Do you trust virgin brass for match use?

[dc.fireman]

I have done it - with some mixed results. I also prefer 1x fired brass, but sometimes it just doesnt work out that way, so you go with what you've got and increase your focus on holding, and wind. Reya Kempley wrote a great article two years ago for Shooting Sports USA titled "Pay Attention". Every competitive shooter should give it a read.

 

[D-4297]

Shot to many of my "good" rounds on practice day at the SWN this year without realizing it and payed the price dearly in the 600 competition the next day .. .
1st and 2nd relays were shot with my regular competition load , 3rd reload and I shot a 199 and 197 . Third relay was shot with rounds that only had a single firing on the brass , and I shot a 178 ....9's everywhere ...Duh !

 

[KenOath]

Usually once fired in Lapua 6BR brass....unless I’m fire forming into BRA, that seems to shoot little dots while ff for some reason...

 

[coldboreshot]

Factory loads obviously use virgin brass. I have seen great accuracy results from the likes of Federal Gold Medal match and Lapua.

 

[coldboreshot]

Forgot to include Blackhills and Creedmoor Sports. Point is...virgin brass.

 

[mauser284]

Well if by virgin you mean right out of the box than no. All of my brass get's sorted and sized and if I do not trust the company and can not see annealing marks I anneal too. If you have your reloading sorted out and are consistent I find no difference between virgin brass and once fired.

I am more concerned about the not over doing it with case life before I pitch my brass. I have never had a rupture or separation or blown out a primer in competition at all. I have had it happen on hunting rifles especialy with odd ball rare cases where I am really reloading them too many times like my 8x63 Swiss.

The margin of difference is so small that other human errors and machine errors in the total package more than hide this difference in the noise floor of the shooting platform. The human is the biggest inconsistency in any shooting package or weapons platform.

 

[JimPag]

Factory loads obviously use virgin brass. I have seen great accuracy results from the likes of Federal Gold Medal match and Lapua.

We are talking about virgin brass used in competition, not factory loaded ammo.

 

[Grimstod]

I find neck tension is a little different depending on the powder with once fired vs virgin so I shoot once fired, or more, only in matches.

 

[coldboreshot]

We are talking about virgin brass used in competition, not factory loaded ammo.

and the difference would be...I've seen individuals use factory match ammo in competition and win the field that day.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Wouldn't the shoulder being pushed back (usually several thousandths more) on new brass screw with depth? Assuming depth was developed on once fired/bumped brass.

That along with neck tension has kept me from using it.

 

[coldboreshot]

Regardless if it is handloaded virgin brass or factory "MATCH" ammo brass, it both works equally as well. This thread was designed to search for input from shooters to gain consensus on virgin vs 1x,2x etc...
this is my input. Doesn't the question actually go back to the brass itself?? At least that's what I got from the original header that launched this discussion.

 

[foxguy]

I have shot F Class Mid range (600 yd) matches with virgin 6MM BR Laupa brass and have scored very well. Light winds overcast day. I don't believe the brass was a problem, but i'm fairly new at shooting 600 yds.

I shot my first 2 targets for record earlier in the morning shooting using once fired brass scoring 198-11x's and 198-10x's and then the last target for record Virgin brass 198 - 10 x's.. It doesn't appear to me like once fired vs new was a issue.

 

[coldboreshot]

Wouldn't the shoulder being pushed back (usually several thousandths more) on new brass screw with depth? Assuming depth was developed on once fired/bumped brass.

That along with neck tension has kept me from using it.

I watched a guy with an Accuracy International AX in .338 Lapua using Lapua's factory match ammo, continuously hit a 5" steel target at 1000 yards. He used roughly 3 rounds for sighters and lobbed off the remaining 22 rounds. Now by competition standards, I'd say that was 22 X's at 1000 yards. But again, my input is, virgin brass works as well. Does not necessarily have to be loaded as factory match ammo.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I watched a guy with an Accuracy International AX in .338 Lapua using Lapua's factory match ammo, continuously hit a 5" steel target at 1000 yards. He used roughly 3 rounds for sighters and lobbed off the remaining 22 rounds. Now by competition standards, I'd say that was 22 X's at 1000 yards. But again, my input is, virgin brass works as well. Does not necessarily have to be loaded as factory match ammo.

I would like to have seen that. I would have shook his hand and bought him a Daniel Webster ceegar.

 

[rardoin]

I would like to have seen that. I would have shook his hand and bought him a Daniel Webster ceegar.

Not 1000yds but 600yds and not factory but virgin brass but can I at least get a Shisher Sweet, Don?

 

[coldboreshot]

I would like to have seen that. I would have shook his hand and bought him a Daniel Webster ceegar.

What was even more impressive was the challenge coin he showed me. He need not say any more.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Not 1000yds but 600yds and not factory but virgin brass bit can I at least get a Shisher Sweet, Don?

You got it, pm me your address.

 

[coldboreshot]

Not 1000yds but 600yds and not factory but virgin brass bit can I at least get a Shisher Sweet, Don?

Looks like a +1 for virgin brass to me! I have a couple of accomplishments on virgin brass as well.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've done quite well f.f. 6mm Competition Match brass in competition out to 1000.

 

[tenring]

"If prepped properly"

THAT IS THE KEY