Brass Question

[Schmoops]

Morning folks!

I’m on the verge of being able to start reloading. A number of you fine people have me a kick in the pants about just getting to it, so thank you for that!

I’ll be starting with 6.5 Creedmoor. I’ve been saving brass, and have a mixed lot of Hornady and Sellier & Bellot.

I’ve heard Hornady brass isn’t the greatest. I’m unsure about S&B. Does it make sense to simply start with what I have, or should I scrap it and buy virgin brass? I lean toward a ‘buy once, cry once, just do it right’ mentality, which is a solid argument for getting virgin brass…and on the other hand I’m sure what I have on hand is completely fine, especially as I got about learning the process.

I just want to bounce the thought off the sounding board, and get some other opinions. Thanks so much!

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'd start with what you have and then decide if premium brass is worth the cost to you.

 

[wind gypsy]

Nothing wrong with starting with what you have. I'd keep brass from the same factory lots together at first so you dont chase your tail.

There is cheap norma match ammo for 6.5s that shoots well for the price. The ammo i've bought is cheaper than new stand alone alpha or lapua brass. I have a pile of once fired and wouldn't think twice about using only it if I didn't have lapua brass from factory berger ammo as well.

 

[V00D00]

agreed. start with what u have. fk up the hornady brass then later when u know whats going on u can buy premium

 

[Schmoops]

Thanks all, I appreciate the confirmation of burning what I have before springing for the good stuff!

 

[Matt5266]

Use what you got. I have always used cheaper brass for general range practice

 

[6mm Remington]

Agree with the other folks. Peterson Cartridge company do make excellent brass as does Lapua and ADG. Nosler is pretty good also.

6.5 Creedmoor brass Lapua - MidwayUSA

Shop MidwayUSA for the best 6.5 Creedmoor brass Lapua

www.midwayusa.com

6.5 Creedmoor brass peterson - MidwayUSA

Shop MidwayUSA for the best 6.5 Creedmoor brass peterson

www.midwayusa.com

ADG 6.5 PRC Brass Box of 50

ADG Brass Cartridges are the worlds most consistent and durable brass cartridge cases produced. Manufactured completely in the U.S.A. using 100% U.S....

www.midwayusa.com

Nosler Premium 6.5 Creedmoor Brass Box of 50

Nosler Custom Brass was developed to complement their line of custom bullets. Each lot is weight-sorted to provide consistent measurements and...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Hschweers]

I take a different approach than most (I think). I use the good brass (Lapua) for range loads, and I use the sub par stuff (hornady) for hunting ammo. I’ve never had trouble getting a good load out of the hornady brass, it just doesn’t last nearly as many firings. So, I use once fired hornady brass to load up 40 or so hunting rounds that will sit in the safe and be shot a couple times a year. Those 40 rounds might last me 5 or more years (with sight ins and hunting). I don’t want my expensive brass to be locked up for 5+ years, and I’ll shoot waayyy more rounds with range loads so having the stouter brass makes more sense for me.

I started reloading with this method ^^. IMO, unless you didn’t at all research how to reload, you’re not going to straight up ruin good brass getting started. If you like my method/thought process, get the good brass and start shooting targets!

 

[wind gypsy]

Agree with the other folks. Peterson Cartridge company do make excellent brass as does Lapua and ADG. Nosler is pretty good also.

6.5 Creedmoor brass Lapua - MidwayUSA

Shop MidwayUSA for the best 6.5 Creedmoor brass Lapua

www.midwayusa.com

6.5 Creedmoor brass peterson - MidwayUSA

Shop MidwayUSA for the best 6.5 Creedmoor brass peterson

www.midwayusa.com

ADG 6.5 PRC Brass Box of 50

ADG Brass Cartridges are the worlds most consistent and durable brass cartridge cases produced. Manufactured completely in the U.S.A. using 100% U.S....

www.midwayusa.com

Nosler Premium 6.5 Creedmoor Brass Box of 50

Nosler Custom Brass was developed to complement their line of custom bullets. Each lot is weight-sorted to provide consistent measurements and...

www.midwayusa.com

Nosler used to be pretty good and made by Norma. I dont think it is anymore and general consensus I've heard is that is a negative more so than a positive. Do you have different experience?

 

[Ramem7mm]

Kinda torn on how to respond. I want to say use what you got and learn from there but if you have mixed brass and get results all over the place then you could start chasing your tail

My second opinion would be to get one group/ lot of brass that all same head stamp and learn from that. This will help when you have issues you can eliminate variables.

If your brass is mixed then you add more variables in the process and your results down range or measurements on the bench will reflect that too.

Reloading is all about consistency.

 

[DonE911]

When starting out, just use what brass you have, but put a premium brass purchase on the to do list for target/precision rounds. When you're a new reloader you may not understand why, but just some advice worth taking on faith that others aren't steering you wrong.

I use premium brass for target use.... that may be lapua, Peterson, alpha.. the prep is easier and I neck turn every piece.

I got a good deal on 500 Nosler Premium 6.5 creedmore brass last year and the quality is good, but not worth the premium price as the weights are not close and im doing the prep again anyway.. I'd rather have one of the other premiums. Same with Norma brass, it's good and all I have for my 204 ruger but it's not Lapua consistent. I have a fair amount of starline brass for lever action calibers and it is good stuff.

As mentioned by someone else, locking up premium brass on a hunting only rifle may not make since for most guys. I personally don't try to find lower quality brass for my hunting rifles on purpose, but some plain old remington or winchester always seems to come up and that's what I use for 270 win and have several hundred pre loaded, but I use the good stuff in my 6.5cm hunting guns and 7SS rifle.

I dont/won't use hornady brass.... it's been a very long time, but I had some very bad hornady and of course all the too short lever action brass from the leverevolution ammo... so I avoid hornady. I've read that there brass is better these days, but I still pass on it.

All AR 223 is loaded in range pickup brass.... it's high volume and not precision... and I've got several 5 gallon buckets full of the stuff that I have not processed yet. I do have a precision 223 that is loaded in lapua brass.