Thread: Bertram brass locator

The Bertram brass supply has all but dried up in USA. Are they still in business??
My wife and I are planning our next holiday and if I can't find 9.3x64 brass in the USA, I am going to go to a country that I can find it. NZ is on the short list. Is 9.3x64 brass available down there?

Talk to Bruce Bertram in Australia

He’s made a lot of brass for me and he’s great to deal with

9.3x64 can easily be made from various belted magnum readily available cases

358 Magnum would be the easiest because 9.3x64 dies will open up the neck from .358" to .366" easily

But there must surely be an RWS distributor in USA who can get then on back order

Turning off a belted rim and forming an extractor groove is a pretty easy job for anyone who is reasonably skilled on a lathe

Originally Posted by cowboybart

The Bertram brass supply has all but dried up in USA. Are they still in business??
My wife and I are planning our next holiday and if I can't find 9.3x64 brass in the USA, I am going to go to a country that I can find it. NZ is on the short list. Is 9.3x64 brass available down there?

@cowboybart
Here's a possible USA source to check out for 9.3 x 64

https://forums.accuratereloading.com...3/m/1431021182

Bertram is still in production as far as I know. I have a friend in Australia who has obtained brass from Bertram this year, but calibre unknown to me.
Contact Bertram directly as suggested.

I formed 20 cases yesterday, by turning off the belt and cutting an extractor groove, I have yet to fire them. While that does work, the cases won't last as long as RWS or Bertram. I used 7 Rem mag cases so I will never get them mixed up. I do have a 358 Norma and if I am blind enough to miss the belt (or lack there of), bad things could happen.
I'm not willing to pay $5 ea for brass. Guessing in AUS/NZ they would be $1 ea (USD). I can get RWS on back order if I order 500 pcs. That's A LOT of 9.3 brass!!
Besides, I'm looking for an excuse to come visit!!

I wish it was $2 a case. I think you will be in for a surprise

Originally Posted by cowboybart

I formed 20 cases yesterday, by turning off the belt and cutting an extractor groove, I have yet to fire them. While that does work, the cases won't last as long as RWS or Bertram. I used 7 Rem mag cases so I will never get them mixed up. I do have a 358 Norma and if I am blind enough to miss the belt (or lack there of), bad things could happen.
I'm not willing to pay $5 ea for brass. Guessing in AUS/NZ they would be $1 ea (USD). I can get RWS on back order if I order 500 pcs. That's A LOT of 9.3 brass!!
Besides, I'm looking for an excuse to come visit!!

You are actually more likely too find that the Bertram doesn't last so well in a Nitro case unless you are running pretty low pressures

Bertram is fantastic for the big black powder cartridges where we don't exceed 24 k pressure

Turning the belt off good quality readily available magnum brass "should " give you a case that will last no longer than you would have expected in its original magnum configuration

Big BP Bertram brass landed in nz can be up to $10 nz so there are no bargains because it's made just across the ditch

Originally Posted by cowboybart

I formed 20 cases yesterday, by turning off the belt and cutting an extractor groove, I have yet to fire them. While that does work, the cases won't last as long as RWS or Bertram. I used 7 Rem mag cases so I will never get them mixed up. I do have a 358 Norma and if I am blind enough to miss the belt (or lack there of), bad things could happen.
I'm not willing to pay $5 ea for brass. Guessing in AUS/NZ they would be $1 ea (USD). I can get RWS on back order if I order 500 pcs. That's A LOT of 9.3 brass!!
Besides, I'm looking for an excuse to come visit!!

I don't know how available 9.3 x 64 brass is here. I can't remember ever seeing it offered for sale here although I don't doubt there is a bit squirreled away by the few shooters with matching rifles.
Might be worth contacting a few gun shops first about availability before venturing down here with expectations of easily finding brass.
I'm sure some gunshops would be happy to indent brass on your behalf, after taking a deposit, but you might be waiting months and I think it very likely a cost would be way over USD $1 ea.

I priced up some Bertram 577-500 No2 Black Powder Express brass today - a shade under NZ$10 per case and a minimum quantity of 50. That is probably an indication of likely cost.

@anzac_mike Gerald at Silverfin Sports is bringing I'm Bertram brass monthly
He will bring in 20x 577-500

I suspect the 50 minimum was buying direct from Bertram AU

I'm going off of a price of $35 AUS per 20 I saw a month ago. That would equal $1.25 US each unless something happened to the exchange rate.
Good to know about Bertram not being like the RWS brass for longevity.