SmallCaliberCentral

Well, I got some 50 and 55 grain Berger Bullets in my Midway USA package today. It is easy to see how the rate of twist could affect the flight of those bullets. They are so much longer than the 40 grain rounds I've been shooting quite well with my CZ with the 1:12 twist! I'm excited to see how they do out of my CZ with the 1:9 twist. I'm going to have to learn about length and neck sizing to use them effectively I think.
On the same overall thought that seeing is believing, I have been prepping 3 different brands of brass that I had already shot out of my old gun. R-P, Winchester, and Hornady. It is interesting how different they are to work with. And I can already tell you which brand I'm cleaning with out looking at them just by the feel of the primer pocket when I clean it by hand with the uniformer. The R-P pockets all fit very nicely, not too loose and not too tight and they finish out looking brand new with no concave center at the flash hole. The Winchester brass is slightly tighter in the primer pocket diameter and cleans up pretty well with little brass work but has a tendency to have a slight concave area around the flash hole. The Hornady brass is a hand killer! The primer pockets are tight and feel like they might be getting scored when the uniformer tool is inserted. The primer cups are different depths, very inconsistent and almost always need a lot of turning to get uniformed which makes me wonder how good the pocket is with so much brass thinning in there?
Anyway, that is what I learned this week. Thanks for all your posts and input. I am learning a lot!

Mike

Hornady Brass sucks

I have about 50 out of 100 that I can't even get my primer pocket uniformer in the hole

Just my opinion, but if you can spend the extra money go with Nosler or Lapua brass. Other wise stick with Rem or Win. Bill K

Bill K wrote:Just my opinion, but if you can spend the extra money go with Nosler or Lapua brass. Other wise stick with Rem or Win. Bill K

I agree with Bill k on Lapua! When I first got my .204, I bought 100 rounds of Hornady 32gr. ammo, and 500 WW cases. What a difference! I will only load the Hor. brass for "exploding water bottles or fruit or canned vegetables(niblets corn is best) or, well you get the idea. What targets does anyone else like to use?
Steve

I am merely working the hornady brass for the experience and to learn. I will probably shoot it once so I can learn the steps for working brass that is fire formed to a specific gun and to learn neck sizing instead of FL sizing, etc.

I use Winchester brass exclusively these days after having too much trouble with Hornady - it all went into the scrap barrel. Because I load in 1K lots there is no economically sound reason to spend twice as much for premium brass in a hunting rifle, even one that shoots .2" to .3" 10 shot groups. Paying twice or more for Hornady, Nosler or Lapua brass will not significantly increase practical accuracy if any - it's the difference between shooting for groups, scores and hunting.

Winchester brass neck thickness varies by <.0015" and does not need turning. neck turning for a factory or SAAMI chamber is a waste of time. I uniform all primer pockets with a Sinclair tool and deburr the flash holes, a one time operation.

The 50 grain Berger HPBT shoots well in my custom Savage built on a Precision Target Action with a 24" 1:8.5" twist Pac-Nor barrel. The initial test load of 25.0 grains of Varget with a Federal 205M primer shot .35" 10 shot groups. Velocity was 3,287 fps average, 25 S.D., C.O.A.L. was 2.300". This is about all the steam available with this bullet, so increasing to maximum is not recommended. H4895 is another good choice of powder. I really appreciate these gleaming little jewels that Berger has created, they look fast and accurate just sitting in the box!

As forthe 40 and 50 grain Bergers. I too am startingload development. I currently am extreamly accurate with 40 G Hornadys. Coyotes dont have a wiggle left when it smacks them! I am excited to try the 40 G Bergers ,as Berger has a awsome rep for accurate bullets! I am goingto try the 50Grainers in my 1:10 Shilen 204. I dontreally know why? The velocity drops off and I would think a 50 G bullet better suited in a large riflecase? I shoot 50G Noslers in my 22-250? I am going to try a hundred rounds andevaluate from there. I have been told the 50 and 55g Bergers are awsome in the 20 Satan! Much More velocity punch, seemto workout to 1000 yrds!

Malazan wrote:Hornady Brass sucks

I have about 50 out of 100 that I can't even get my primer pocket uniformer in the hole

I've had the same problem with RP brass.

Tom

I have never fired a factory round thru my 204, so I don't have any experience with Hornady brass. From what I have seen here and on other sites I will never buy Hornady brass. When I got my 204, I bought 500 WW brass. I had some problems with it, and have since sold all of it. The only brass I use in my 204 is RP brass, which I have never had any problems with. Right now, I have in my loading room, 1200 reloads using only RP brass. some has been loaded 5 times without so much as hick-up and I have 2 or 3 hundred brand new unfired RP brass for backups. Of course this is only my experience.

Lots of bad vibe on the Hornady brass on this site... justified, unfortunately.

Mine was from factory loads, and the weight was all over the map, varying by 9gn, If I'm not mistaken. Primer pocets were so tight that I gave up on them.

Perhaps their boxed brass is better ?? 'But when I see stuff like that from any manufacturer... well I hope they just had one bad event that tanked this particular product, and nothing else...

bow shot wrote:Lots of bad vibe on the Hornady brass on this site... justified, unfortunately.

Mine was from factory loads, and the weight was all over the map, varying by 9gn, If I'm not mistaken. Primer pocets were so tight that I gave up on them.

Perhaps their boxed brass is better ?? 'But when I see stuff like that from any manufacturer... well I hope they just had one bad event that tanked this particular product, and nothing else...

I just finished uniforming the primer pockets an 40 Hornady factory load cases. The pockets were so tight, my tool would barely enter and I had to slowly open up the pocket little by little until I reached bottom. By the time I finished three hours later my hands and fingers were cramped and sore but, primers now seat like my Lapua brass. Deburring the flash holes, I was surprised how little burring there was. All in all, I'll stick with Lapua, Winchester and RP, in that order.

Tom

So far I am doing great with Win Brass! I have reloaded a couple hundred 4 times now and they still look good. I have had only a few split necks and thet were hot loads! I will not pay for Lapua brass when I can shoot Win in the threes consistant from my AR! I am not a bench rest competition shooter but avid coyote hunter. If I am fortunate enough to go Prairie doggin I may try Lapua Brass then. I have been tempted to try Lapua in 22-250 and 308? Time will tell , when I retire and have more time on my hands??? We shall see! P Getting ready to start my 35 whelen Barreled Mauser project as of now!

Hornady 204 brass has gotten a bad rap and I would imagine it is well deserved. But, for my 204 application it works great. I don't shoot real long distances with my 204, nor do I worry to much if my groups run from .5" to 1.0" at 100yds., since the farthest I usually can shoot at a Coyote around here is 200yds and that ain't often. I don't uniform primer pockets any more, nor do I deburr flash holes, and I have no reason to turn necks. I am not being sarcastic and this is NOT a slam to those that do. Heck, I used to do all of that too. I do like RP brass the best, but Hornady works great for me.
Now if any of you are throwing your Hornady brass away, send to me, I'll pay the shipping. Seriously!