Federal rifle brass - yay, or nay?

[bigbossman]

Maybe it is just a coincidence, but it seems to me every time I reload Federal brass more than a couple of times, the primer pockets get real loose and I get intermittent gas-cutting around the edges. I don't seem to have any issues with other brass.... R-P, WW, LC, heck, even Hornady does fine.

I'm using a chrono and watch what the velocities are doing, and I don't start loading at max. I carefully read the manufacturer's load charts and double/triple check charge weights. I'm not pushing the brass hard, and it just seems the Federal brass gives out a lot faster than just about anything else.

[MongooseV8]

Yep same here. Loose pockets. I use it for "trash" loads that I dont care if I never see the brass again.

[Ruger15151]

[Spyder]

I don't use Federal brass for anything towards the high end of pressure, or for stuff that will be reloaded a lot. I had a bunch of issues with 243 and 300 Winmag on 2nd and 3rd firings with gas coming out around the primer and etching the bolt face. Even on the 1st reload, primers are too easy to seat in most of the Federal I've used.

I do use their 308 nickel plated for blasting ammo reloads, and don't bother keeping track of how many times. I dought I get more than 2 or 3x out of them before I lose it or step on it or drive on it or throw it away.

[highpower790]

Nea...light weight junk!take a pass!

[bigbossman]

Thanks. I am developing a load, and was using one brand.... Federal, because that's what I had on-hand. Turns out, it's crap.

I now have both WW and R-P in sufficient quantities, and will try to head to the range tomorrow and see what the chrono says.

[Ruger15151]

Federal rifle brass - yay, or nay?

What caliber, bullet, and powder?


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[the86d]

I have some Federal American Eagle .223, and Federal XL855 5.56 brass I have reloaded at LEAST 13-15+ times.

I have yet to have a case-head separation.
Maybe I am lucky, but I don't normally load heaters, just upper-end of load data.

I do keep a stuck case remover, just in "case", but no issues yet...

[bigbossman]

What caliber, bullet, and powder?

In this case, 25-06, Speer 120gr SPBT (and soon Sierra 117gr GameKing), and I've been trying H4895 (not too good), H4350 (a little better), and the current front-runner IMR7977. Those are the powders I have on-hand that are suitable for 25-06. I have a little of H4831 left but my 6.5CM likes that, so I'm saving it.

This is for a hunting rifle, so looking for rough 300 yard zero. Ballistic calculators tell me that if I get 3,000fps out of the muzzle I'll have a point-blank zero out to 300+ yards with about a 9-inch drop at 400, so that's all I need.... more, in fact. I've only ever killed one animal (a Pronghorn) past 300. H4895 just didn't get there. H4350 almost does, but doesn't group well. IMR7977 gets there and then some.

[bigbossman]

I have yet to have a case-head separation.

My issue with Federal brass isn't case-head separation - it is loose primer pockets.

[Ruger15151]

I have some Federal American Eagle .223, and Federal XL855 5.56 brass I have reloaded at LEAST 13-15+ times.

I have yet to have a case-head separation.
Maybe I am lucky, but I don't normally load heaters, just upper-end of load data.

I do keep a stuck case remover, just in "case", but no issues yet...

[The War Wagon]

I notice commercial reloaders almost EXCLUSIVELY use Lake City. I take that as something of a commentary on all OTHER brass - at least in .223/5.56

[pacrat]

I notice commercial reloaders almost EXCLUSIVELY use Lake City. I take that as something of a commentary on all OTHER brass - at least in .223/5.56

Correlation isn't a quality issue fo sho. It is a cost issue.

LC is SURPLUS, thus damn site cheaper to procure in volume than commercial cases.

I've never had issues with Federal cases.

[Divernhunter]

fed bras has worked well for me. But I do not try to get 10 reloads ot of any brass.
Any of the LC 1980's brass for 50bmg is crap and too many body/neck splits enven on the 1st or 2nd reload.

[dodgeit101]

Depends on the FC brass. A lot of people that saying it's bad are FUDDing.

Old stuff was bad. The newer stuff is better. Look for small stamp or FC Year Stamp 223 those are good ones.