Does Brass Really Make A Difference

[Nick Caprinolo]

I have become addicted to Lapua brass. Is this necessary?

I have been told that the key to accuracy is consistency. So when buying a new batch of brass, I always measure and separate by weight. And in some cases, I turn the necks, etc and make sure that they are all length. I anneal them periodically when necessary. Using this process, I have gotten so many reloads out of a set, that I feel compelled to start a new set, just because and for no other reason.

I have used other brands of brass and following the same procedures and in most cases find i get the same degree of case life and the same accuracy. I find this is true no matter what caliber I shoot.

So why am I addicted to the Lapua brass? Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Doom]

I actually find my once fired 308 LC 05, 05, & 07 brass to be as accurate and consistent as my Lapua, but it took a lot more work to get there. Win is as accurate but needs weight sorting which drives up the cost.

In 223 neither Win or RP is as accurate without weight sorting.

 

[chromatica]

My Lapua 260 brass work hardens more severely than other brands, so it requires frequent annealing. This might be due to the fact that the alloy contains trace amounts of iron.

I have been getting good service out of Hornady brass as well. People say that primer pockets get loose on large primer cases, but I haven't seen that. I make it a point not to use any tools to dress the primer pocket - I decap first and then tumble the brass. The pockets don't get perfectly clean, but I haven't encountered loose pockets after 9 reloadings.

 

[JimSC]

Biggest difference I have seen in brass is that with some brands the primer pockets become loose faster than with others. With some I find it necessary to prep before shooting due to inconsistencies in the necks while with others I load and shoot straight from the box. There are differences in composition even from lot to lot in the same brand. https://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/x-ray-spectrometry-of-cartridge-brass/ I have never noticed any difference in accuracy and only breifly weighed or did case volumes but then I am not trying to get from the .1's into the zeros either. I also annealed for a couple of years then stopped and have seen no difference in case life, my accuracy has steadily improved but that can be attributed to practice more than anything. I like Peterson and Alpha brass best but that is more me supporting small American owned business more than any belief that they shoot better or last longer at my skill level. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[Zero333]

In certain cartridges I've had better results with Winchester brass than Lapua. Specifically talking about 243win, 7mm08 & 308win.

But I've never used Small Primer brass due to shooting in very cold temps.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Your addiction is not unusual, Lapua makes very good brass. So do Alpha Munitions and Peterson...but their case volumes will likely vary, so loads will change if you switch. I'd really like to try brass from these other two manufacturers as well, but so far haven't been able to force myself to re-work loads that are shooting very well in Lapua brass. So it's not only brass quality that causes addiction, it's also the notion of how much extra work you will have do if you switch.

 

[group therapy]

I have become addicted to Lapua brass. Is this necessary?

I have been told that the key to accuracy is consistency. So when buying a new batch of brass, I always measure and separate by weight. And in some cases, I turn the necks, etc and make sure that they are all length. I anneal them periodically when necessary. Using this process, I have gotten so many reloads out of a set, that I feel compelled to start a new set, just because and for no other reason.

I have used other brands of brass and following the same procedures and in most cases find i get the same degree of case life and the same accuracy. I find this is true no matter what caliber I shoot.

So why am I addicted to the Lapua brass? Has anyone else experienced this?

NO NICK, ITS NOT NECESSARY!!!! so, you should go ahead and let me have the Lapua 223 brass you just got!! heck, ill even give you 50 cents on the dollar you spent!! yep, im that good of a guy!!! really though, im switching all my brass to Lapua, the ones I really shoot good with anyway!!

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

NO NICK, ITS NOT NECESSARY!!!! so, you should go ahead and let me have the Lapua 223 brass you just got!! heck, ill even give you 50 cents on the dollar you spent!! yep, im that good of a guy!!! really though, im switching all my brass to Lapua, the ones I really shoot good with anyway!!

I only buy Lapua because I like the boxes.

In fact, I like those boxes so much that I just paid a lot of postage just to have a member ship me some. Stupid I know but we all have our idiosyncrasies. Besides, the bottom of Lapua brass shines up real pretty.

Gee if I'd known you really want them, I would have bought them anyway.. The devil made me do it.

 

[dogdude]

Lapua for me Norma when I have too (WSM)

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I only buy Lapua because I like the boxes.

In fact, I like those boxes so much that I just paid a lot of postage just to have a member ship me some. Stupid I know but we all have our idiosyncrasies. Besides, the bottom of Lapua brass shines up real pretty.

Gee if I'd known you really want them, I would have bought them anyway.. The devil made me do it.

Don't fight it! I've seen Lapua brass go literally 50 firings shooting the same load that trashed Remington brass on the FIRST firing. Lapua is the cheapest brass out there if you load at or near the top. I don't shoot long range but Lapua is plenty good enough for many a short range wins and records.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Well this my 2 cents.
I have shot Palma and used Win. And Lapua for years . I do completely Pre all Brass and weight sort .
I won two Reginal Matches with Win.
Cleaned 8,9&1000 yard Targets with each .
Never thought Brass made me better .

 

[K22]

Speaking from a precision varmint / predator hunting perspective, I've found no difference in accuracy between Winchester / Remington / Hornady / Federal brass loading for the 223 Rem and 243 Win. I always start with new unfired brass and each rifle has it's own set of dedicated cases.

What is important is case preparation and not over sizing cases.

I do have a huge problem with the number of defectives in new Winchester brass.

 

[DR1586]

It all depends on what your trying to achieve. In a 100-200yd benchrest rifle, everything makes a difference as the game is won or lost via thousandths of an inch. I shoot mostly position stuff and I’ve used just about everything. Hell, I’ve been able to get cleans at 1000yds using Federal Brass....I know not physically possible, right? Maybe I pointed the gun in the 8 ring but the brass was so bad it shot off call. I’m of the belief that you’re better of spending time practicing rather than weight sorting brass.

 

[dcali]

I think it’s better than the remchester domestic stuff. The primer pockets are the main difference in my experience. They don’t loosen up as fast and seem overall to keep better tolerances even when brand new.

But if you’re not seeing a difference in your shooting, then no, it’s not necessary.

I’m itching to try some of the high end domestics - Alpha and Peterson. I havent heard a bad report on those yet.

 

[Shooter13]

I have Lapua 6BR I converted to 30BR and have 15 firings on, brass is still excellent, no loose primer pockets or anything else. It is very consistent.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I think it’s better than the remchester domestic stuff. The primer pockets are the main difference in my experience. They don’t loosen up as fast and seem overall to keep better tolerances even when brand new.

But if you’re not seeing a difference in your shooting, then no, it’s not necessary.

I’m itching to try some of the high end domestics - Alpha and Peterson. I havent heard a bad report on those yet.

I have some Peterson .308 SP in my F-Class Rig it is find stuff and with a 5% vets discount it's even better.

 

[GSS]

I have become addicted to Lapua brass. Is this necessary?

I have been told that the key to accuracy is consistency. So when buying a new batch of brass, I always measure and separate by weight. And in some cases, I turn the necks, etc and make sure that they are all length. I anneal them periodically when necessary. Using this process, I have gotten so many reloads out of a set, that I feel compelled to start a new set, just because and for no other reason.

I have used other brands of brass and following the same procedures and in most cases find i get the same degree of case life and the same accuracy. I find this is true no matter what caliber I shoot.

So why am I addicted to the Lapua brass? Has anyone else experienced this?

We need more info on your application to properly answer your question...

Are you asking regarding for load development for;
an M1 Garand,
a 30-06 hunting rifle or
FTR out to 600 yards
F Open out to 1000 yards
a 1000 yard benchrest rifle ?

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

We need more info on your application to properly answer your question...

Are you asking regarding for load development for;
an M1 Garand,
a 30-06 hunting rifle or
FTR out to 600 yards
F Open out to 1000 yards
a 1000 yard benchrest rifle ?

Short range bench rest is what I shoot.

 

[D-4297]

Like bullets and primers and powders . It only makes a difference if your rifle doesn't like them . "F" guys use primarily Lapua because we get long case-life , and generally load to the edge of destruction . Other disciplines have different loading requirements . Go with whatever works for you . The "Brand" isn't nearly as important as the results .

 

[Steve Ladino]

I have become addicted to Lapua brass. Is this necessary?

I have been told that the key to accuracy is consistency. So when buying a new batch of brass, I always measure and separate by weight. And in some cases, I turn the necks, etc and make sure that they are all length. I anneal them periodically when necessary. Using this process, I have gotten so many reloads out of a set, that I feel compelled to start a new set, just because and for no other reason.

I have used other brands of brass and following the same procedures and in most cases find i get the same degree of case life and the same accuracy. I find this is true no matter what caliber I shoot.

So why am I addicted to the Lapua brass? Has anyone else experienced this?

I believe that Lapua brass is precisely manufactured and the alloy is tops but that doesn't cancel out other brands that may need extra prep.