How tough is Norma Head-Stamped 300 Win Mag Brass?

[phorwath]

Soliciting opinions from users of Norma head-stamped 300 Win Mag brass. I don't have any concern about the dimensional consistency of Norma brass. I'm concerned over how soft or tough the case heads are.

Lapua used to market 300 Win Mag brass for reloaders, but stopped offering brass for the 300 Win Mag 3-4 years ago. The Lapua head-stamped brass was high quality, tough, strong brass.

RWS offers 300 Win Mag brass that is equally tough, but is so thick that maximum powder charges must be reduced by about 3 grains compared to the Lapua brass.

So I am requesting comments from members that have used Norma head-stamped 300 Win Mag cases. Norma manufactures Weatherby head-stamped brass and it's fairly soft brass. Primer pockets expand quickly at pressures that wouldn't phase Lapua and RWS brass cases.

So are there any members using Norma 300 Win Mag brass in a position to comment on its case head toughness? Especially compared to the Lapua or RWS head-stamped 300 Win Mag brass? If not those two brands, then Federal, Winchester, or other common brands of casings.

I'd appreciate any experience-based feedback.

[phorwath]

Still hoping for some feedback...

[camp10]

I recently weighed norma and lapua headstamped 300 win mag brass, and they weighed exactly the same to the tenth of a grain. My RWS 300 win mag brass is significantly heavier, which is what I am using on my 7-300 win.
I too am interested in anybody that has done side by side testing of the norma and lapua brass. I like the strength of my RWS brass, but know that I am giving up 50-100 fps with the 180 bergers. Hopefully someone with some more experience will chime in.

[Scot E]

It seems like I have heard Broz talk about this. You may want to pm him and see if he has any insight.

Scot E.

[geargrinder]

Lapua never made the 300win brass. Norma was contracted to make it for them.

That's why camp10's Norma and Lapua brass was so similar.

There was a recent thread about it.

[phorwath]

Thanks. I had heard that also, about Norma manufacturing the brass for Lapua. But it's possible that Lapua could have provided their own specifications to Norma, and that Norma may have made the brass to these Lapua specs. Which is why I'm looking for experienced feedback from anyone that's used the Norma headspaced 300 Win Mag brass. I'd like to confirm I'm not wasting my money on soft brass, should I purchase Norma 300 Win Mag cases.

[backwoods83]

+1 for geargrinder, even Kevin Thomas will tell you lapua never made it, Norma made it with a Lapua head stamp, I'm not even sure if Lapua makes any belted cartridges at all, I'm pretty sure they don't. Btw, RWS is stronger than any of the others, so unless your using compressed loads this just means you can have the same results with a lower powder charge, I haven't weighed any but I bet RWS is over 50 grns heavier.