Changing type of brass

[mroels]

I've been using Hornady Match .223 brass for the past year or so. Got my go-to loads with this brass but its nearing the end of loading, necks are splitting etc. of course I didn't plan properly and now can't find this brass. I do have a ton of once fired Black Hills brass (made by Winchester). So my question is do I have to work up a load from scratch or can you pretty much just work it up from say .5gr lower to .5gr higher than my go-to load? Will the variance in case size be more than a half grain adjustment in powder charge?

[GeoffLinder]

Depends on if you were loading to near max to start with, if so, then reduce by 3-5% minimum and work it back up. If you were already a few % under max for your combo and rifle then probably good to go.

Weigh several old cases and several of the new ones. If average weight of new cases is same or less than the old ones it is almost certain that the new cases have very similar internal volumes. This is the biggest concern when changing to new batch of cases. If load wasn't punching max and new cases weigh same or less than old ones then a straight up substitution is probably A-OK

[Colt562]

I think, brass is brass. I know most people will disagree but oh well. If I were to care about it, I would probably start with the loads (hopefully you wrote them down) that you started with this brass and start again.

[mroels]

Depends on if you were loading to near max to start with, if so, then reduce by 3-5% minimum and work it back up. If you were already a few % under max for your combo and rifle then probably good to go.

Weigh several old cases and several of the new ones. If average weight of new cases is same or less than the old ones it is almost certain that the new cases have very similar internal volumes. This is the biggest concern when changing to new batch of cases. If load wasn't punching max and new cases weigh same or less than old ones then a straight up substitution is probably A-OK

I'm nowhere near max so not worried about that. Question wasn't really meant about safety but more about what performance differences I can expect in terms of accuracy and velocity. Whether its worth starting from scratch or just start in the ball park of the old favored load. The BHA brass can handle about .3gr more than the Hornady so if anything I'm gonna have to up the charge. Oh well I'm just gonna do 10 loads from .5gr under my go-to to .5gr over and see what happens.

[koehn,jim]

I would try .5 under and see what happens , have you annealed the necks on the brass.

[russt]

fill one of the old cases with powder flush with top, then weigh the amount of powder. do this with new brass as well. if new case holds less powder then reduce load and work it back up. if it holds same or more then try previous load.

[popeye4]

Measure the amount of water each case will hold, that will give you a good idea of what the difference is in volume (weigh the case full, then weigh the case empty). You are probably going to have to fine-tune the load, which you would do for any change in component.

[mroels]

I would try .5 under and see what happens , have you annealed the necks on the brass.

This brass hasn't been annealed, I'm not quite there yet with my set up. That'll be an investment sometime soon but I've got 11 loading out of this brass, shooting from an AR with not max but not gentle loads either. So I think I got my money's worth.

You are probably going to have to fine-tune the load, which you would do for any change in component.

Basically what I was wondering, whether I'm just fine tuning due to new brass or working back up a load from scratch....guess fine tuning it is.


Thanks guys

[mark501w]

When changing componets always start over, no since in wrecking a gun or your face!