Thread: Best brass for relaoding

I have been reloading for just over a year and I am hooked, love developing a load and seeing how it performs. I have been reloading 7mm08 and 308 using Norma brass which I have been happy with. The brass is coming to the end of its life and I am wanting to buy some new brass. My question is what brands would you recommend? Is there a massive difference between brands? What should I be looking for and avoiding?

Lapua, Alpha, Peterson, ADG > Norma, Nosler > Federal, PMC, PPU, Starline > Hornady, Remington > Fiocchi (GFL), Winchester.

Other than avoiding s&b cause it's super hard you can't really go wrong. If you can believe the seller it is only once fired factory brass,stuff comes up forsale all the time for $0.25-0.50 per piece all the time as lots of folks don't reload.

Awesome thanks, I will keep an eye out.

I reload for a few different rifles.
My comp rifles use lapua, Petersen and Norma without any issues and plenty of reloads.

My hunting rifles run mostly starline, which isn't too costly when you lose the occasional brass in the field.

But most brass will work just fine, just dont mix and match different brands

Originally Posted by lau lau

I reload for a few different rifles.
My comp rifles use lapua, Petersen and Norma without any issues and plenty of reloads.

My hunting rifles run mostly starline, which isn't too costly when you lose the occasional brass in the field.

But most brass will work just fine, just dont mix and match different brands

Is not mixing that critical for hunting?

I weighed a few diff brands a while back and apart from S&B case weight were all fairly close. Not same as capacity, I know.

I have found RWS and DKW to be very good brands, at least as good as Norma, if not better.

Lapua is always the first mentioned for good reason..... however the ADG stuff is as good if not better. Super consistent weight & neck uniformity.

Lapua, ADG, Peterson always the first choices if available in the caliber you shoot.

If you’ve got a good recipe already, don’t change the incredients!

Lapua is definitely the king ��

What do you want to achieve and what characteristics would mean "best" to you ?

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Is not mixing that critical for hunting?

I weighed a few diff brands a while back and apart from S&B case weight were all fairly close. Not same as capacity, I know.

Makes zero difference for hunting ammo

Originally Posted by gimp

Makes zero difference for hunting ammo

Define “zero difference”
Have you tested a bunch of mixed batches with a minimum ten shot group on average hunting sized targets across all hunting ranges to categorically rule out mixed brass having an impact on hit probability???








Jokes bro

Originally Posted by Sakoswarosorted

Define “zero difference”
Have you tested a bunch of mixed batches with a minimum ten shot group on average hunting sized targets across all hunting ranges to categorically rule out mixed brass having an impact on hit probability???








Jokes bro

Yup definitely

Without going out to the shed and checking, I’d say that my supply of just 223 brass comprises of at least 10 different brands without differentiating year lots. I sort all my brass according to head-stamps just because I feel like doing so. For target ammo I believe I can pick accuracy differences between different brands. For hunting ammo I don’t think most people would pick the difference from mixed brass. Going by results I’ve seen from maybe wasting hundreds of rounds shooting at pieces of paper, all shots probably fall into the general ‘noise’ of say 2 moa groups @ 100 yards. This is good enough for most hunting at sensible ranges when it comes to deer, goats and pigs. If individuals want to sort according to head stamps, weight etc then have at it. Keeping it simple works well enough for me and I shoot hundreds of animals per year. I will just say that the bulk of ammo I use these days is bulk Belmont, Hornady, Fiocchi in that order. Works for me.

ADI 223 brass is very very good quality and I would expect the 308 stuff to be the same.