I'm gearing up to load for a new-to-me .264 Win. Mag. and am looking for brass. I'd like to start with the best brass available. Since Lapua doesn't make brass for the .264WM, my first choice would be Norma, but I'm having difficulty in finding it in .264WM. My options at the moment seem to be either Winchester or Nosler. So I'm wondering just how good the current Nosler brass is. I understand that they get it from a company set up to make brass for them.
Quality of Current Nosler Brass
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
Bill Norris
Back in the Day
Nosler is one of the brands I'm blowing out for my 260 AI right now and it's looking good to me. The weight spread is app. 1 1/2 gr. for 100 pcs. and the neck thickness is fairly uniform at .014 - .015 measured with a micrometer. Groups are running on par with my Lapua and Peterson brass so far.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Nosler makes their own brass. The stuff in a box is real good- weight sorted and chamfered. Their bagged bulk brass is the same brass but not sorted. They make very good brass and for your 264wm itll be a top shelf option
I think it is pretty soft. I had some 300 win that I was happy with but in the last 2 boxes of 25, 3 out of 50 28 Nosler cases looked like this with .015 divots in the case mouth. They cost too much to be happy with that. I’m going to try ADG if I can ever find any or Peterson next.
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PhilC
Silver $$ Contributor
I've had good luck with their brass, prepped and bulk. I bought 100 6.5CM prepped on sale, same lot, and they were perfect, literally ready to load and I did.
From what I read on the Nosler forum a year or so ago, it was rumored at least some Nosler brass is manufactured by Norma.
From what I read on the Nosler forum a year or so ago, it was rumored at least some Nosler brass is manufactured by Norma.
Yeah, I also read that Nosler bought a plant and was making their own. It was a forum post from 10 years ago. I guess if someone was really curious they could call
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
This is correct. Been quite a while now
Several years ago,I think in 2012 or 13,I bought 50 rounds of Nosler 223 brass,and it was just plain awful.Flash holes off center,a couple of the holes were twice as big as they should have been,rim thickness was inconsistent and sorting by weight showed a 5 grain spread.I've always been very happy with anything Nosler,but that batch of brass was a letdown.
Last fall I ordered 50 300 Weatherby cases from them because nobody else showed any in stock and I bought them.That batch was perfect.I'd put it up against Lapua or Peterson any time.I used 20 for load development and saved the other 30 to load for hunting season so my customer had new brass to hunt with.This particular rifle has a Shilen barrel on it and I was using a Redding sizing die that was a near perfect fit to the chamber.On the 4th loading I had to trim.On the 13th loading,a head separation occured.Loading brass for a big ole hottie like the 300 Wby. 13 times is really not a smart thing to do,but I wanted to see how many loadings it had in it,and you can't ask for any better than that.
Last fall I ordered 50 300 Weatherby cases from them because nobody else showed any in stock and I bought them.That batch was perfect.I'd put it up against Lapua or Peterson any time.I used 20 for load development and saved the other 30 to load for hunting season so my customer had new brass to hunt with.This particular rifle has a Shilen barrel on it and I was using a Redding sizing die that was a near perfect fit to the chamber.On the 4th loading I had to trim.On the 13th loading,a head separation occured.Loading brass for a big ole hottie like the 300 Wby. 13 times is really not a smart thing to do,but I wanted to see how many loadings it had in it,and you can't ask for any better than that.
Nosler's in-house case manufacturing arm makes the common designs, but it's regularly reported that Norma supplies the low-volume 'specialty' models, such as @WVRJ's 300 WBY Mag, 280AI and similar. There is a longstanding Nosler-Norma relationship. When the former introduced its 'Custom Brass' range 15, 20 years ago, it was often reported that most was made by Norma, but Nosler would never confirm or deny such rumours. I bought 100 260 Rem cases in those days, but as it took the UK importer literally years to deliver them I never used them at the time. Having finally cracked one of the two 50-ct boxes recently, they are superb in their measurements / consistency etc. I did wonder if today's equivalents would be nearly as good given they're likely made in-house now.
Since then of course, Nosler bought the SSA operation and makes most of its lines itself. It would make sense to use Norma for the low volume products though - the Swedish company has positioned itself as the West's leading contract supplier of quality brass cases and its range is very large indeed.
Since then of course, Nosler bought the SSA operation and makes most of its lines itself. It would make sense to use Norma for the low volume products though - the Swedish company has positioned itself as the West's leading contract supplier of quality brass cases and its range is very large indeed.
Nosler has always attempted to tout their brass as being as good as or better than Lapua in quality and consistency. I just don't think Nosler has ever been better than or even equal to Lapua but they do good advertising.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Never tried it I see?
Nosler brass has been made by Federal, the very first batches stamped with Nosler, were Federal contracted brass...it was soft as can be.
Then Norma picked up the contract, and still makes some of it.
It is true that Nosler bought Silver State Armoury, but they only make the brass in Noslers own cartridges and other high turn around rounds.
I have 200 pieces of the Federal made 300WM brass, has way less capacity than most brands and primer pockets loosen with 2 or 3 loads, even if mildly loaded.
I was hoping to keep using it for F-class Open, but it just isn’t hard enough.
Cheers.
P.S. I haven’t bought any more Nosler brass, that experience soured my mouth too much.
Then Norma picked up the contract, and still makes some of it.
It is true that Nosler bought Silver State Armoury, but they only make the brass in Noslers own cartridges and other high turn around rounds.
I have 200 pieces of the Federal made 300WM brass, has way less capacity than most brands and primer pockets loosen with 2 or 3 loads, even if mildly loaded.
I was hoping to keep using it for F-class Open, but it just isn’t hard enough.
Cheers.
P.S. I haven’t bought any more Nosler brass, that experience soured my mouth too much.
dave@aDave
Gold $$ Contributor
I use Nosler for my .264 WinMag. I'm on the 6th reload for one group of 20 that are still looking good. With Winchester and Remington brass the necks would split and I would toss them after 3 reloads max.
The only problem I've had is the Remington 9 1/2 M primers are quite frequently to large to seat properly. I've had no problems with CCI and Federal primers.
w
The only problem I've had is the Remington 9 1/2 M primers are quite frequently to large to seat properly. I've had no problems with CCI and Federal primers.
w
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
For the price, Nosler brass is Shite. Buy ADG or Lapua for same or less money and have way better quality and toughness. Nosler primer pockets are just as soft as Remington, Hornady, Winchester, or Norma. You're basically paying a premium to have Nosler sort the brass for you, but it's no better than Winchester or Norma brass that you sort on your own. I noticed big differences in lot to lot consistency back when i tried it a few times. I don't like rolling the dice with brass in that price range so I'm done with Nosler.
For me, if it ain't Lapua or ADG, I don't want it. I have some Alpha brass but haven't tested it yet. Reading good things about Aplha so I have my hopes up. It's dimensionally very uniform so if Alpha proves to be as tough as Lapua and ADG, then Alpha will be added to my list of brass I will use.
For me, if it ain't Lapua or ADG, I don't want it. I have some Alpha brass but haven't tested it yet. Reading good things about Aplha so I have my hopes up. It's dimensionally very uniform so if Alpha proves to be as tough as Lapua and ADG, then Alpha will be added to my list of brass I will use.
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