Cases which brand is the best - The Firearms Forum

hawkeyeonme · 01-03-2010, 09:29 PM

If i go to the store and buy ammo that I can shoot and reload whitch brand is the best or do I buy new brass?

312shooter · 01-03-2010, 11:08 PM

This is fine to reload factory ammo brass you have shot, unless it is steel cased and/or berdan primed.

No offense - as a reloader I do find it bass ackwards to buy and shoot factory ammo just to keep up your brass supply........?

federal,remington,winchester,pmc, are all fine, make sure you watch for blazer though some of their pistol casings are nonreloadable aluminum and are headstamped "NR" for non-reloadable.

Alpo · 01-03-2010, 11:27 PM

It depends, to a large extent, on what caliber you are loading.

I bought several thousand rounds of 9mm. Mostly PMC or WWB. Could not buy brass and load it for what they used to sell it for. Waaaay back, when I bought my first 357, WW 38 Wadcutter Target ammo was 8 bucks a box. Once again, I could not buy new 38 brass, and load it for that price. So I bought lots of it.

I have noticed, with 32 ACP, that Federal brass, when I bell it, has a pronounced bulge in the case. I don't know the reason, and it does not happen with other brands, but it does with every FC case I try. I no longer attempt to reload Federal 32s, and if buying factory ammo, would buy someone else's if at all possible.

In rifle cartridges, Winchester brass is usually thinner. Thicker brass takes less powder to give you the same ballistics. In pistol cartridges, Starline is the thickest I've seen.

There's not really a "this is best, so buy it" brand, but there are a couple of "these are crap, so don't buy them" brands. Stay away - FAR FAR AWAY - from A-Merc ammo. Also sold as American Ammunition. If buying surplus 7.62 NATO, stay away from Indian ammo.

Nickel plated brass is pretty and shiny, but work-hardens quicker and fails sooner. If at all possible, stay away from it.

mikld · 01-04-2010, 11:43 AM

When I get a "new to me" gun I'll run some factory ammo through it, and save the brass for reloading, just because. I mostly buy once fired brass anyway, especially my 45 ACP and .223.

http://oncefiredbrass.com/ This is one vendor I buy once fired brass from, there are several on line.

Lotsdragon · 01-04-2010, 12:33 PM

Well over years of shooting I have quite the collection of brass from once fired stuff, since I started reloading 5 years ago I havent had to buy any yet but I wont buy factory ammo anymore, if I can dins it I will buy once fired if not I will buy new cases and make my own,I load a lot of light 38's for plinking and havent had any problems so far. Have starting reloading 30 30 and have a bit of used brass for those, although I did buy a bag of winchester brass a couple of years ago.

01-03-2010, 09:29 PM	#1
hawkeyeonme Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 9	Cases which brand is the best If i go to the store and buy ammo that I can shoot and reload whitch brand is the best or do I buy new brass? -->

01-03-2010, 11:08 PM	#2
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: Cases which brand is the best This is fine to reload factory ammo brass you have shot, unless it is steel cased and/or berdan primed. No offense - as a reloader I do find it bass ackwards to buy and shoot factory ammo just to keep up your brass supply........? federal,remington,winchester,pmc, are all fine, make sure you watch for blazer though some of their pistol casings are nonreloadable aluminum and are headstamped "NR" for non-reloadable. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin Last edited by 312shooter; 01-03-2010 at 11:12 PM..

01-03-2010, 11:27 PM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Cases which brand is the best It depends, to a large extent, on what caliber you are loading. I bought several thousand rounds of 9mm. Mostly PMC or WWB. Could not buy brass and load it for what they used to sell it for. Waaaay back, when I bought my first 357, WW 38 Wadcutter Target ammo was 8 bucks a box. Once again, I could not buy new 38 brass, and load it for that price. So I bought lots of it. I have noticed, with 32 ACP, that Federal brass, when I bell it, has a pronounced bulge in the case. I don't know the reason, and it does not happen with other brands, but it does with every FC case I try. I no longer attempt to reload Federal 32s, and if buying factory ammo, would buy someone else's if at all possible. In rifle cartridges, Winchester brass is usually thinner. Thicker brass takes less powder to give you the same ballistics. In pistol cartridges, Starline is the thickest I've seen. There's not really a "this is best, so buy it" brand, but there are a couple of "these are crap, so don't buy them" brands. Stay away - FAR FAR AWAY - from A-Merc ammo. Also sold as American Ammunition. If buying surplus 7.62 NATO, stay away from Indian ammo. Nickel plated brass is pretty and shiny, but work-hardens quicker and fails sooner. If at all possible, stay away from it. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

01-04-2010, 11:43 AM	#4
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: Cases which brand is the best When I get a "new to me" gun I'll run some factory ammo through it, and save the brass for reloading, just because. I mostly buy once fired brass anyway, especially my 45 ACP and .223. http://oncefiredbrass.com/ This is one vendor I buy once fired brass from, there are several on line. __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

01-04-2010, 12:33 PM	#5
Lotsdragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Potosi, Mo Posts: 813	Re: Cases which brand is the best Well over years of shooting I have quite the collection of brass from once fired stuff, since I started reloading 5 years ago I havent had to buy any yet but I wont buy factory ammo anymore, if I can dins it I will buy once fired if not I will buy new cases and make my own,I load a lot of light 38's for plinking and havent had any problems so far. Have starting reloading 30 30 and have a bit of used brass for those, although I did buy a bag of winchester brass a couple of years ago. __________________ "First comes smiles,then lies.Last is gunfire" Roland Deschain