Nosler brass? any good? How old is this brass I found? is newer stuff better then older?

[chucks78chevy]

Today I was looking in a Gun store when I have occasionally visited over the years, they have had the same Nosler 270 Weatherby brass on the shelf I have seen a couple times last few years. Can anyone tell me by the pictures how old it is? Looking through forums I have read mixed reviews on the Nosler Brass Is their newer stuff better? Some have said the older stuff wasn't made by Nosler but Now Nosler makes all their own brass. Any Input would be appreciated and if someone could give factual information about Who builds Nosler's brass or who did that would be nice to know also. Thanks guys

 

[bozo699]

I’ve had hit and miss with Nosler brass some was excellent some was the worse I’ve ever worked with!…I was told when they started out Norma made it. Don’t know about now
Wayne

 

[Ledd Slinger]

No it’s not good in my opinion, don’t know how old it is, and no the newer stuff is not any better.

Still basically around the same quality as Norma brass with the weak primer pockets. But it’s fine if you don’t plan on pushing pressures.

Started out with Norma making the brass for them but I think Nosler makes it themselves now. Didn’t improve quality or save customers any money by making it themselves tho.

 

[Bill K]

If you can use it, do so. Nosler brass is and has been good brass, no matter what others say. And the way brass is hard to locate now days, yours is now worth more than when it was first sold.

 

[bozo699]

If you can use it, do so. Nosler brass is and has been good brass, no matter what others say. And the way brass is hard to locate now days, yours is now worth more than when it was first sold.

So Ledd Slinger and I were lying?….you may have never got a bad lot but I have had several, even Remington was better and that’s saying a lot!…
My .308 brass was excellent, 7-08 was pretty good the .300 Winchester!…… I took all three hundred new unfired pieces and put them in the scrap bin!…. I wouldn’t have wasted my barrel on them! Had some .223 that wasn’t much better
Wayne

 

[Ray123]

I wasn't impressed with Nosler brass. It was scrapped on the first firing because of enarged primer pockets, that was a nomal load for Lapua brass which took 40 firings before being scrapped...so I never purchased anymore Nosler brass after that, so my experience is limited. It was expensive and soft in 308 win...Lake City was better in taking pressure of the same load as Lapua brass and could be reloaded several times.
No brass I ever used was as soft in the case head as Nosler, so much so as to be dangerous with near top loads, so I never purchased it again...I do not know if it has improved, but where it was when I purchased it was junk... I will buy other products but never again Nosler brass, as I got no response from early complaints.

 

[bozo699]

I wasn't impressed with Nosler brass. It was scrapped on the first firing because of enarged primer pockets, that was a nomal load for Lapua brass which took 40 firings before being scrapped...so I never purchased anymore Nosler brass after that, so my experience is limited. It was expensive and soft in 308 win...Lake City was better in taking pressure of the same load as Lapua brass and could be reloaded several times.
No brass I ever used was as soft in the case head as Nosler, so much so as to be dangerous with near top loads, so I never purchased it again...I do not know if it has improved, but where it was when I purchased it was junk... I will buy other products but never again Nosler brass, as I got no response from early complaints.

Back in the day Norma was good brass as far as consistency and a lot of us used it but it always had soft primer pockets but brass was reasonably priced and easy to find so 3 or 4 fireings was ok and you bought more. When I bought my first .308 Nosler brass it was very consistent and concentric, I believe I’ve got 3 firings on it and the last time I loaded it the primer pockets were ok but time will tell, the .223 and .243 lost pockets on there 2nd and 3rd loadings the 7-08 has several firings but I shoot mild loads in it. Never found out on the .300 I never loaded it
Wayne

 

[RegionRat]

Like several of the others, I have had batches of the same caliber at different times, that made you really wonder what was going on and made me wish I could know the difference in advance.

Some batches of 204 Ruger for example, were like night and day. The good batches were very good with no rejects, but some other batches were very poor quality with low yield.

I just ordered some more for a different new rig and will know soon enough.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

So Ledd Slinger and I were lying?….you may have never got a bad lot but I have had several, even Remington was better and that’s saying a lot!…
My .308 brass was excellent, 7-08 was pretty good the .300 Winchester!…… I took all three hundred new unfired pieces and put them in the scrap bin!…. I wouldn’t have wasted my barrel on them! Had some .223 that wasn’t much better
Wayne

Yeah I’ve had Winchester brass hold up better to pressure than Nosler. If a person happens to have it on hand and wants to run loads that normal cheaper brass can handle then it’s ok for the most part.

If a person is wanting to buy new brass, Nosler is a complete waste of money in my opinion. If you are willing to spend that much money on new cases, definitely go with Alpha, ADG, or Lapua. Their internal capacities are way more consistent and their strength is far superior to Nosler

 

[bozo699]

Yeah I’ve had Winchester brass hold up better to pressure than Nosler. If a person happens to have it on hand and wants to run loads that normal cheaper brass can handle then it’s ok for the most part.

If a person is wanting to buy new brass, Nosler is a complete waste of money in my opinion. If you are willing to spend that much money on new cases, definitely go with Alpha, ADG, or Lapua. Their internal capacities are way more consistent and their strength is far superior to Nosler

Spot on!…. Couldn’t have stated it better
Wayne

 

[chucks78chevy]

Like several of the others, I have had batches of the same caliber at different times, that made you really wonder what was going on and made me wish I could know the difference in advance.

Some batches of 204 Ruger for example, were like night and day. The good batches were very good with no rejects, but some other batches were very poor quality with low yield.

I just ordered some more for a different new rig and will know soon enough.

Keep us updated

 

[SVT_Tactical]

I run a 22 nosler and they are pretty much the only game for brass.... wish like crazy they weren't I haven't had to toss any brand new pieces but i have had to toss some after first firing and I was nowhere near max or even mid pressure. I load it mild for simple reason i know the brass can't handle.

I'd not turn nosler brass away if that was all that was available but it wouldn't be my first choice when looking for brass.

 

[JFrank]

I run Nosler brass for a 308 win, I probably have 8-10 loadings without any issues, the deer don’t complain, the rifle seems happy etc. although I only run about 44.2 ish grains under a 165 class bullet the primer pockets still hold primers.

Not sure what I’m doing differently than other fellas.
Added; if I were to shop for or start over I would definitely take the advice of the more experienced shooters and look at the best brass for the mission at hand.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I don't have experience with any other than some older 280AI Nosler brass but it's held up well to some stout loads, so far. No idea who made it. The necks are considerably thinner than Norma 280 brass but I've heard it was made by Norma and that Nosler used different mfgs for their brass over time and different cartridges.

 

[FeMan]

I tried Nosler brass in my STW and was very disappointed. One-and-done on loads where I got ten or so firings out of WW, RP and Federal.

I have had a lot better luck with it in my 30-28 Nosler though. Five firings and they are holding up well.

In my limited experience it is at least highly variable in terms of quality.

 

[603Country]

I used Nosler for a while, in 223, 260, and 308. The 223 got reloaded a bunch, and for a while the 260 did too. The brass didn’t last as long as I thought it should, and mostly I use Lapua and Norma now.

 

[Bill Norris]

I have used Nosler brass in several calibers in the past. Most recently used it with one of my 260AIs. None ever really satisfied me even though I do not compete I do shoot a fair amount. If I can find other quality brands of brass I won't purchase it again.

 

[potatojudge]

Variable quality makes it hard to pay their premium. In that respect it's a poor value.

I have some Nosler brass that is perfectly good. I have some that neck skimming really highlighted some issues.

 

[acloco]

IMHO, I do not believe the primer pockets are at fault. Believe that special circle that is stamp around the circumference of Lapua brass is the difference. Compressing the brass at this locale, will provide more consistent and longer lasting primer pockets. Just an observation.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

IMHO, I do not believe the primer pockets are at fault. Believe that special circle that is stamp around the circumference of Lapua brass is the difference. Compressing the brass at this locale, will provide more consistent and longer lasting primer pockets. Just an observation.

No, the case heads on Lapua are built way thicker. I’ve done cutaways of case heads on Lapua and ADG vs. other cheap brands on my milling machine and there is a huge difference in thickness. A lot more brass supporting the primer pocket on the top quality brands. They also use better brass alloys that are stronger.