Nosler .204 Brass IDENTICAL to Norma .204 Brass?

[gjantzer]

I understand that Nosler brass is made by Norma. I was just wondering if these two brasses are identical with the exception of the company stamp on the brass.

Nosler Brass
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/843420 ... -box-of-50
-weight sorted
-chamfered and deburred mouth
-deburred flash hole
-pre trimmed neck length and wall thickness

Norma Brass
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/131119 ... -204-ruger
-chamfered and deburred mouth
-punched flash hole


Is Nosler buying brass from Norma and weight sorting them, deburring the flash hole and trimming the neck to a consistent length? Is that the only difference or is there something more to it? I'm reloading for a CZ 527 Varmint in .204. First reloading project and I want to make sure I get off on the right foot.

Thanks all. First post, but been reading your stuff for a few days straight! Great site. All help is appreciated.

[jlc204]

You wouldn't save money, Norma brass is more expensive than Nosler.

[wirelessguy2005]

I believe that Norma makes the 204 Ruger Brass for Nosler. I have some and its good brass, however if you are on a budget I would consider the Winchester 204 Brass. For the money Winchester is good brass and only needs a few prep steps and its ready to go. The average person using a factory chambered rifle will never be able to notice an accuracy difference between the brass.

[Bill K]

Notice you mentioned punched flash hole on Norma. I was of the understanding that Norma drilled the flashhole on their brass, which is sold to Nosler and others.. May be wrong, but that is what I have read. Bill K

[Rick in Oregon]

I thought we were done with this, but we'll set the record straight: First of all, almost all Nosler brass is produced by Norma....almost. Federal does make some cases for them also.

Here's living proof that Nosler brass comes from Sweden from Norma. This is the label from one of the brass import drums the factory gives away (I was up there yesterday and snagged a bunch for my rat shooting crew):



I will add that this brass is detailed here in Oregon at the Nosler plant; but both Lapua and Norma brass has drilled vs. punched flash holes. The Nosler brass is hand sorted, weight sorted, chamfered, trimmed, and the flash holes are deburred (not necessary, but they do it anyway, even though they're drilled).

Brad/wirelessguy is correct too, in that in a factory chamber you'll never really notice the use of premium brass in the rifle. WW brass is decent IF you take the time to do the proper prep work prior to loading. Most of my high-volume rat rifles use WW brass, and each one usually has a small stash of either Lapua, Norma or Nosler brass for the really precise work, but most of these rifles wear custom stainless match barrels too, some with reamers I've designed and had ground myself. In those guns, the use of premium brass shows up on the target. Any of my rifles with factory barrels get WW brass, and they do just fine with it.

So in the end, use premium brass in a factory gun if it makes you feel good....nuthin' wrong with that, but you can spend less and get by just as well using domestic brass such as WW or R-P. I'm not even going to address Hornady 204R brass....been there. JMO

[GaCop]

I believe that Norma makes the 204 Ruger Brass for Nosler. I have some and its good brass, however if you are on a budget I would consider the Winchester 204 Brass. For the money Winchester is good brass and only needs a few prep steps and its ready to go. The average person using a factory chambered rifle will never be able to notice an accuracy difference between the brass.

+1 for Win brass!

[Hedge]

++1 for WW

[204cat]

is there a performance difference in drilled flash holes vs punched flash holes ?

[wirelessguy2005]

no performance difference to speak of, having a drilled flash hole just saves you the step of deburring the flash hole (something you would need to do on brass with a punched flash hole)

is there a performance difference in drilled flash holes vs punched flash holes ?

[Wrangler John]

Punched, drilled, not really, they could be drilled out double the diameter and nobody would notice any difference. My practice is to purchase Winchester brass, then have a deburring and uniforming party. That's where I sit at the table watching old movies on the flat-screen (tube) while I deburr the flash holes and uniform pocket depth, followed by inside and outside mouth chamfering. I'm not so sure that deburring the flash hole is necessary or an improvement. Who knows, maybe a turbulent flame ignites the charge more aggressively? Maybe the difference can't be measured. It's just a habit, a sort of alchemical ritual that I faithfully follow hoping to create a dab of gold. Yes I even deburr Lapua brass, sort of compulsive that way.

Those of you who shoot the .223 Remington should also look at Privi Partizan brass, its as good as Winchester and Graf & Sons has it on sale just now for $15.99 per 100. http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/pro ... ctId/12628

I don't want to discourage sales of Nosler products, but cheaper brass is to be had with no disadvantage. Love their 40 grain BT Lead Free .224 bullets - with a mild load of Rl-10x they shoot in the low .2"s.

[204cat]

saw flash holes widened or enlarged on subsonic cases in an article on subsonic on 6mmbr. not sure if they were drilled or swaged. the cases were marked so they would not be confused with other brass.

well now i know.... thank you

[Wrangler John]

saw flash holes widened or enlarged on subsonic cases in an article on subsonic on 6mmbr. not sure if they were drilled or swaged. the cases were marked so they would not be confused with other brass.

well now i know.... thank you

Them of us that shoot the 6 PPC also sometimes ream the flash holes a little larger to reduce the chances of sticking a depriming pin and making everything uniform. I use a straight flute .0625" reamer in a pin vice. Maybe I should have taken up golf.

[ClaimJumper]

Just a "Heads up" for everyone, The Nosler website has 50, Winchester 204 ruger cases for 26.00+$ Months ago these Win cases were 26.00 per 100.
Powder valley still has these same Win cases for 26 per 100. as does Cabellas. It's an election year coming up. That usually means shortages.

[Rick in Oregon]

That price at the Nosler Pro Shop is incorrect.....they always sell WW 204 brass for $26/100 pcs, same as all the other shops in this area.

[ClaimJumper]

http://www.shootersproshop.com/Departme ... Ruger.aspx

http://www.shootersproshop.com/Products ... 33322.aspx

I hope you are right Rick.