Brass differences

[Quackaddict]

Believe me guys, I am using the search function here and googling a ton of this stuff, but I can't seem to find a for sure answer on this one. I am just getting into reloading, tonight I worked up a load with Hornaday Brass, IMR 4895 and 168grn Amax bullets. I have varied the powder charge from 41 to 43.3 grns and will be testing to see which charge(s) are most accurate. I have 100 lapua brass coming to augment the Hornaday brass I have kept from the factory ammo I have been shooting.

What exactly happens when you change from one brass to another? Will I have to work up the load again with Lapua brass? From what i have gathered the case capacities can be different between makers and this affects pressure spikes? Is that whats going on? Has anyone actually tested the weather using two different types of brass will affect anything? ie shooting a group with 3 Hornaday and 2 lapua vs 5 hornady brass? Does accuracy change if you still maintain the same powder charge and OAL?

Thank you all for putting up with me, I appreciate the responses my posts have garnered so far!

 

[Jrb572]

Re: Brass differences

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1435747&gonew=1#UNREAD

Is this what your looking for?

 

[918v]

Re: Brass differences

Lapua brass usually wants about one grain less powder than Hornady/Winchester/BHA brass in the 308. Also, virgin 308 brass usually wants about one grain less power than fireformed brass. For example, my go to load is a 168gr Amax with 44.4 grains of Varget in virgin Winchester brass. This load don't work in fireformed Winchester brass, but works beautifully in fireformed Lapua brass due to its reduced capacity. Fireformed Winchester brass wants 45.3 grains of Varget in my rifle.

 

[o1sick7]

Re: Brass differences

holly shit it makes a difference. i got 1000 rds from the range for 30 bucks. and man i could tell a huge difference in each time i pulled the trigger. some hold pressure better than others. so i think i might just sell it all to my friend thats shoots a 9mm also and buy some virgin brass from hornady for more consistant shots.

 

[THUNDERBOLT68]

Re: Brass differences

wow you really see that differance in brass between firings

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Brass differences

Well that kind of sucks, I figured it woudln't be that easy, I shot the test ammo I made this AM, 43.3 of IMR 4895 was crazy accurate in once fired Hornaday cases, literally .25 at 100yds. It was neat to see the preference of the rifle between powder weights, anything that was 42.. was Just over MOA, 41's was just below MOA, but that 43.3, damn. I guess I will load up some Hornaday's for further testing of that load and start again with the Lapua cases, probably work up from 42.0 or so.

 

[biglou13]

Re: Brass differences

case capacity etc etc is all theoretical

untill you load and shoot with chrony, ladder or OCW with given lot of components.

you also have to conssider the change in fire formed brass vs virgin.

I get my best loads from 1x fired lapua followed by 1x hornaday brass sub .25

have you started to load the 43.3 load with shorter jump??

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: Brass differences

I havent messed with that yet, I loaded some ammo up to do some further testing of the original 43.3 load. If it stays shooting bugholes,or even opens up to .5 I will likely leave it be, I am more interested in shooting than worrying about 1/4 MOA accuracy all the time.

I also loaded some lapua brass, it will be interesting to see if the POI changes and if accuracy changes as well.

How much more could I run the OAL out and still get it into a Savage Mag? Is it worth it to test different OAL's if it shoots that tight?