When it comes to reloading 308 hunting rounds used out to 500 yards, does it matter if I use different brands of brass for reloading. Another words, will a load with a Winchester brass group differently than the same exact load with a Barnes brass out of the same gun? (I don't reload but my buddy does and he's gonna start trying to work up a load for my Remington Model Seven in 308)
Brass maufactures
- Thread starter wjarrell
- Start date
I've personally not seen much difference as long as it's all the same length and primer pockets are all the same depth.
I just went through that today with some 38 special brass. I picked up some once fired brass and I had about 45 cases that were just a little shorter, I moved them aside by there self. But with my rifle rounds I get a little more tedious with them, but there's far more better people on here that could give you more information.
I just went through that today with some 38 special brass. I picked up some once fired brass and I had about 45 cases that were just a little shorter, I moved them aside by there self. But with my rifle rounds I get a little more tedious with them, but there's far more better people on here that could give you more information.
Different brass can have different volumes thus can affect velocity. Can really be an issue if loading to max levels. Best to separate headstamps and work up load. You can measure volume of brass to see how much variation. If not max loads, variance may be minimal if you are after minute of deer accuracy for hunting.
Pathfinder45
New member
For 100 yard practice loads at milk jugs with well below maximum loads, it won't make any significant difference. It will make a big difference at 300 yards and a huge difference at 500. Always use carefully matched components for any serious use.
The standard answer is yes....however there are other variables as well. Like mentioned if your shooting at water filled milk jugs or a steel plate, your not needing minute of gnats grass to hit them, whee as if your looking for target grade accuracy then yes it is a whole nuther world.
I have also found that slower stick powders usually but not always have a bit wider sweet spot than the ball powders. So that when you do hit something that delivers the goods it is usually a bit more tolerant to little changes like temp and case volumn.
Best suggestion is to work them up slowly with equal charge weights and see how they compare. I would measure the case volumn first and keep an eye on the lower of the batch. If your seeing pressures with it, call it quits and use that as a max load for them all. This way you won't get into any issue later on if you DO mix them up just for piddling around.
I have also found that slower stick powders usually but not always have a bit wider sweet spot than the ball powders. So that when you do hit something that delivers the goods it is usually a bit more tolerant to little changes like temp and case volumn.
Best suggestion is to work them up slowly with equal charge weights and see how they compare. I would measure the case volumn first and keep an eye on the lower of the batch. If your seeing pressures with it, call it quits and use that as a max load for them all. This way you won't get into any issue later on if you DO mix them up just for piddling around.
Mike / TX
I've learned something from you, my rifle loads I shoot are with slower burning IMRs , I guess that's why I've never seen much differents. My #1 25-06 I've been shooting Hornady, Fed and Rem brass for the past 15-yrs with consistent 3/8 groups @ 100 yds and recently I've been working on a Browning 280 rem, using Hornady and Fed brass that's doing good. But both, I've been using IMR. Hmmmmm
I've learned something from you, my rifle loads I shoot are with slower burning IMRs , I guess that's why I've never seen much differents. My #1 25-06 I've been shooting Hornady, Fed and Rem brass for the past 15-yrs with consistent 3/8 groups @ 100 yds and recently I've been working on a Browning 280 rem, using Hornady and Fed brass that's doing good. But both, I've been using IMR. Hmmmmm
4runnerman
New member
Steve4102- Got to disagree with you here and go with Bart. I say the from expirence. Brass is pretty much the same from one manufacter to another. When you size a case ( outside diameter same as others) and put it on a scale. If they are with in 2 or 3 gns of each other, you can bet pretty much inside is very close also. I used to in my 223 and 308 sort by headstamp and wt. During the brass shortage ( still going on ). I ran short on one brand headstamp. Had no choice but to pick another. This is about the same time I stopped sorting by headstamp and started sorting by weight. I found no difference in accuracy at all. I was shooting 3 or 4 different headstamps at same time POI did not change.
So you want to have a friend load for you. Why not just buy some rounds of the shelf? Select the bullet you want and try a few brands. Choose the one that shoots to your 500 Yard group and stay with that. You could also keep the brass that is all of the same type and have those loaded.
I guess some accuracy fairy touched her magic wand on my cases that had a 2 to 3 grain spread in weight, no case prep whatsoever and shot sub 1/2 MOA for 15 to 20 shot groups at 800 (with .308 Win) and 1000 (with .30-.338 Mag) yards.
Case prep's for emotional well being, in my opinion.
Brass is an alloy and all manufactures are not identical. This difference in alloy of identical dimensions will not weigh the same.
External dimensions may be identical and they may not. Here is a prime example.
Note, the head/rim of the Rem 300 WSM case is considerable smaller than the Win brass. Weighing and comparing these will tell little to nothing as far as capacity is concerned.
Check out this link. If you scroll down you will find a chart with case weight and case capacity. You will see that there is absolutely not comparison between weight and capacity.
http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.HTML
Examples from the link.
WCC99 weight = 95.5gr, Capacity = 30.5gr
S&B Weight = 92.3gr, Capacity = 30.5gr
So in this sample the case capacity was identical yet the weight varied by more than 3 grain.
PMP weight = 104.5gr, Capacity = 29.9gr
FNM weight = 97.3gr, capacity = 29.8gr
So, in this sample the case weight varied by a whopping 7.2gr yet the internal capacity only differed by .1 grain.
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4runnerman
New member
steve4102- I can't dispute what you post. I guess I have never looked that close to the numbers. I do ( as I stated) Have noticed no difference in POI. I shoot my 308 out to 1000 yards regularly and notice no difference from ( my mix right now) Hornady Match, Fed , Win and some LC. All weight with in 2 or 3 gns of each other, All shoot same POI.
I do say though,I do all case prep work other than turn necks. I did last week
( at the mention off some one in here) Check out Bullets.com. and for the first time ever I ordered 300 Lapua 308 cases. I have never shot them in my 308 before. Will have to see what happens. The only time I buy Lapua brass Is for my Match rifle.
I do say though,I do all case prep work other than turn necks. I did last week
( at the mention off some one in here) Check out Bullets.com. and for the first time ever I ordered 300 Lapua 308 cases. I have never shot them in my 308 before. Will have to see what happens. The only time I buy Lapua brass Is for my Match rifle.