30-378 brass...poor quality?

[AtteL]

I have hear that Weatherby brass specifically in that caliber is not so good.

I have notice following things:
-top loads cause some loose primer pocket, but not every brass.
-sizing brass wiht (RCBS) full lenght die, you have to use enormous power, even with exact lubrication.
-etc.

I have take a contact to Norma factory, but they said that everything is ok, and I should use Norma powder and they products are "state of the art"...


Norma and Wby are same but is Nosler brass better quality? They are little bit inexpensive but unfortunately not available in Finland.

 

[Broz]

I have quite a bit of reloading experience with the 30-378. Yes, the brass is soft and if you do not stay reasonable with the powder charge you will have loose primer pockets, ejector marks and firm bolt lift. I had a lot of trouble until I switched from Retumbo to H-1000, ecpecially of hot days.

I have heard that WBY head stamped brass is the same as Norma. But the batch of Norma I had was way worse about being soft. Maybe it was just a bad lot of brass?? But I discarded it and after thay only used WBY head stamp.

I never had any issues with resizing the brass and at one point I was using both redding and RCBS dies.

My advice would be to us H-1000, stay away from retumbo, and keep the charge below max. If you notice any ejector marks at all, your primer pockets will be to loose to hold a primer very soon.

Jeff

 

[dig]

Wow, I have experience with both the Norma and Weatherby brass (Norma) in 338-378 and find it to be fantastic. H-1000 is the powder of choice but after 3 loadings no loose pockets. Not sure how there could be this much difference from .300 to .338 but possible. I actually prefer Norma brass in any caliber I can get it as it is wonderfully prepped and lasts longer than any other I have tried, on load 6 in some .300 Wby. I have found any of the large Weatherby calibers on the stiff side to resize. I was given some nickle plated .300 Weatherby and it was very difficult to resize, don't even use it anymore after one try.

 

[J E Custom]

I have hear that Weatherby brass specifically in that caliber is not so good.

I have notice following things:
-top loads cause some loose primer pocket, but not every brass.
-sizing brass wiht (RCBS) full lenght die, you have to use enormous power, even with exact lubrication.
-etc.

I have take a contact to Norma factory, but they said that everything is ok, and I should use Norma powder and they products are "state of the art"...


Norma and Wby are same but is Nosler brass better quality? They are little bit inexpensive but unfortunately not available in Finland.

1= Top loads loosen primer pockets in any brass after a while. If the chamber is large, this will
not support the brass as well and primer pockets will loosen sooner.

2= The 30/378 case is a very large case and will take more effort to size it unless proper
sizing lube is used and a compound press also helps.

3= And yes, Norma and Weatherby brass are the same. Nosler brass is made by federal
and in my opinion is not as good as Norma and Weatherby.

4= Norma powders are not any easier on primer pockets than any other powder.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Derek M.]

A forum member just told me that Norma makes Nosler brass.

 

[kraky]

One of the reasons people have trouble with the 30-378 is they push it too far. I can't count how many people post they are running 180 grainers at something like 3450fps with virtually any powder they throw in there.
In reality I doubt you will excede 3350-3375 in a 26" barrel without going over 65k pressure.
At least wby brass lets you know you've gone a bit crazy.

Admittedly the rem brass in the 300 rum seems to take high pressure better than wby brass as alot of people push that thing into the 70k range over and over again thinking they are safely reloading.

 

[AtteL]

Thanks for replies,

All that is true, I have reloading with Vihtavuori 24N41 and N170 and some test with lightweiht bullets and N560 powder.

Rifle is factory setting Sako TRG-S, and it´s fired approximately 100 rounds.

I have to go down with my loads, there were too optimistic information of achieved bullet speed for this caliber on late -90´s

Original 26" barrel is too short, so I have allready Lother Walther BigBull 32" stainless blank barrel waiting for reamer. I thought that will be good comprimise betweeen usability and bullet speed.

Muzzle blast is also disturb on low light condition, so silencer is also on shopping list. It will be also reduce recoil nicely.

 

[J E Custom]

A forum member just told me that Norma makes Nosler brass.

An employee of Nosler told this forum that Federal sent brass to Nosler by the pallet loads already
head stamped with Nosler on it and weight sorted. Maybe he will chime in.

Whoever makes it, it is not the same quality as Norma or lapua.

J E CUSTOM