The holy Grail of components and forums

[hoz53]

Let's start this off with components. So if you read the net with all the shooters that will only shoot cartridges that Lapua builds brass for. And Lapua is the king. Why would one only buy anything else? Same for Berger and so on. Let's find out why some of you are so set on one component and not others.

Don't be afraid to join this thread and get bashed. Or prove a point. Come with facts and not my buddy said. Please use example that are posted on other forums. You might just find that certain people back track. Post away.

there are people out there that just have to “keep up with the Jone’s” and get the latest “hot” equipment and components to look the part. I dont think thats true about most shooters though. If most are going to spend the money and effort to find and buy the best components for what they are trying to do its because they want the results. And if a gun is shooting good for me to the level i want Im sure not gonna use up barrel life testing a bunch of different components. Ive never owned a 6ppc so my 6br guns are the most accurate rifles i have ever had. I use lapua or petersen cause thats what ive been able to get and what works for me. Same with bullets- Bergers have always shot best for me of the factory bullets so they are what i use.

But If you can sell me some New Winchester or Remington 6br brass let me know, Ill try them.

 

[bpm990d]

Why would one only buy anything else? Same for Berger and so on.

Shooting Bergers and Lapua don't matter when you have to shoot standing.

 

[nakneker]

Lots of answers to the question the OP asked, too many to cover in a blurb. I’ll mention a couple points though. When I had my 338 Lapua built I quickly learned the Lapua brass at 3.00 bucks a piece was cheaper than the brass I was buying at half that. I was getting, am getting, 10-12 loadings out of one piece of brass, I don't even get half that with some of the cheaper brass I try. When your evaluating something like the price of brass you can’t just look at the price paid on the front end, you need to pro rate the price over brass life to get the true cost of brass. Just about every time I do that Lapua is not any more expensive than lesser brass and sometimes it’s cheaper. How many firing do you get out of a piece of Lapua 6BR brass or 30-06? In my case I get more many more than most other brands.

The other thing I think about is what stage of this hobby are you at? For me, when I was in my twenties and thirties I didn’t buy what I wanted to buy because I was limited by my budget. I shot a lot of Remington and Winchester brass, I’d splurge on Norma if I could find it at a good deal. As I’ve gotten older I have a bigger budget and sometimes I’m guilty of buying Gucci buying I admit. There’s so many reasons why guys get hung up on brass or bullets, some of those attitudes are based on personal experience, some those perspectives are based on buying what’s in Vogue at the time, what gets a double take by others when seen in the bench.

I don’t shoot competition. I like Lapua because it’s always been really good to me, it works better. Sometimes I can’t find it or it’s not made in a cartridge I’d like to build a rifle. That’s not a big deal, I can make whatever work but if I can get Lapua will, not a big deal if I have to settle for a Peterson, ADG or Alpha if it’s even settling at all. I still use a lot of Starline, some PPU, old Winchester etc. To each their own, their path and experience probably differs from mine. That’s part of the fun of the hobby, build what you want, shoot what you want, enjoy the journey.

 

[Fuj]

I like my Norma brass......I like my Sierra bullets.....I like these
forums.....I like good beer.....

 

[Clancy]

I’m detecting a hint of tongue in cheek, but I’m gonna answer anyway….

I shoot Lapua first, Peterson second and nothing third. I have not found other brands that have the neck wall consistency and material quality of those two. I’m sure Norma is good, but I hear too many reports of pockets giving out to try it myself. I’ve shot Winchester, Hornady, Remington, Nosler and Alpha as well.

I’ve used at least a barrel worth of Nosler, Hornady, Sierra, Berger and Bart’s bullets. I now shoot Bart’s and Berger for everything, but I did keep a stash of 55 grain Noslers, as they shot very well for a production bullet.

I’ve tried every primer that CCI and Federal make, and have not found a bad one though I shoot plain 205s and 450s the most.

I generally stay away from Hodgdon and Alliant, but I do use a little bit of H4895 and H4350. The temp stability is nice, but the accuracy nodes are a LOT wider with Vihtavuori so that’s always my first choice.

I won’t seat a bullet without a wilson die, and I buy mostly Forster and Redding FL dies and polish them- though I do like the Wilson bushing sizers as well.

In short, I’ve tried all the junk out there, and it got me junk results, so I stay with the premiums.

 

[Gary C]

None of us are in this because it is a cheap hobby.
Between reloading equipment and firearms not to mention scopes, annealers,and cronographs we have many thousands invested.
I shake my head whan I read " i'm done with Hodgedon or Varget" because it costs more than others.
I shoot informaly at a local club and shoot Bart's bullets, VV powder and cci primers using Lapua brass.
K&M arbor press and Wilson seating dies.
Foster and Redding other dies.
I would love a top grade front rest but can't justify $2000 for them.
Shooting a $2000 rifle and $1500 scope.

G

 

[urbanrifleman]

Although they may exist, I'm not aware of anyone that selects a cartridge on the basis of Lapua brass being made for it.

I shoot a 6 BR because I believe it (Along with 105 class bullets) is the best cartridge for the game I play.

I shoot Berger bullets because I believe they shoot better than I can. If that is no longer true I will find better bullets. Same for Varget and 205's.

People are selecting cartridges based on brass availability. I talk to several a week.

Bullets too. And powder. And primers.

Absolutely.

Unless the American people start to address these "shortages", the next phase is that the new shooters are going to select to go play golf and not bother with trying to find components at all.

 

[jackieschmidt]

In the two Disciplines I compete in, the components I use are the ones that I believe give the best results.

 

[drop_point]

Yep, before I build a rifle, I'm thinking about brass availability before I get started.

When Hornady was the only name in 6.5 PRC, I didn't build one. I waited until some of the premium brands came out with it.

With availability of primers, I like having options to use both large and small rifle primers in a cartridge.

I also know what bullet and powder I will be using before I take on a project. Sometimes an alternative option is thought through in case my first choice doesn't work out.

 

[DGP4]

I'm sure someone here has run a comparison between Lapua brass and run of the mill brass that specs well and was prepared with the same care as the Lapua brass. I would love to hear what if any difference they found in actual performance. Aside from actual performance, are there any other benefits to Lapua or other "high end" brass? Does it last longer etc.? Being inexperienced in serious BR competition, I would like to hear from the experts here.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I feel very fortunate that the bullets I use in the 6ppc and 6 Dasher are both hand-pulled, excellent and made close enough to me that FTF delivery is possible. Lapua for the 6ppc and Lapua transitioning to Alpha for the 6 Dasher.

 

[JFrank]

In a hunting rifle I’ll load and shoot most any brand brass and bullets that I have on hand, I’ve yet to have an animal complain.

My comp rifles only get Lapua brass. I’ve shot a few thousand Berger 108 but now I’m strictly chambering for 103 Vapor Trails.

 

[SSeal]

I'm sure someone here has run a comparison between Lapua brass and run of the mill brass that specs well and was prepared with the same care as the Lapua brass. I would love to hear what if any difference they found in actual performance. Aside from actual performance, are there any other benefits to Lapua or other "high end" brass? Does it last longer etc.? Being inexperienced in serious BR competition, I would like to hear from the experts here.

 

[jwv2001]

Riverwolf1 said, "At one point I experimented with CCI BR -4s Alternating shots with Wolf primers and all rounds shot to the same point of impact."

I have used Wolf primers. As a matter of fact, I still have a couple of thousand.
My problem was a lot of hangfires.
Talk about disconcerting, when there is a lag between the firing pin strike and the shot. Some said it was caused by the powder that I used. Ball vs kernel. I tried it on both. Always had the same problem.

 

[jwv2001]

There is no doubt that Lapua is a quality piece of brass. Cosmetically at least. I shoot a 6 BR and I use Remington brass interchangeably with Lapua. I don't notice an iota of difference between the two.

 

[CharlieNC]

The cartridge choice depends primarily on the game you plan to shoot, and components as a supplemental concern.

 

[DLT]

Just a thought. Maybe all shooters are not the same. Some love being different and shooting not so popular cartridges

 

[RED DIRT]

As i am finding it harder to shoot these days due to my age, poor eyesight, spending huge amounts of money on things that i will never reap the greatness of, i`m just happy i can hit the paper target at 100yds anymore.

In the mean time, i`m using Peterson brass over Lapua due to the price difference. Yes, penny`s matter at my age.

 

[TTE]

I pick a cartridge based on what's intriguing to me

That right there is pretty it for me.

I load for a wildcat, so I bought lots of Starline brass because I think it is good brass and it is a lot more available (and cheaper if I ruin one) than Lapua brass.

I am mainly a hunter so I bought a large supply of Swift bullets because I know they are the best expanding hunting bullet on the market ... bar none ... period.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Just a thought. Maybe all shooters are not the same. Some love being different and shooting not so popular cartridges

I picked 22 Nosler for single load prone (puts me in F-Open against 6.5's and 7's).
That makes me DIFFERENT
I can choose from two different Nosler headstamps, Dogtown (Nosler), and 22 Nosgar (Hornady).
No Lapua for me.
Trying 85.5gr Berger (3000fps) and 95gr SMK (2860fps).