8
Re: Which brass is better...?

Thank you Short Round

Unfortunately, all I have right now is PMC and PPU.

I may be able to get my hands on some Winchester. Not sure yet though.

If you are drowning in LC brass, send some my way =)

Thanks again for all the advice.
 
#9
Re: Which brass is better...?

I use PMC brass in a 22-250Ackley. Excellent. I use PMC 270Win. brass in a 25'06Ackley. Never had a problem. If I could get unloaded PMC brass I prefer it to either WW or RP and just as good as Federal. But, I can't? Anymore. Seems to be only available as loaded ammunition, nowadays?

What I don't like is buying bulk and not getting the specific lot number. That is what bugs me about RP and WW. And that is (mainly) what forces me to grade my brass. BB
 
#11
Re: Which brass is better...?

Watch the flash holes on the PMC brass. I had a batch where all were off-center and went through several decapping pins before trashing all the PMC brass. I no longer trust it as there are better options out there.
 
#12
Re: Which brass is better...?

Interesting. Well, I have done all I can, here. The 400 pieces I own are excellent, although several years old by now. I wouldn't put up with off center flash holes, I can't even figure how that happens? I thought that PMC was made in South Korea and generally to US military specs, like Lake City?
 
#13
Re: Which brass is better...?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: inode</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Watch the flash holes on the PMC brass. I had a batch where all were off-center and went through several decapping pins before trashing all the PMC brass. I no longer trust it as there are better options out there.</div></div>

I deprimed over 1000 rounds of PMC and didnt have any that were off center.
 
#14
Re: Which brass is better...?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NoahbodyImportant</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: inode</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Watch the flash holes on the PMC brass. I had a batch where all were off-center and went through several decapping pins before trashing all the PMC brass. I no longer trust it as there are better options out there.</div></div>

I deprimed over 1000 rounds of PMC and didnt have any that were off center. </div></div>

It's hit and miss with PMC brass. The stuff I had was older. The PMC Bronze brass looks to be much better....I still don't trust anything with PMC stamped on the back of it.
 
#15
Re: Which brass is better...?

There is a bit of herd mentality going on here. Apparently Lapua is the only brand worthy, and everything else is junk? I started handloading before anybody ever heard of Nosler, Hornady, Norma or Lapua. Either RP or WW were perfectly acceptable and I didn't see a lot of Federal, especially in unprimed brass.

I have some excellent RP brass, some excellent WW, excellent Nosler and excellent PMC that I use in precision rifles and I trust the brass. I also use Lapua in calibers that are available. I don't know where this junk stuff is coming from but I assume there is some of it out there? In over 40 years, I have never seen offcentered flash holes and never seen cases that were unusable, for varmints or target application. But, I see a lot of advice, (okay, some advice) to throw away cases as junk and I don't get it? Maybe one day I will buy some of this junk. I hope so because right now, I'm feeling left out.

Good hunting. BB
(remember, you aren't supposed to flame the new guys) (even if they deserve it)
 
#16
Re: Which brass is better...?

Pretty sure no one was flamed(yet) but good concern. As for herd mentality, there really is little question that Lapua brass IS in fact a better product. I'll admit that, and I prefer NOT to use it, just based on price. Running through an M1A is hell on any brass, $80 or $25 a bag.

There's been too many testimonials on some brass, such as PMC and even Remington, that would make people avoid it. Not to say if one did use it exclusively that they would EVER see the issues noted. Brand is of little consequence if you're uniforming your brass every time, which most people do in auto's. Then you can weigh sort, and have decent brass, regardless of the brand. They best thing for the OP is to uniform his brass and shoot it. Then you'll know which works better for your load.
 
#17
Re: Which brass is better...?

Buzz,
You mentioned not seeing junk brass in over 40 years? How much .223 brass have you used that have various headstamps ~ PSD, PPU, PMC, IMG, etc. There's definitely brass that's decent and some not so much.
 
#18
Re: Which brass is better...?

Well, Tenn. member. Obviously, I never use pick up brass, but your point is well taken. (except 45auto, come to think of it?)

And, yes, I process my cases beyond what is reasonable. I accept that Lapua is superior brass, but, as I said, it is unfortunate that it is not available in some very common cartridges. Then, we must sally forth, fearlessly. Surprise! It's not as bad as I have been told.

Hey, don't mind me, (yet) I'm just working on 100 posts so I can sell something. BB
 
#19
Re: Which brass is better...?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is a bit of herd mentality going on here. Apparently Lapua is the only brand worthy, and everything else is junk? I started handloading before anybody ever heard of Nosler, Hornady, Norma or Lapua. Either RP or WW were perfectly acceptable and I didn't see a lot of Federal, especially in unprimed brass.

I have some excellent RP brass, some excellent WW, excellent Nosler and excellent PMC that I use in precision rifles and I trust the brass. I also use Lapua in calibers that are available. I don't know where this junk stuff is coming from but I assume there is some of it out there? In over 40 years, I have never seen offcentered flash holes and never seen cases that were unusable, for varmints or target application. But, I see a lot of advice, (okay, some advice) to throw away cases as junk and I don't get it? Maybe one day I will buy some of this junk. I hope so because right now, I'm feeling left out.

Good hunting. BB
(remember, you aren't supposed to flame the new guys) (even if they deserve it)

</div></div>

I can't speak for RP, but I have shot a lot of FGMM, which uses Federal, and Black Hills, which uses WW. I can tell the difference between Lapua and the other two by looking at flash holes. Does the drilled flash hole lead to better accuracy? Who knows, but I have definitely seen burrs in WW and Federal. In some cases, the burrs were actually obstructing the flash hole to some degree. All this can be fixed with a flash hole deburrer. I would rather pay the extra money and not worry about that. Also, there is a lot more neck wall thickness variation in WW and Federal than in Lapua.

All that said, in an AR, who cares? In a bolt gun, where you are getting 15+ loadings per peice of brass, brass is the cheapest component. In an AR, the shorter brass life makes the brass much more expensive. I would go with whatever just as long as the stamp is the same.
 
#20
Re: Which brass is better...?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NoahbodyImportant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was planning on reloading them for the 600yard prone part of the XTC matches.

</div></div>

I've been shooting BHA once fired for XTC. I also shoot the same load XTC, 24 grains of Varget and 77 SMK. There are shooters who will shoot new Winchester and 80's at 600 and reload it for 200 and 300. If you have time open on the 600 yard line for practice try a batch of each. Since the only 600 yard line time I get is during matches I haven't experimented too much at 600. Try the PMC for a match and see how it works.

Is the 1k of PMC from a batch or is it mixed lots? I'd say buy either 500 ($115) or 1000 ($221) new LC at Midway or some one else (price check) and have a consistant supply of brass. I've shot virgin Winchester at 1000. They are $230 a thousand, but out of stock.
 
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