300. win mag brass

Matt_3479

Matt_3479

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 12, 2009
1,500
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#1
Well i finally located a little bit of brass but cant decide which route to go! First route is brand new 30 year old Browning brass which from what i have been told and found out is pretty decent stuff. Best part about it is its close to home, they have 1000's apparently and i can get it for 24.95 a bag! Being a little nervous since its not made any more and not enough feedback i finally found some Hornady Brass. they have a couple hundred bags in stock apparently but its across the country, shipping from them is normally long and painful process (it will go through my work as they are a supplier) and its twice the price at apparently 44ish dollars a bag.

Should i stick with the more tride and true hornady or give the browning a go?
 
#7
When shooting lighter bullets ie 190s you'll get 5++ firings with hornady brass... But when u step up to the heavier ie 210-230s u will not get as many firings (210s x3 firings)... U will see signs of case separation just above te belt before primer pockets loosen. I have not even tried to fire a 230 grain bullet out of a hornady case because I fear of a separation with the first shot... Which is why I switched over to federal brass and now can load 230s with confidence.
 
#8
Well i spoke to a local shooter that has actually recommend the Browning brass. I told him i could get the Hornady, Remington and now the Browning. He strongly recommended the browning brass actually. He said if you can get the Lapua, then grab that but this browning brass is top notch and he has used and will use with confidence if and when he is out of lapua. Called them up again today, and seeing how many i can get in the same lot #. If not best price for 1000's pieces.

Trying to locate a few more pounds of powder as i am down to about 2 1/2 pounds and haven't been able to get my hands on any but think i may have just located some. Waiting on a call back about it as well. Next i need is Berger Bullets as they are disappeared from every where apparently! At least im not short on Fed 215M primers
 
#10
I've only ever used RP brass out of my 300WM and at the moment have two batches, one on 7 firings and one on 8. Primer pockets are all good and no thinning of the case head. I've had good accuracy out of them too. I've got a box of brand new Lapua sitting on the shelf - i can't bring myself to use it! Will probably buy RWS next s I've heard its supposed to be very good.
 
#11
shootahoe said:
When shooting lighter bullets ie 190s you'll get 5++ firings with hornady brass... But when u step up to the heavier ie 210-230s u will not get as many firings (210s x3 firings)... U will see signs of case separation just above te belt before primer pockets loosen. I have not even tried to fire a 230 grain bullet out of a hornady case because I fear of a separation with the first shot... Which is why I switched over to federal brass and now can load 230s with confidence.
Click to expand...

if your getting case separation above the belt you may be full length sizing to much. i.e. setting the shoulder back to much?
my experience with fed brass the pockets go to shit long before the rest of the case does.ymmv.
 
#12
jagged77 said:
I've only ever used RP brass out of my 300WM and at the moment have two batches, one on 7 firings and one on 8. Primer pockets are all good and no thinning of the case head. I've had good accuracy out of them too. I've got a box of brand new Lapua sitting on the shelf - i can't bring myself to use it! Will probably buy RWS next s I've heard its supposed to be very good.
Click to expand...

I'll go ahead and warn you about the RWS. IT'S REALLY THICK. SO JUST BE AWARE THAT YOUR PRESSURE LEVELS WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGHER THAN YOUR RP BRASS. AT 76 grains of h1000 and a 208 amax seated 50/1000's off lands. (3.625) I had to beat my bolt open with a mallet.
 
#13
sakobob said:
if your getting case separation above the belt you may be full length sizing to much. i.e. setting the shoulder back to much?
my experience with fed brass the pockets go to shit long before the rest of the case does.ymmv.
Click to expand...

Not the case... Shoulder is set back -.0015" for a perfect fit... Yes the fed pockets go before a separation might happen but it is nice on the wallet. One day I'll be able to afford Norma or nosler
 
#14
jagged77 said:
I've only ever used RP brass out of my 300WM and at the moment have two batches, one on 7 firings and one on 8. Primer pockets are all good and no thinning of the case head. I've had good accuracy out of them too. I've got a box of brand new Lapua sitting on the shelf - i can't bring myself to use it! Will probably buy RWS next s I've heard its supposed to be very good.
Click to expand...
Lapua makes 300 win mag? Don't see it in the catalog
 
#15
Aimsmall55 said:
I'll go ahead and warn you about the RWS. IT'S REALLY THICK. SO JUST BE AWARE THAT YOUR PRESSURE LEVELS WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGHER THAN YOUR RP BRASS. AT 76 grains of h1000 and a 208 amax seated 50/1000's off lands. (3.625) I had to beat my bolt open with a mallet.
Click to expand...
Happen to have a weight on that brass. I developed my load off Winchester but will be switching to the norma or federal brass that I have a lot more of once the Winchester wears out. My load is 77.6gr of H1000 under a 208 amax with Winchester brass which as I understand it is fairly warm compared to what I see some post as their load.
shootahoe said:
Lapua makes 300 win mag? Don't see it in the catalog
Click to expand...
They used to, not anymore.
 
#16
This is my first go round with reloading and I have a 300 as well. I started with FC but after 1 round of load development I noticed when priming the primers took almost no effort at all. Also even with the starting loads ejector impressions were left and all primers flattened. I just read it as the brass being very soft.
 
#17
shootahoe said:
When shooting lighter bullets ie 190s you'll get 5++ firings with hornady brass... But when u step up to the heavier ie 210-230s u will not get as many firings (210s x3 firings)... U will see signs of case separation just above te belt before primer pockets loosen. I have not even tried to fire a 230 grain bullet out of a hornady case because I fear of a separation with the first shot... Which is why I switched over to federal brass and now can load 230s with confidence.
Click to expand...

The brass i mentioned saw 210 smk's and 208's...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#18
shootahoe said:
When shooting lighter bullets ie 190s you'll get 5++ firings with hornady brass... But when u step up to the heavier ie 210-230s u will not get as many firings (210s x3 firings)... U will see signs of case separation just above te belt before primer pockets loosen. I have not even tried to fire a 230 grain bullet out of a hornady case because I fear of a separation with the first shot... Which is why I switched over to federal brass and now can load 230s with confidence.
Click to expand...

With all due respect... When loading big bullets like the 230 Berger , the most important thing to look at is case capacit IMHO . I shoot the 230's exclusively and have used RP , Norma, Win, and Nosler. Norma is my favorite but expensive. I've got several hundred pieces and the biggest spread I've seen in weight is 2.3 grains. And this is from 2 lots. So far the Norma has held up great. Pockets are still tight and with some 4x brass, I still haven't had to trim.
Before the "melt down" last February , I bought 600 pieces of Rp brass and I must say its held up VERY WELL. They do require more prep, but I've shot many a groups with RP that anyone would be proud of. Pockets are even tighter than some 3x fired Norma.
Winchester is good but I cant stand the lot to lot differences. I've got some older pieces of virgin win and it looks nothing like the newer win brass I have. Also the weight sorting is a MUST with win brass as I've seen up to 6 grain spreads on the same lot.
Nosler... Got to love open and prime charge then load. But Nosler doesn't have the case volume needed to push a big bullet. With a moderate charge in Norma, your almost at max with Nosler. Also I've had primers try to fall put after the 3rd firing.
So my choices are always going to be Norma, then RP.
 
#20
Aimsmall55 said:
I'll go ahead and warn you about the RWS. IT'S REALLY THICK. SO JUST BE AWARE THAT YOUR PRESSURE LEVELS WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGHER THAN YOUR RP BRASS. AT 76 grains of h1000 and a 208 amax seated 50/1000's off lands. (3.625) I had to beat my bolt open with a mallet.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, sounds like Norma would be a better bet reading your last post, will just have to see what's available. I've no problem running more RP to be honest as like you, I've had good luck with it.

I spotted the box of Lapua sitting in the corner of a shop gathering dust, it'd been there that long they had no record of a sales price - I picked it up for a steal and ran out of the place laughing. Only problem is I can't bring myself to use it!
 
#21
Aimsmall55 said:
With all due respect... When loading big bullets like the 230 Berger , the most important thing to look at is case capacit IMHO . I shoot the 230's exclusively and have used RP , Norma, Win, and Nosler. Norma is my favorite but expensive. I've got several hundred pieces and the biggest spread I've seen in weight is 2.3 grains. And this is from 2 lots. So far the Norma has held up great. Pockets are still tight and with some 4x brass, I still haven't had to trim.
Before the "melt down" last February , I bought 600 pieces of Rp brass and I must say its held up VERY WELL. They do require more prep, but I've shot many a groups with RP that anyone would be proud of. Pockets are even tighter than some 3x fired Norma.
Winchester is good but I cant stand the lot to lot differences. I've got some older pieces of virgin win and it looks nothing like the newer win brass I have. Also the weight sorting is a MUST with win brass as I've seen up to 6 grain spreads on the same lot.
Nosler... Got to love open and prime charge then load. But Nosler doesn't have the case volume needed to push a big bullet. With a moderate charge in Norma, your almost at max with Nosler. Also I've had primers try to fall put after the 3rd firing.
So my choices are always going to be Norma, then RP.
Click to expand...
Have you shot federal? I worked up my load with winchester and the weight variation in the brass might be the cause of some of my fliers. Ive got 250 normas but I've got 300 1x federals I'd really prefer to try out first. I only plan to shoot 208 amaxs and 230 bergers so case capacity is important. I noticed it was much easier to load 77+ gr of H1000 after the first firing and right now I'm sitting at 77.6 for my go to load 20 thousandths off the lands in my 5r. Just havent been happy with the consistency using the win brass and I'm dragging ass trying to decide which brass to use next.
 
#22
1slow01z71 said:
Have you shot federal? I worked up my load with winchester and the weight variation in the brass might be the cause of some of my fliers. Ive got 250 normas but I've got 300 1x federals I'd really prefer to try out first. I only plan to shoot 208 amaxs and 230 bergers so case capacity is important. I noticed it was much easier to load 77+ gr of H1000 after the first firing and right now I'm sitting at 77.6 for my go to load 20 thousandths off the lands in my 5r. Just havent been happy with the consistency using the win brass and I'm dragging ass trying to decide which brass to use next.
Click to expand...

I haven't used Federal but I think it would be fine since its fire formed to your chamber. Brass grows alot in 700 chambers most of the time giving you more powder room. I wouldn't plan on it lasting very long but these days use what you got. If it were me, I'd bump the shoulder 2/1000's, neck size them and plan on dedicating them all to ONE batch of 208's. I'd also check out weight consistency as well before I loaded. Maybe have to separate into 3 groups but that's still 100 rounds each.
If I remember weighing some Federal, they were pretty heavy, but also consistent also
 
#24
Do yall just drop your charge back by the average difference in weight between the two brands or even more? I haven't swapped between brass brands much since I don't like having to redo loads over again.
 
#25
mclevela said:
I have read that Norma mfg'd the Browning brass. Never had any for a 300WM but have a bunch headstamped for the 243 Win. Been good stuff btw.

Would you mind saying where this Browning brass is?
Click to expand...

I'm just about to purchase a 1000's pieces and once my order is placed I'll let you know :p can't have it all disappear on me before I get it.
What caliber are you looking for?
 
#27
Have used mostly Winchester brass but have some Rem & FC. Have reloaded brass at least 8 to 10 times (some back to 1995) but I only load for hunting and load development and not for best grouping. Achieve ~1 MOA from my Sako.
 
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