Nosler brass vs Hornady brass 6.5 PRC

[Ironworker]

I know Hornady is thin-walled brass, and Nosler is thicker. 57.1 rs of N170 out of Nosler brass 147gr ELDM produces avg velocity of 2970 with stiff bolt lift. 57.3 grs of N170 147gr ELDM Hornady brass AVG Velocity of 3,070 and cases extracted with zero resistance. Why?

 

[Bill Norris]

A couple of things come to mind here within different rifles but may not be relevant if the loads are fired from the same rifle. (1) The chambers of any two given rifles can and most likely will be very different as in surface smoothness and polished finish. (2) The difference in chamber cleaning between two different shooters will vary. Some will scrub and make sure the chamber is totally dry and some will leave a residue of oil or cleaning fluids on the surface of the chamber. The reaction of the brass according to metallic structure make-up could very well make a difference within the brass. The throat in different chambers could be a little different. Also, the difference in the bore resistance or drag could have an affect on the chamber pressures. The primer could come into play as well. So there is a lot of varibles to consider.

 

[JB10]

I ran into this with a 6.5 creedmoor. Worked up a load under max charge with hornady brass. Was given some nosler. Shot same load that was still under max and blew the primer right out. The rest of the nosler brass was unloaded and sat aside

 

[Bill K]

Because there is nothing wrong with Hornady brass and it works better than many of the higher priced brass, regardless of how much many slam it.

 

[Ironworker]

A couple of things come to mind here within different rifles but may not be relevant if the loads are fired from the same rifle. (1) The chambers of any two given rifles can and most likely will be very different as in surface smoothness and polished finish. (2) The difference in chamber cleaning between two different shooters will vary. Some will scrub and make sure the chamber is totally dry and some will leave a residue of oil or cleaning fluids on the surface of the chamber. The reaction of the brass according to metallic structure make-up could very well make a difference within the brass. The throat in different chambers could be a little different. Also, the difference in the bore resistance or drag could have an affect on the chamber pressures. The primer could come into play as well. So there is a lot of varibles to consider.

Same rifle, same chamber. Unsure of the residue of any cleaning fluids.

 

[Murray Brook]

Because there is nothing wrong with Hornady brass and it works better than many of the higher priced brass, regardless of how much many slam it.

True. When I built my heavy barreled 25/06 I purchased 100 Hornady brass. Fire formed all then concentrated on using the first 50. I'm up to 17 reloads on theses first 50 with what I would estimate would be a 58K psi load Good in my books. JMO

 

[Nomosendero]

I ran into this with a 6.5 creedmoor. Worked up a load under max charge with hornady brass. Was given some nosler. Shot same load that was still under max and blew the primer right out. The rest of the nosler brass was unloaded and sat aside

I bought a Vanguard 6.5 PRC and the only brass I could find was Nosler and what should have been mild pressure was HOT !! I finally found some factory 147 ammo and now have Hornady brass. Thanks for the tip, likely was the problem, the factory ammo was fine.

 

[K22]

I don't know about Hornady 6.5 PRC brass, but I've been using their 223 Rem brass for about 3 years now and I'm completely satisfied.

One of the aspects of this brass that I like is when you but a bag of 50, you get 50 reloadable cases. With some other brands, I've experience anywhere from 2 to 10% defects and when I say defects, I mean case you can reload due to significant defects.

 

[JB10]

I was able to finally get brass for my 6.5 prc late last year. Was lucky to get ahold of lapua brass!!. Had ADG on order for 6 months but no luck

 

[koger]

I an several of my buds have had no luck with Nosler brass, we have found it to be soft.

 

[Ironworker]

I an several of my buds have had no luck with Nosler brass, we have found it to be soft.

So that's the problem, it's too soft. So it's a metallurgical problem; can't it be heat treated?

 

[Straightshooter1]

So that's the problem, it's too soft. So it's a metallurgical problem; can't it be heat treated?

No. Brass doesn't harden as a result of "heat treating" like iron or steal. Brass will work harden and so cases will get harder and harder as the number of firings mount. For our brass cases, we use heat of soften the brass (annealing) to keep from work hardening so it doesn't crack/fail.

 

[Bill Norris]

I an several of my buds have had no luck with Nosler brass, we have found it to be soft.

I have not had the best of luck with Nosler brass. If I had to pick between Nosler & Hornady it would be Hornady for sure.

 

[Ironworker]

No. Brass doesn't harden as a result of "heat treating" like iron or steal. Brass will work harden and so cases will get harder and harder as the number of firings mount. For our brass cases, we use heat of soften the brass (annealing) to keep from work hardening so it doesn't crack/fail.

What a bummer; I'm on a waiting list for ADG brass and others. I bought 100 pcs of Nosler brass for my 204 Ruger and haven't had any problems. I do have a bunch of multi fired ADG and Hornady brass that still has a lot of life in them

 

[BDestafeno]

I know Hornady is thin-walled brass, and Nosler is thicker. 57.1 rs of N170 out of Nosler brass 147gr ELDM produces avg velocity of 2970 with stiff bolt lift. 57.3 grs of N170 147gr ELDM Hornady brass AVG Velocity of 3,070 and cases extracted with zero resistance. Why?

Similar experience with my Christensen 6.5PRC :
using a middle load of R26 and 143 Hornady, Hornady brass. accurate ... Loaded up some Nosler brass with the same load locked up my bolt tight! Is this brass real soft? The Nosler manual list loads much higher. I am sure there would have been a real problem if I had used any of those loads.

Lefty

 

[boltfluter]

Sad day when you have to choose between Hornady and Nosler! I do understand that many times you only have limited options. Good shooting.

Paul