Hornady brass

[searcher]

I competed for over 20 years in Highpower. I have thousands of Hornady cases to go along with thousands more of Winchester cases. I also have a few hundred Lapua .223 cases I used for the 600 yard prone stage. I saw zero improvement using Lapua brass at 600 yards vs. Winchester or Hornady brass. I just looked up the price for Lapua .223 brass. $81.99 per 100! That is nuts to spend that kind of money and not see any improvement in score. There's also the crying when you lose some of that pricey brass in the grass.

I agree that most brass is capable of doing much better accuracy-wise than many people give credit. I have shot the many, many thousands of rounds of Remington and Federal (often cited as the "worst"), along with high quantities of Lapua and Norma (among others) over decades on paper, from a bench off a toggle rest. I did find more batches of the regular brands having weird variances, offset flash holes, big weight variance, neck and wall thickness variance, etc. - some of which contributed to, along with metallurgy differences, shorter life span than, say, Lapua. BUT, I also shot some of the smallest groups (including the smallest), with the stuff rated the worst. For the same reason you likely used your Lapua brass at the 600, you probably knew it had tighter tolerances and the competition was important to you. I'll go out on a limb and say you didn't need what could be a slight advantage at the shorter ranges by using the likes of Lapua- but you also realized that, at 600, you wanted to have complete confidence in every round. Not meaning to put words in your mouth - but if that is true - it is why we pay that much for Lapua in certain circumstances. But we also know it isn't always needed. When I see brand new shooters buying Lapua brass to learn how to reload with, and to shoot with, I think they would have been just as well served with most any commercial brass out there. The difference in accuracy isn't as big as most shooters are led to believe. Brass life is another thing, altogether. And you are right about the prices! Seems like it was yesterday we could get the .223 Lapua for $50.00.

 

[kyotekiller25]

I've been shooting and handloading a little over 25 years and up until 2 years ago, I never bought any "premium" brass. Its been all Win or Rem with only my 7-300 Win mag using Nosler brass, which is still far short of "premium" but better than Win or Rem in my experience with the 300 brass anyway. I've got 10x firings on the original 50 cases and pockets are still tight, no split necks, and no annealing, on a middle of the road load.

These days I'll buy Lapua or Peterson just for peace of mind knowing it's match grade and I don't have to put in the work with the cases. Can't say I've really noticed any difference in accuracy, but a 100 cases should wear out most any barrel/cartridge.

 

[Fast14riot]

Only hornady brass I liked was made by S&B under contract for the 6.8spc. Hornady also made brass for the 6.8spc at the same time, it was a chore separating it as only difference was 6,8spc vs 6.8spc. I've tried it in many chamberings and it never lasted. Old blue bag Win was a favorite for some cases like 6rem.

 

[bozo699]

I tried to tell him, but he didn't listen! On a more serious note, it works, but I don't recommend it. Happy labor day!

View attachment 1691266

Friends don’t let friends use Hornaday brass is 100% spot on and it’s the best statement I’ve seen this week!….. thanks for sharing the truth!
Wayne

 

[piie]

Lol depends what im working on but 6-12 usually when working new loads, and sometimes end up with multiple sessions verifying loads in different weather. And general practice to stay up on the recoil. It can be a workout lol i just recently put a brake on it however so that helps now.
The casull i dont shoot as much, i also have starline cases for it. I got a couple firings thru the 454 hornady brass i got from shooting factory ammo lol i tried to simulate the factory loadings with two different powders. So it had some development then i got starline new cases.
The 458 i probably have 4 firings on each case. Somewhere around that. Not full house loads so that may help life. Now that the brake is on, the loads have gotten abit hotter

Also use it in my 458 Lott- was only brass available- straight wall should generally last forever…

 

[ditter]

Hornady brass is usually left on the ground for a reason. When was the last time anyone saw 25 pieces of Lapua brass on the ground?

 

[Homerange]

Hornady brass is usually left on the ground for a reason. When was the last time anyone saw 25 pieces of Lapua brass on the ground?

17 was the most I've ever found in my range bin obviously from a non-reloader.
I snatched them quick and developed a better grouping 308 load than my LC brass could do.

Still I snatch any once fired Hornady too and have great success with it in 243 and 223.

 

[long40shot]

I must say, hornady's 204 brass is good stuff. Compared to the older winchester and Remington, it's right there with them. The only 204 brass I'm having trouble with is the midway dogtown brass after a couple firings, I'm starting to have case necks rip off at the neck/ shoulder junction.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Hornandy brass Is ok as long as you’re reasonable with it, it won’t take abuse like lapua and ADG.
In fact I put federal, Norma and Hornandy brass in the same category.

 

[BHP9]

Hornandy brass Is ok as long as you’re reasonable with it, it won’t take abuse like lapua and ADG.
In fact I put federal, Norma and Hornandy brass in the same category.

I agree with what you say except for Norma. I find almost as good as Lapua brass. I have a 5 gallon pail of once fired .308 Norma brass. I have Norma brass with 17 loadings and no sign of separation plus it hasn't been annealed, I have just purchased an AGS annealer, made in Serbia.

Also, Hornady brass isn't good. I purchased 100 new brass. Had 4 split necks on the first firing, 5 on the second firing - all with mid loads. I annealed before the third firing and lost none, but I'm not hopeful. I'll stick with Lapua.

 

[searcher]

I agree with everything everybody says about some brands being better than others. But there are places for lesser quality (and priced) brass too. A few examples?
1) New and/or budget-minded shooters who need brass (preferably new), yet don't have the funds for the more expensive options.
2) Some shooters are hunters who can buy a bag of 100 pieces of brass and it might last them a decade, shooting maybe 20 rounds to "sight in and hit a few gongs" before the annual deer trip - and maybe they will or maybe not fire a few more. Might take them four or five years to get just one firing on the batch.
3) Those hunters preferring to not use a brass catcher on their semi-auto when hunting appreciate losing .30c per shot instead of $1.00 (unless you are shooting magnums!) to the weeds. There is no such thing as longer life when it goes in the weeds on the first shot. Some rifles are a pain to attach catchers to anyway - like my BAR
4) Newbies at reloading are probably better served learning on less-expensive brass when learning the ropes. Same goes for your first half dozen cases when neck turning, trying your hand at annealing with a flame annealer, etc. Seriously, who likes messing up their expensive stuff?

I know, I know - "everyone should wait till they can afford good stuff", right? Does that mean they should also wait till they can afford $8,500 for a top-tier match rifle and scope before match shooting? Or the same for the highest quality hunting rifle? C'mon. People buy what they can afford most often. It doesn't mean it has to be as good as the best. I drive a Suburban - not the new Rolls Royce SUV. I manage to get by.

 

[Rat44]

Sometimes we are stuck with a certain brand because of availability.
I have just started shooting a 17 Hornet and loaded ammo or brass is hard to come by.
There are only three companies I am aware of that load for it .
I can find Hornaday easily but Winchester and Federal loads are not to be found.
I did come across a box of Winchester at a gun show but thats the only one I have, all the rest of what I have is Hornaday .
And they are the only one that offers brass for sale that I have found.

 

[TTE]

I can tell you from experience, Hornady brass doesn't really like 300 Win Mag.

Are there any cartridges that like it ?

 

[TxBowHunter409]

Are there any cartridges that like it ?

Not a whole hell of a lot. Lapua just tolerates it but fights it the entire way. LOL

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I mean I am not going to win a competition, but I have shot a bunch of hornady 6 creed brass from factory ammo. Its fine. I even hit at 1 mile with it. I won't be buying more, but i learned how to reload with it and I will finish the barrel off with it.

 

[rr2030]

What is unique with Hornady brass that other manufactures are exempt from?