What is the cheapest factory revolver ammo that uses decent brass?

D

Doyle

New member
Looking at the price of new and once-fired brass for .357 and .44 mag got me thinking that I'd probably be better off just to buy a bunch of the cheaper ammo factory ammo, shoot it, and salvage the brass. I know that Armscorp is considered "iffy" both as loaded ammo and brass. PPU is supposed to be good brass. Magtech can be good or iffy depending on who you ask.

Who, in your opinion, makes the lowest priced factory loads that will still give you decent reloadable brass?
 
Blazer Brass was the first brand that popped in my head too.

Personally, when I buy bulk ammo for the brass, I spring for Winchester White Box. IMO, Winchester has the best brass for reloading.
 
I agree with Winchester being good brass but dang, Win is up to about $1 per bang. That's getting pretty steep just buy for the brass.
 
That's getting pretty steep just to buy for the brass.
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Well you're getting a loaded round too :p

I know WWB ammo isn't without its criticism. But I personally find it to be excellent ammo in the bulk/economy category.

Blazer Bass is good too. CCI is reputable, without doubt.
 
For factory ammo to reuse the brass, I prefer Winchester and Federal. If I'm buying new brass, I like Starline. 45 Colt, of course.
 
I have had good luck with Blazer. I just shot 50 rounds today that have been loaded 18 times. Probably 25% have been .357 and 75% 38 special loads. I know that's not a lot of .357's but still that brass hasn't had one case crack.
I've had problems with Winchester being too large for my shell holder.
 
I would go with new Starline brass.
shipping is free
Quoted from web

357 Mag Brass (Magnum Small Pistol primer)

357 Magnum Brass, 357 Mag Brass, 357 Brass, 357 Smith & Wesson Mag Brass, 357 S&W Mag Brass, .357 Mag Brass
1.275 - 1.285 O.A.L.
357 Mag Brass: Basically a lengthened version of the .38 special, the 357 Magnum is one of the most popular handgun calibers in the world. Almost every revolver manufacturer makes a firearm in this chambering. Also used in many lever action carbines. 357 Magnum Brass.

Box Size: 500 ($80.00) • 1000 ($135.50)
Status: Available Now
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44 Mag Brass (Large Pistol primer)

44 Magnum Brass, 44 Remington Magnum Brass, 44 Rem Mag Brass
1.270 - 1.280 O.A.L.
44 MAG Brass: The most powerful commercial handgun cartridge for several years, the .44 Magnum is still one of the most popular handgun cartridges in the world. Almost every major handgun manufacturer produces a firearm in this caliber. It is also available in carbine form from many rifle manufacturers. 44 Magnum Brass.

Box Size: 500 ($101.00) • 1000 ($176.00)
Status: Available Now
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https://www.starlinebrass.com/order-online/all-cases.cfm
 
While I have found that pretty much all factory cartridges shoot fairly well, for the price, and reload standpoint of the brass I pretty much go for.
1) Remington
2) PVRI (head stamped PPU)
Not necessarely in that order.

Not sure how the Federal works for pistol (straight walled), but I have found that for bottle necked rifle I have to trim more often, and take more off than with other brands.
 
Blazer has been great brass in 9mm format for me. Has held up to many many reloads, some pretty stout. I would imagine their 357mag would hold up just as well.

I use Starline brass for my 357mag reloads though. They are a great company to deal with and make a solid product.
 
I can't say I've run into any really "bad" brass (but I've read about Americ [sp?]). I have not purchased much factory ammo in the last 20 years, mebbe 8-10 boxes total, and have reloaded all with no outstanding problems. Some brass has it's quirks (PP has little chamfer on primer pocket mouths and some times a bit harder to insert primers), but all has been reloadable...
 
I dunno. I just bought 200 new 357 magnum Starline cases from Amazon. I think they were $15 per hundred. They work really well.
 
Looking at the price of new and once-fired brass for .357 and .44 mag got me thinking that I'd probably be better off just to buy a bunch of the cheaper ammo factory ammo, shoot it, and salvage the brass.
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I've always done this. Can't see paying more for brass than loaded ammo. This is especially true with some rifle rounds. I used to buy Hansen rifle ammo to reload.


For common caliber pistol rounds you can often buy it cheap from indoor ranges, and for revolver rounds, I've found full boxes of spent brass in range trash cans.
 
Thanks for the link. I'd never heard of anyone selling pull-down brass before. Interesting concept. That gets in at 22.8 cents per round primed. If you consider primers worth about .04 each (shipped price) then this new brass is costing right at 19 cents each.
 
Factory new ammo with good brass in 357(or a decent amount of handgun calibers)?
For me, that would be LAX AMMO ( laxammo.com ) Their new ammo is factory new using Starline brass and Xtreme plated bullets. For 250 rounds of .357MAG it's $80. I've heard Xtreme bullets were iffy but the rounds have always been good in mine and my friends guns.
 
That perfecta doesn't seem to bad
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I agree, but Perfecta isn't making revolver ammo right now that I've seen. I've seen Perfect rifle ammo in .223 and pistol ammo in the usual flavors but no revolver ammo.
 
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