Norma .300 win mag brass vs. rp, win in powder capacities

[Aimsmall55]

I just got my hands on 100 pieces of Norma brass and I must say I am impressed with their look. I haven't had the chance to do a capacity test vs win and rp yet though. I have around 500 pieces of Rp brass and that's what I've been using but hate the prep work. Anybody know how they compare to win or rp brass in terms of powder capacity? It looks a little thicker so I imagine it will be less. Any input from guys using this brass will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jsthntn247]

I'm shooting RWS brass which should be similar to the Norma. I measured case volume and found the RWS to have 4.4% less capacity than Win.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I'm shooting RWS brass which should be similar to the Norma. I measured case volume and found the RWS to have 4.4% less capacity than Win.

Thanks Justin. Kinda worried now. I had 500 pieces of rws and sold it because 3 full grains under max I was getting compressed loads and a sticky bolt.
I did have a chance to try out some Norma while doing a load development for a friends AIAX PSR. Not once had a sticky bolt and I was loading 76.6 h1000 with 210 vlds. I think the max is 77?? Anyways... What part of Mississippi you from??

 

[jsthntn247]

Jackson. You getting sticky bolts in a factory tube or custom chambered barrel with the RWS?

 

[Aimsmall55]

Jackson. You getting sticky bolts in a factory tube or custom chambered barrel with the RWS?

It was a build I had made off a trued 700 action. 30 1/4" broughton 5c Jewell trigger ect. Ect. And yes they were sticky as hell. My buddy also went in with me on the rws buy and was shooting it out of a Gap .300 and had the same problem. So we sold the rest of the new brass. Maybe it was a bad lot .. Who knows

 

[Aimsmall55]

For example I loaded 5 rounds with the 230 OTM Bergers with 74 grains of Retumbo. Max is 76.5. I had it well off the lands and still ... Sticky bolt

 

[jsthntn247]

I've used RWS in both factory and custom built 300's. Always hear problems with RWS ( or any thick brass for that matter) in custom built guns and hardly ever in the factory rifles. Took me forever to figure out why. I finally figured out the reason is neck clearance in the chamber. The factory guns normally run .005-.007 neck clearance from loaded rounds to fired. Depending on who chambered the rifle and what reamer they used determine the clearance in the neck, but all of them were allot tighter than the factory rifles and is what was causing over pressure. The gun I have now was chambered by Don Geraci and the neck diameters are running .336 loaded and .337 fired with the RWS which is not enough clearance. Turning the necks down .002 to .003 will fix your issues.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I've used RWS in both factory and custom built 300's. Always hear problems with RWS ( or any thick brass for that matter) in custom built guns and hardly ever in the factory rifles. Took me forever to figure out why. I finally figured out the reason is neck clearance in the chamber. The factory guns normally run .005-.007 neck clearance from loaded rounds to fired. Depending on who chambered the rifle and what reamer they used determine the clearance in the neck, but all of them were allot tighter than the factory rifles and is what was causing over pressure. The gun I have now was chambered by Don Geraci and the neck diameters are running .336 loaded and .337 fired with the RWS which is not enough clearance. Turning the necks down .002 to .003 will fix your issues.

Got ya. Now I remember you. Dons the one who built my rifle. We pmd a few times. You get your rig sorted out??

 

[jsthntn247]

Yea, my problem was the same thing you were seeing, over pressure waaay under max charge. Got to looking at reamers for my next .308 buld which got me thinking about neck clearance. He used the same reamer on both our guns, so I'd say that was the reason you were getting pressure issues also. Check the neck diameter on your loaded and fired rounds with the Norma brass and if you arn't getting .004 difference, you will probably have the same problems as the RWS.

 

[DroidSniper]

I use win brass. I get at least 10 loadings out of it with fantastic accuracy and MV. I have to neck turn RWS brass but RWS also usually came with a longer neck than win rass. With win brass I would usually have to trim a little on the short side to get them all even. With the RW brass they cam a bit longish so I could trim them all to sammi speck. Little crows WFT trimmer is a life saver when it comes to trimming LOTS of brass.

 

[Aimsmall55]

I use win brass. I get at least 10 loadings out of it with fantastic accuracy and MV. I have to neck turn RWS brass but RWS also usually came with a longer neck than win rass. With win brass I would usually have to trim a little on the short side to get them all even. With the RW brass they cam a bit longish so I could trim them all to sammi speck. Little crows WFT trimmer is a life saver when it comes to trimming LOTS of brass.

+ 1 on trimmer. I bought the rcbs power pro electric trimmer with the 3 way carbide cutter heads. Can trim a piece in about 7 seconds and its deburred and chamfered all in one lick.

 

[DroidSniper]

+ 1 on trimmer. I bought the rcbs power pro electric trimmer with the 3 way carbide cutter heads. Can trim a piece in about 7 seconds and its deburred and chamfered all in one lick.

That looks like a super neat design. I use my WFT in a drill press really fast and easy on the hands.

 

[BobinNC]

It was a build I had made off a trued 700 action. 30 1/4" broughton 5c Jewell trigger ect. Ect. And yes they were sticky as hell. My buddy also went in with me on the rws buy and was shooting it out of a Gap .300 and had the same problem. So we sold the rest of the new brass. Maybe it was a bad lot .. Who knows

No, RWS brass was probably not from a bad lot. RWS 300 Win Mag brass runs 270 grains avg. case weight. Norma 300 Win Mag brass run in the 215 gr range for case weight. When using RWS brass your loads will run 3 to 4 grains less, than MAX, but velocities run about the same, with less powder.....