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Match Brass

KenthetoolmanKenthetoolman Member Posts: 839 ✭✭✭✭
I am just getting started in reloading and am curious, does match brass vs standard brass really make a difference in accuracy or is it just marketing?

Comments

  • KenthetoolmanKenthetoolman Member Posts: 839 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hi, I have 75 or 80 30-06 brass with a headstamp FA57 MATCH. Was the FA ammo loaded with corrosive primers? Also have 250 LC63 MATCH brass that I'm looking to sell.
    Thanks in advance,
    Scott
  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It can. Match brass is usually more uniform and consistent. I have a few match rifles that I will only shoot with Lapua or Norma brass. My opinion is it has its place. Other rifles that I have that don't have the match chamber (Sloppy) I just use run of the mil stuff.

    In short, its always good! But if your just making blasting ammo, Factory stuff is just as good.
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It tends to be more consistant.
    Don't worry about it until you have a few years experance, and a rifle that will benifit from it (not to mention that you can "convert" regular brass into match grade, if desired).
  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Tailgunner1954
    (not to mention that you can "convert" regular brass into match grade, if desired).


    +100[;)]
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Kenthetoolman,

    First, all manufacturers use different weights/volumes for their brass. And different formulas. Winchester std. is 165 gr. for .308 Mil and most match brass (that I've seen) is 180. Since the outside dimensions are the same what has to be given up is internal volume.

    To make match brass you first sort out the heavy and light brass of a single maker (remember formulas/size, way it's made). Then once you have all your brass no different than one grain. Then anneal if you have to. You then uniform necks(trim and turn), then pockets. Then you are ready to begin resizing and reloading. For different people this may go in a different order.

    You see what kind of work it takes to make match brass...it's much easier to buy Lapua.
  • KenthetoolmanKenthetoolman Member Posts: 839 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:You see what kind of work it takes to make match brass...it's much easier to buy Lapua.

    Starting to see it that way. Thanks for the help all.
  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Yeah, but expensive. I have some and its great stuff but you just have to decide if its worth it.

    For 30-06 for instance, I don't bother. I have so much of it I can easily find 50 cases with a +/- 1gr variation out of my 5 5 gallon buckets of it. Then size, neck turn, etc.

    I don't have any bench rest guns but I have found that even out of a minty 03 Springfield, weighing and segregating brass and bullets and proper prep reduced group size by about an inch. So yes, it can certainly help.

    Then again it depends what you are doing. With the Springfield listed above it went from 3" groups to 2" groups. That helped me a lot for shooting it in vintage rifle matches.... but if I were deer hunting a 1.5" error to the right or left of point of aim (or up or down)... well that's still in the heart/lungs area so I honestly wouldn't really care.
  • Okie743Okie743 Member Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tailgunner wrote this:

    It tends to be more consistant.
    Don't worry about it until you have a few years experance, and a rifle that will benifit from it (not to mention that you can "convert" regular brass into match grade, if desired).

    Tailgunner is very correct! If you are just reloading and blasting it will not be of any benefit to You! I have some guns that when I use my converted, selected, regular brass into match brass they will shoot 1 inch and better groups with the selected match brass!For example I have a 243 that will shoot to POI with one group of match brass! If I go to the brass that is 20g heavier in weight the group will shift to 1 inch left and 2 inchs down and shoot a 1 inch group or better! You can see if I were to mix up these two different weight brass hulls and shoot a group the gun that normally shoot a 1 inch or better group would shoot a mixed up 2 to 4 inch group, just due to the different weight in the hulls!
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