Best .243 brass

[CJ6]

The batch of 243 Hornady I purchased a few months ago needed a LOT of work. Case lengths from 2.037-2.049, raised "ring" around outside of base .0015-.004 (looks like the headstamp die hit too deep) and this throws off your primer pocket depths and primer seating depths. At $1.00 a case it's not worth it.

 

[searcher]

Speaking only of brass that is not deemed expensive, I think there are many suitable brands out there. Seems everyone has peeves about different brands for different reasons, but in the end, most are half the price of Lapua or other higher-end stuff. Yeah, some may run half the case life - but for some shooters, a hundred cases will last them a lifetime - even if fired only a half dozen times. For certain rifles I own and don't shoot excessively, I'd not hesitate to buy Winchester, Remington, Federal or whatever. Granted, I'd do a fair amount of case prep on them - but I'd do that to Lapua anyway. Some of the brands that used to be a lot less, like Hornady and Nosler, no longer warrant my attention unless it is more of a proprietary cartridge where I can only buy their brass (like .22 Nosler) The extra cost is not justified by performance relative to the other "lower priced" competitors, I don't think. I'd probably give that Starline a go.

 

[KMW 1954]

Can't speak to the 243 but I had 200pcs of Hornady 223 brass I just tossed into the recycle bucket some of it was only reloaded once. About 50 of them after just 3 reloads they were junk. So now I will experience Hornady once again, only this time for the 6mmARC. Which the only other brass producer is Starline unless I neck down a bunch of 6.5 Grendel.

 

[searcher]

Most times cheap isnt the best way to go. The number of cycles can make more expensive brass cheaper in the long run. I know a guy that has 50 reloading on 300 WSM Norma brass. I bet you dont get anywhere close to that with Remington or Winchester brass. He told me he thought it was still good but he threw it away after 5 years of competition. I actually replace my 300 WSM brass after 10 to 15 firings because I believe it loses accuracy after that many. Matt

I met a guy last week that just bought a 300 Win. Mag and 500 pieces of Lapua brass for hunting big game annually. He was under impression brass only lasted a few firings and that from what he read somewhere - only Lapua was deemed to be "trusted". I got a good chuckle on that. I told him "brother - you got good brass - enough to last your kids a lifetime with that rifle most likely". I would have advised getting a bag of Winchester or something for his use. He was going to load up the whole 500 rounds. Whoaaa there....

 

[Mark W]

Can't speak to the 243 but I had 200pcs of Hornady 223 brass I just tossed into the recycle bucket some of it was only reloaded once. About 50 of them after just 3 reloads they were junk. So now I will experience Hornady once again, only this time for the 6mmARC. Which the only other brass producer is Starline unless I neck down a bunch of 6.5 Grendel.

I wont even pick up Hornady brass off the floor at the range.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Peterson is priced about the same as Lapua. Both are, as you say, great stuff. Either one will last a long time and will more than likely be more economical over the product life than 'cheaper' brands. I have .243 Lapua brass, fire formed to .243 AI, that has seen 9 cycles and it is as good as new. My loads run warm and if the primer pockets have expanded since new, I can't feel it. The same loads sacked Winchester brass (older lot) in 6 cycles. I'm confident the Lapua brass (100 pieces) will last as long as the barrel and then some. I do anneal after every firing, so primer pockets tend to be the failure point. FWIW . . . .

I have the same cartridge (.243 AI), and have had the exact experience as you, I also anneal my brass after every firing. Lapua brass is like the energizer bunny, it just keeps on going.