SmallCaliberCentral

Going to start loading for my 204R and the only thing left for me to get is some brass. I am going with Winchester brass. Trying to figure out how many pieces to buy. I have always bought 200 pieces for all my other calibers but rarely do I use all 200 for the style of shooting I do. I mainly like to call coyotes and shoot crows,targets and just recreational shooting so I am thinking I might just get 100. I understand if you gearing up for a PD hunt you would want more. You guys buy huge quantities or just what you need?

In my opinion if you are only looking to do some light shooting it would be fine to purchase a 100 pieces of brass to get started. You might have a little bit of trouble finding Winchester 204 brass right now, its seems to be in short supply at many of the supply houses lately.

I buy in lots of 100 for the 204R. My reasons are: 1. Budget, 2. I do a "full" prep (takes awhile to do 100), 3. By doing a full prep, I'm not as worried about differences between lots, 4. The 204R is very easy on brass and lasts a long time, 5. Unlike some, I do not have hundreds of varmints waiting for me to declare jihad (hate that word but, my thesaurus is at home) on them! FWIW, I too like the WW brass. But then, I enjoy the prep work.

With my 204, I have about 300 maybe 400 (?)
When I got brass for my 17 tac, I got 200 (will soon get another 100)
On my 20 tac that I am waiting on, I ordered 300.
So, I guess I get a quantity of 300 LOL

When I saw the question, I didn't even have to think about it....

TOO MUCH

Or maybe never enough?

I go 50 in a whack only cuz:
1) that's how Nosler packages their brass
2) I like to keep my 50 rd boxes of ammo together as a little family
3) My loading block handles 50 pcs.

Good info fellas! The only thing that makes me want to purchase 200 is I want all my brass of the same lot.Also, the uncertainty of future prices.

Depends on how much you'll be shooting it. 204, I bought 500 cases per rifle (x3). I try to get the LOT consistent for each weapon. It also gets shot too. For my 300 WBY, I have 500, most is virgin. It came with the rifle but I doubt I'll ever use the 100 rounds that came loaded with it.

I would recommend getting all you can within th same LOT for consistency, especially the neck thickness/uniformity.

HTH

In your situation,I'd buy 200,and use 50 for load development,setting the others aside untill I had the sweet spot on virgin brass,then load the others,after full brass prep, of course.PDs could require as many as a couple K,depending on the length of the shoot.I plan to run out of ammo in June and will have 4K with me, for 4 guns.

Availability really isn't a problem for me as I live 6 miles from Powder Valley so I can drive over and pick it up. I do like your idea though Joe O of using 50 for load development.

Brass: 500 for every varmint rifle, more for my high-volume PD guns. Always buy in matched lots for consistency, Lapua if possible, then Norma/Nosler, usually WW when the 'good' brass is not available.

One thing for me: NEVER Hornady brass! Ever!

Predator1 wrote:Good info fellas! The only thing that makes me want to purchase 200 is I want all my brass of the same lot.Also, the uncertainty of future prices.

Oh yeah, for sure! If I could, I'd buy 1K (or more!!) at a time form a single lot. then break it out as whatever logic I may be pursuing would demand.

Yes, more = better!!

For my personal type of use I need just over 100 for a match at two yardages. Soo I buy 150-200 of the same lot. Nosler.
When that barrel is shot out I buy another 150-200 for the next tube.

On the other hand when I just started out I bought 600pcs of Winchester brass all from the same lot. Found out the neck thickness variations were off by .004" in each case. .014" on one side .010" on the opposite side.
Spent a lot of powder, bullets and money trying to fix that just to learn its scrap and will always be scrap. Not knocking Win but any brass that comes with .004" variations in neck thickness cannot be fixed.
I have 200pcs of Rem 223 brass that have the same variations. After sitting around for years they now adorn my Christmas Tree!!!
The last 200pcs of Win I bought at a local Cabelas rivals Lapua brass for consistency. Headspaced very short but I can forgive that.

6 miles from PV? You lucky Ba$t@&d LOL's If I lived that close I'd have my meals sent to PV.
In that case I would buy a small amount and if everything mics up nice at home rush back and buy whatever you desire from the same lot.

Rick,

I am guessing that you aren't a fan of Hornady brass...

Rick in Oregon wrote:Brass: 500 for every varmint rifle, more for my high-volume PD guns. Always buy in matched lots for consistency, Lapua if possible, then Norma/Nosler, usually WW when the 'good' brass is not available.

One thing for me: NEVER Hornady brass! Ever!

Vartarg wrote:When I saw the question, I didn't even have to think about it....

TOO MUCH

Vartag.....How can one have "too much"...? I didn't think that was possible.......