My question is spurred by the excellent thread last month on pressure signs in brass, and how they can be misleading. It is an offshoot/stray from that topic.
Does anyone sort their brass by loads shot through them i.e. 3 firings, 5 firings, etc, pressure signs evidenced in recent firings, etc. I.e. your last loading of 20 rounds had three hot loads that caused shiny case heads on them, do you a.) reload them, using them for fouler shots b.) reload them without idea or care if they are stressed more than another case c.) don't trust them, throw them away. My question comes from my recent experience with a particularly soft lot of Nosler brass - I have been shooting my new rifle for break-in, it has been awe inspiring to say the least for accuracy, but the cases from one of the two batches of Nosler brass I have are already a little loose in the primer, after one firing (300 RUM, Borden action, Hart barrel, Kirby built - wtg Kirby, what an awesome gun). I bought another lot of brass from another forum member (before I shot the box of brass I am having issues with, and who it turns out was concerned about the softness the Nosler brass had developed a rep for) and funny thing is this other box doesn't seem to have any issues with loose primer pockets, even with hot loads - 220 SMK's over 91.0 grs of Retumbo, which causes case head shiny spots (way hot) but not any loose pockets. I know the brass is sized correctly, its not a headspace issue on a couple of cartridges. My question is should I worry about this affecting my accuracy if I mix these cases up while tumbling, etc. Thanks in advance for your replies!
I have to thank Kirby publicly for putting together such a nice custom gun. Jim Borden built the action, and chambered the barrel, and Kirby put all of it together, and I have to say that it is worth every penny I spent on it. I will try and put together a review when I can get pics, and some more representative groups documented, but for now, I can boast of shooting my best group ever with a rifle from this gun, 3/8 MOA at 250 yds for 4 shots. This rifle is one of those rare jewels that not only is super accurate, but shoots 200 gr accubonds, 210 Berg VLDs and 220 SMK to the same point of impact (app +/- 0.5 in at 250) out to 250 yds. I have heard of rifles doing this, but never owned one, I gotta say I am pumped even typing this up...! And the real kicker, that I am not sure anyone will believe, is that this group was from my 2nd attempt at a ladder test... first bullet was 89.7 grs of Retumbo, then went up in 0.3 gr increments to 90.6. I see why everyone says you have to shoot at min, 300 yds for the ladders when using custom guns... There, no one can bitch at me, I hi-jacked my own thread! Your replies to my brass question are greatly appreciated.
EZ
Does anyone sort their brass by loads shot through them i.e. 3 firings, 5 firings, etc, pressure signs evidenced in recent firings, etc. I.e. your last loading of 20 rounds had three hot loads that caused shiny case heads on them, do you a.) reload them, using them for fouler shots b.) reload them without idea or care if they are stressed more than another case c.) don't trust them, throw them away. My question comes from my recent experience with a particularly soft lot of Nosler brass - I have been shooting my new rifle for break-in, it has been awe inspiring to say the least for accuracy, but the cases from one of the two batches of Nosler brass I have are already a little loose in the primer, after one firing (300 RUM, Borden action, Hart barrel, Kirby built - wtg Kirby, what an awesome gun). I bought another lot of brass from another forum member (before I shot the box of brass I am having issues with, and who it turns out was concerned about the softness the Nosler brass had developed a rep for) and funny thing is this other box doesn't seem to have any issues with loose primer pockets, even with hot loads - 220 SMK's over 91.0 grs of Retumbo, which causes case head shiny spots (way hot) but not any loose pockets. I know the brass is sized correctly, its not a headspace issue on a couple of cartridges. My question is should I worry about this affecting my accuracy if I mix these cases up while tumbling, etc. Thanks in advance for your replies!
I have to thank Kirby publicly for putting together such a nice custom gun. Jim Borden built the action, and chambered the barrel, and Kirby put all of it together, and I have to say that it is worth every penny I spent on it. I will try and put together a review when I can get pics, and some more representative groups documented, but for now, I can boast of shooting my best group ever with a rifle from this gun, 3/8 MOA at 250 yds for 4 shots. This rifle is one of those rare jewels that not only is super accurate, but shoots 200 gr accubonds, 210 Berg VLDs and 220 SMK to the same point of impact (app +/- 0.5 in at 250) out to 250 yds. I have heard of rifles doing this, but never owned one, I gotta say I am pumped even typing this up...! And the real kicker, that I am not sure anyone will believe, is that this group was from my 2nd attempt at a ladder test... first bullet was 89.7 grs of Retumbo, then went up in 0.3 gr increments to 90.6. I see why everyone says you have to shoot at min, 300 yds for the ladders when using custom guns... There, no one can bitch at me, I hi-jacked my own thread! Your replies to my brass question are greatly appreciated.
EZ
