6mm Remington Brass

[Brians356]

The Winchester brass I sorted for defects and case wall runout had 50% cull rate. But, once sorted, it shot very well and was fairly tough. Purchase price was cheap, so 50% loss was acceptable to me. For context; I measure case wall runout on 100% of my competition cases, regardless source.

In my example, there was no monetary loss, as Cabelas cheerfully bought back the 50% culls. I showed the girl in customer service some deformed cases, but she didn't care, their policy is "no questions asked" not unlike Wal-Mart and Home Despot. To make it work smoothly does require buying two bags to start.
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[cem]

Currently I rate Hornady as likely to be better than Winchester. That said I apply Bayes theorem and revaluate my expectations going in with the knowledge acquired after purchase.

Certainly there have been times in my life when a larger lot of Winchester brass was as good as most and also cheaper than most. I'm inclined to say but not lately. I have a thousand odd pieces of Winchester brand 6mm Remington picked up at Powder Valley a long time ago that is late last century -that is just fine for varmints/light big game.

My experience has varied a great deal over time. Just possibly my own standards have changed as much as the brass. Once it was whatever I could scrounge and call it good. Currently my attitude is take what you can get and cull. Getting a thousand pieces of Lapua off the brown truck doesn't bring as much smile to my face as finding a whole 20 piece box of once fired left at the firing line did 50 years ago. I'm beginning to think 50 years is a long time.

A long time ago Fred Sinclair wrote that all brass is the same price after culling. What looks cheaper is before culling. When I can buy the next box of premium brass for immediate delivery or store pickup I tend to save myself time and effort and buy smaller quantity higher quality brass in boxes of 50 or 100 pieces. Then load and reload and anneal as I see fit.

Just the same I will have a minimum of 1000+ pieces of unculled brass in reserve for every using rifle where I can afford it. Usually less expensive brands - less popular chamberings that are seasonal runs and not run at all during times of shortage such as .220 Swift or 6mm Remington or 9x23 Winchester and .460 Rowland for sure. I have a .376 Stey Dragoon where I am shy of a full thousand cartridge cases but I am confident that I could with judicious annealing shoot the barrel out with stocks on hand.

That said my advice to the OP is that if you have to ask, don't live with your doubts buy something you have faith in. That assumes buying something you have faith in is an option. Otherwise buy what you can get and buy enough to cull and still have enough left.

 

[Steve Blair]

In my example, there was no monetary loss, as Cabelas cheerfully bought back the 50% culls. I showed the girl in customer service some deformed cases, but she didn't care, their policy is "no questions asked" not unlike Wal-Mart and Home Despot. To make it work smoothly does require buying two bags to start.
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Yes, I noted that. In my case, it was 1000 cases from Powder Valley and I knew up front what the cull rate would be. So, I would view it as dishonest to try and make PV eat it. The two scenarios are different.

 

[Brians356]

Yes, I noted that. In my case, it was 1000 cases from Powder Valley and I knew up front what the cull rate would be. So, I would view it as dishonest to try and make PV eat it. The two scenarios are different.

Fair enough. Besides, unless you can drive a short distance to PV, the whole shipping+handling rigamarole rather spills the wind out of the mainsail.
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[Brians356]

Re: Hornady brass:

I bought two bags of 6mm Rem at the local Cabela's store. There were enough deformed cases, and cases with large neck wall variance, that I culled exactly 50% of them.

Here's the worst of them:



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[Steve Blair]

Here's the worst of them:

View attachment 1268205

I don't think I would need the Audette gauge for #4.

 

[46and2]

Here's the worst of them:

View attachment 1268205
View attachment 1268206
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Looks like a line up of some of the guys at work on Monday morning!

 

[David Milisock]

Here's the worst of them:

View attachment 1268205
View attachment 1268206
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How in hell did that pass quality control? Looks like someone was going through the recycle bin and sold them on.

 

[Coonman300]

Holy crap! After seeing this I went and opened up a new bag of Hornady brass and a bag of Winchester blue bag I had. All the brass looked perfect. I did not measure the thickness of any necks or anything since I’m just reloading for hunting/casual target practice. The Winchester brass was much shinier...the Hornady was fine but a little dull and spotted.

 

[Brians356]

Holy crap! After seeing this I went and opened up a new bag of Hornady brass and a bag of Winchester blue bag I had. All the brass looked perfect. I did not measure the thickness of any necks or anything since I’m just reloading for hunting/casual target practice. The Winchester brass was much shinier...the Hornady was fine but a little dull and spotted.

FWIW I bought those Hornady W-W cases in 2016. I'm not suggesting their QC is necessarily that poor today, and I'd be surprised if it is.
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[wildcatter]

I have found even after sorting most brass is mediocre at best. Hornady simply sucks, soft and useless in my opinion.

People give Norma a stout review, but in my opinion that is only relevant if you are comparing it to Winchester and Remington, with no experience with RWS I won't comment on it except to say, I don't see any winning 1000 yard, 600 yard, score or group short range benchrest with it, that honor is owned by those using Lapua brass.

I am building another 6mm AI, I have over 300 rounds of Remington brass already fireformed from my last one, it will stay in the relics cases, as today if you truly want the best and not kidding yourself with the most economical, well Lapua rules the brass industry.

So at 155.00 for 100 8x57 Mauser IS cases, this is where my money is going. I have no spoils running them in 7x57 Mauser dies then 257 Robert's die, and finally a 6mm Rem die. It is a little work but I am sure I will not only end up with the toughest most tightly spec'd brass available. But I am pretty sure I will have the best brass to produce the most accuracy this new rifle will be capable of producing, for as long g as this new Krieger lasts.

 

[mongo chicago]

I have found even after sorting most brass is mediocre at best. Hornady simply sucks, soft and useless in my opinion.

People give Norma a stout review, but in my opinion that is only relevant if you are comparing it to Winchester and Remington, with no experience with RWS I won't comment on it except to say, I don't see any winning 1000 yard, 600 yard, score or group short range benchrest with it, that honor is owned by those using Lapua brass.

I am building another 6mm AI, I have over 300 rounds of Remington brass already fireformed from my last one, it will stay in the relics cases, as today if you truly want the best and not kidding yourself with the most economical, well Lapua rules the brass industry.

So at 155.00 for 100 8x57 Mauser IS cases, this is where my money is going. I have no spoils running them in 7x57 Mauser dies then 257 Robert's die, and finally a 6mm Rem die. It is a little work but I am sure I will not only end up with the toughest most tightly spec'd brass available. But I am pretty sure I will have the best brass to produce the most accuracy this new rifle will be capable of producing, for as long g as this new Krieger lasts.

That's fine and dandy, except Lapua doesn't make 6mm Rem brass.

 

[David Milisock]

That's fine and dandy, except Lapua doesn't make 6mm Rem brass.

How much brass are you looking for?

 

[expiper]

dont forget you can use 30-06 Lapua (or any other brand also),,,and make dandy 6mm Rem brass,,,,Roger

 

[DiffEQ]

That's fine and dandy, except Lapua doesn't make 6mm Rem brass.

He converts....

So at 155.00 for 100 8x57 Mauser IS cases, this is where my money is going. I have no spoils running them in 7x57 Mauser dies then 257 Robert's die, and finally a 6mm Rem die

 

[mongo chicago]

How much brass are you looking for?

None --- I am not the original poster. He was looking for quality 6mm brass. Lapua was suggested but they don't make 6mm brass. Others suggested converting other brass.

 

[wildcatter]

dont forget you can use 30-06 Lapua (or any other brand also),,,and make dandy 6mm Rem brass,,,,Roger

I was going to have to use the 30-06 brass as it was all I could find from Lapua. But midway had had the 8x57is which is simply necking down to 7x57 the true parent cartridge, then 257 Robert's, same case the 6mm Remington is is necked down to then in the 6mm Rem die for fire forming.

The 30-06 would require a considerable shorting of the body, which manipulates the brass much more than just necking down, and would still require as many steps to neck down with more trimming, and both will require neck turning. It would also have some lost brass, the 8x57 should result in no lost casses.

The main thing is I have the best brass I can get for the 6mm AI when I'm done, and pretty simple forming job.

Like I said if I wanted junk, I have over 300 rounds ready to load already fireformed in Winchester and Remington brass, but it is not going to give the results the Lapua bras will. Lapua has proven time and time again to be the brass competition shooters use that make the winners circle for good reason, it's the best. It just works consistently.