Box Elder Wildlife Federation

OldBear · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:57 pm Post subject: Unprimed Brass - Quality Control

A few weeks ago I bought a pack of Winchester brass and just recently got around to sorting it out for case preparation. In mic'ing the case lengths, I found that about the same amount were .04 short of the calibre standard as there were about .05 too long. I wrote to Winchester to ask how to prepare the "too short" ones for first time load, since there was no way (except perhaps once-fired) to get them out to standard length where the case could be further prepared for target use. Of course, I figured I could trim the ones that were too long, but how about the ones that were too short? Well, Winchester finally answered back and said their brass was all manufactured to "industry standards", and that perhaps I would have to trim some. ....... "Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, what is the reasoning behind trimming casings that are already too short.....?" It's like my Dad used to say; "You cut that board three times now, and it's still too short!"
Anyway, perhaps it's time to check out another source of brass that may be just a tad closer to the so-called "industry standards" than the package of Winchester unprimed that I'm apparently stuck with.
In the meanwhile, I'll just burn some old ones, getting the neck concentric with the case, then use those once-fired cases to prepare for target use.
Checked Cabella's and they don't have Norma brass in my calibre.
Anyone else have any experience with nonstandard brass, or know of a more uniform case source than Winchester? Laughing

chuckshoun · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 6:16 pm Post subject:

I had good luck with Winchester brass for my .308 WIN target rifle back when I didn't know better. My experience with it for the Mouse Gun has lead me away from Winchester for the mouse gun. If I do get into shooting it again, I will do some serious brass evaluation, and stay away from neck tthickness work and all that stuff. If the factory can't make it right, I'm not going to waste my time diddling with it. Length trimming, now that's a necessary thing.
I have been using Remington-Peters brass with my 45 Auto, and am pleased with it. Haven't tried the .308 though --I've still got a bunch of Winchester that will shoot OK (as long as I leave it alone). Of course the .308 isn't as sensitive to neck trimming as the .223. In fact I just trim .308's for length anyway.