Meca Metal Pistol Brass

[Backyard Bob]

Anyone here ever used Meca Metal brand pistol brass before? And if so, what was your experience with it like? I recently saw it at my local Sportsman’s Warehouse, and bought a bag of it in 9mm (unfired, unprimed new brass). It looks to be made in Turkey, and this was the first time I’d ever even heard of the brand. Long story short, my first experience with it has been absolutely dreadful. Out of the 50 rounds I loaded with it, FOUR of them split vertically down the middle from the case mouth to about a centimeter above the rim like a microwaved hotdog as soon as I seated the bullet!

I’ve been handloading quite a bit over the past two years since I got into the hobby, and have never even had ONE case split on me at the reloading bench (or at the range for that matter). But now, over just the course of a single 50-round loading session, this crap managed to do it 4 times! Granted, I was using Berry’s 0.356” TMJ RN bullets instead of the typical 0.355”. However, I’ve used 0.356” bullets to load 9mm several times before and have never had any issues with it. Therefore, I’m really doubting that this would be the culprit.

Anyway, if anyone else here has ever used these Turkish-made Meca Metal cases before, am I right about it being complete junk? Or am I just crazy?

 

[GLShooter]

Sounds like you proved your own answer if it's junk or not.

As long as 9MM lasts and it coats the ground/floors on the ranges I shoot I don't think I'll ever buy any. Time after time guys at ranges just hand me their once fired stuff when they see me picking mine up. Between it and 45 I haven't bought it in over 40 years of reloading and competing.

Greg

 

[Backyard Bob]

Sounds like you proved your own answer if it's junk or not.

As long as 9MM lasts and it coats the ground/floors on the ranges I shoot I don't think I'll ever buy any. Time after time guys at ranges just hand me their once fired stuff when they see me picking mine up. Between it and 45 I haven't bought it in over 40 years of reloading and competing.

Greg

Yeah, I suppose that really is my gut feeling on this. I was just curious to see if everyone else who’s used it thinks its good stuff, in which case I would probably just assume I got hold of a crappy batch and would maybe give it another chance. But it probably does just mean the brand is poor quality, and should just be avoided altogether. I’ll either just stick to the once-fired stuff from the range, or new brass from brands I know are reputable.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[GLShooter]

I'd be telling Sportsman's I'm not happy and see how they react and contacting Meca directly. The worst they could do is send you a bag or two. If I got some I'd load it and shoot it and leave it on the ground. You could sell it for scrap at around $2.00/pound. We all have 30 or 40 pounds of scrap cases laying around.


Greg

 

[Backyard Bob]

I'd be telling Sportsman's I'm not happy and see how they react and contacting Meca directly. The worst they could do is send you a bag or two. If I got some I'd load it and shoot it and leave it on the ground. You could sell it for scrap at around $2.00/pound. We all have 30 or 40 pounds of scrap cases laying around.


Greg

 

[Backyard Bob]

I will. I’d certainly want that feedback if I were selling a junk product when my store has for the most part, a reputation for selling good quality reloading components. Whatever comes of that, I like the idea of at least using up what I have left and saving the spent cases for scrap money later. I actually keep a few empty powder cans on the side of my bench for that exact purpose. Over time that scrap metal definitely adds up. Thanks again for replying to my thread.

 

[GLShooter]

Glad to add my thoughts.

Greg

 

[Gneiss]

I also bought a bag of this brass from Sportsman's Warehouse and yes, it is garbage. Out of 75 rounds I put through my Walther last week, 9 of them split down the side. These were fairly light loads with 4.4 gr of W244 under Hornady 115 gr FMJ. No other pressure signs. I won't be loading any more of this %$#!.

The brass has a CC headstamp so any of you who pick up loose brass at the range, be warned.

 

[Flouncer]

I also bought a bag of this brass from Sportsman's Warehouse and yes, it is garbage. Out of 75 rounds I put through my Walther last week, 9 of them split down the side. These were fairly light loads with 4.4 gr of W244 under Hornady 115 gr FMJ. No other pressure signs. I won't be loading any more of this %$#!.

The brass has a CC headstamp so any of you who pick up loose brass at the range, be warned.

Always a threadjack ! Thanks for confirming the load info on W244 and 115g FMJ. I have found Hodgdon's online and it's 4.2 - 4.7g. I would definitely let SW know about your experience. Maybe shown them the cases.