Winchester brass quality

[jepp2]

Last year I bought a quantity of Win 204 Ruger brass. As I was prepping the brass I noticed some of the brass was a slightly different color and the shoulder wasn't properly formed. The shoulder datum to case head length was at least 0.010" shorter on this brass. I loaded some and fired them, and the shoulder still wasn't properly formed.

I contacted Win and sent them the cases that weren't properly formed and they sent me a check. To see the difference look at the picture below. The brass in the container on the left is the brass I sent back.

[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/Brass%20Color1_zpss9xbpkd8.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[fourpower]

View attachment 1005076

7 Remington mag brass i just bought and was prepping. I had a crinkled up shoulder on a piece of .243 brass last year. Is this typical?

we finally got some Winchester 25-06 brass from cabalas what a bunch of crap!! thank god they let us sort the new brass. we went into 1000 pieces to get 100 good ones.

 

[Schism]

Fortunately I have not had the same issues as others...yet. I have several 50-count bags of Winchester brass that I have been opening and using as my old brass is retired. So far I've only had the occasional deformed case (<1/50) and I've been tossing them and moving on. However I've seen far to many threads in the last year or so complaining about Winchester brass for it to be an isolated incident. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

On the up side, it does seem like Winchester is standing behind their products and offering refunds or new brass for those with issues.

 

[Nature Boy]

I find that Win brass is the first to see primer pockets expanding, which is kind of ironic since WLR primers are on the small side of the spec.

I'm pretty much weeding out my reloading supplies of anything WW

 

[wvaughn7]

I had the exact same thing happen with a bag of 243 Winchester that I purchased middle of last year. Folded necks on three of the pieces.

 

[Hunter2678]

It happens occasionally to Lapua brass alI've Ive had first hand experiences and Brian the lapua rep replaced them for me , no hassles.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I have used their stuff for a lot of years and had good luck with it. What I have gotten in the last 2 years they are now crossed off the list forever. They know they are unloading junk on us and its time to send them a financial message as its the only thing they understand.

 

[dminn1]

I have had good luck with my last several lots of Winchester brass. I have only used .308 and .223 but all of my lots have sorted excellent by weight and I get around 12 or so firings in .308 running a pretty stout dose of Varget behind 155 Berger Fullbores. I get more firings no doubt from Lapua Palma with the 200g Berger, but I really like the added powder room I get with the Winchester in both .308 and .223. I can't prove it quantitatively, but It seems bullet seating force is more consistent with the Winchester .308 brass over the case life than it is with the Lapua. Both Winchester and Lapua have performed well in my experience, and when cost and increased case capacity are an issue I like the Winchester in.308 and .223.

 

[mikegaiz]

I personally have 1500 rounds or more of Winchester brass in 222, 223, 222rem Mag, 220 swift, 22/250, 243, 243 WSSM, 25/06, 270, 30/06, 308, and have had less than 1 bad one per 100. And supplied thousand of pieces to my shooting buddies. Now I have to say that I have not bought any Winchester brass in the last 9 months. It is a good buy for the price and durability. May be my supplier gets better quality? It comes in a plastic bag. That is just my opinion.

 

[Mtstalker]

Yesterday I asked a dealer why i couldnt find any Win brass in certain calibers for the last year, he said that Olin quit making brass specificly for the reloading market. That any of the 50ct bags they are sending out is left overs from production for orders. He said that when they order the bigger and odd calibers its a 3 month wait right now. I dont know if its true but it makes sense because all i can find is 243 win,308win,2506 and 223.