Nosler brass quality

[Gun smoke]

Hey guys , curious what opinions you have on nosler brass quality ? I kind of have a thing with the 7 mm rm (have three ) that I reload for . The newest one I purchased 100 nosler brass and worked up a killer load but seems after 2 firings the belted area BELOW the case wall that gets resized is expanding ? Have not had this issue with any other brand  brass , win , rem . I’m

[jasnt]

Hey guys , curious what opinions you have on nosler brass quality ? I kind of have a thing with the 7 mm rm (have three ) that I reload for . The newest one I purchased 100 nosler brass and worked up a killer load but seems after 2 firings the belted area BELOW the case wall that gets resized is expanding ? Have not had this issue with any other brand  brass , win , rem . I’m

I’ve seen this before in 300wm with too much headspace.  Is this just one of the rifles?

Nosler brass isn’t terrible imo

[b23]

I'd look at maybe backing your load off a bit and see if that helps cure the problem.

[Gun smoke]

Looks like my og post got cut off ¿¿ anyway all I added was that I was using Redding comp fl resizing dies , set properly per instructions on die set . Jasnt could you please explain in layman terms how too much headspace would effect the belted area of case?
Yes just the one rifle , full build by a very respectful NW builder using their recommendations on load components  , they were not specific on brass ( suppose I could just ask them )  figured it was my resizing or brass . Thx again guys

[jasnt]

Looks like my og post got cut off ¿¿ anyway all I added was that I was using Redding comp fl resizing dies , set properly per instructions on die set . Jasnt could you please explain in layman terms how too much headspace would effect the belted area of case?
Yes just the one rifle , full build by a very respectful NW builder using their recommendations on load components  , they were not specific on brass ( suppose I could just ask them )  figured it was my resizing or brass . Thx again guys

it may not be the chambers headspace but the amount the brass has to fire form.
Often belted cases are a bit short as the head space off the belt.  This allows the brass room to stretch to meet specs of many rifles.  I have had a long headspace 300wm do this and it swelled just ahead of the belt making it very difficult to chamber after resized.  .010” was enough to not let it chamber as the dies wouldn’t resize that portion of the case.
For what is worth it was with nosler brass.

[DaveR]

I have bought it 4 times. Used it in 7 mag, 300wm and 338 wm. I have a new unopened box of 308. It's ok. I bought it b4 prices went through the roof. I absolutely don’t know why they are so proud of it. It's more expensive than lapua quite often. IMO it’s not in that class. Or in the same class as Peter sons, or Norma. Maybe I’m messed up. This is the short version🤪. It’s not as consistent. I will never spend the money they ask for it now. MOF. As much as I like their bullits. I feel the same about them price wise. I am stocked up tho. And that’s a whole other subject

[b23]

Looks like my og post got cut off ¿¿ anyway all I added was that I was using Redding comp fl resizing dies , set properly per instructions on die set . Jasnt could you please explain in layman terms how too much headspace would effect the belted area of case?
Yes just the one rifle , full build by a very respectful NW builder using their recommendations on load components  , they were not specific on brass ( suppose I could just ask them )  figured it was my resizing or brass . Thx again guys

You mention you're using Redding Comp FL resizing dies, do you mean you're using the Redding Competition Bushing 3 die set like this https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!l=RE&i=58136

If you are using that particular set of Redding dies the only die in that set that will do any sizing is the body die.  The Comp bushing die in that set has a sliding sleeve that guides the case up to the bushing but it doesn't size down any part of the body of the case, it's just a fancy bushing neck size only die.  The body die in that set is what sizes the case and pushes the shoulder back if you so choose.

To my knowledge, Redding does not make a Competition FL sizing die.

If you are using that particular set of dies and all you are using is the Comp bushing die that could be your problem because you're not sizing any part of the case with that die and all it's doing is shrinking the neck back down.

If that's not really what you meant, no worries. 

Redding has so many different types of sizing dies, standard FL die, FL bushing die, neck size only die, bushing neck size only die, Competition bushing neck size die, body sizing die, that it can become a little confusing if you maybe aren't well versed on all their different dies and what functions they perform.

[buckfvr]

Cant speak of the present but I know when I used Nosler brass for 7mm rem mag, it was Norma Mfg.,  head stamped for Nosler.  It had some guarantee about weight tolerance and I remember uniforming my brass and noticing the trim to length was all over the place and determined that was how they got their weight within tolerance. I didnt think their brass was anywhere near the quality for price value point.

[jamesjett]

Hey guys , curious what opinions you have on nosler brass quality ? I kind of have a thing with the 7 mm rm (have three ) that I reload for . The newest one I purchased 100 nosler brass and worked up a killer load but seems after 2 firings the belted area BELOW the case wall that gets resized is expanding ? Have not had this issue with any other brand  brass , win , rem . I’m

I have been reloading for 30 years now and I have found Nosler to be excellent.  In fact that is all I use in my bolts.  I have never had this issue with my 7MM and I load 4831 pretty hot.  I run Nosler in several other calibers and I have actually mic’d all 50 pieces in every box and they are all spot on. 

I wonder if something has changed with their quality or supplier?  I heard Norma manufacturers Nosler brass but this was about five years ago.  I have had very good luck with Nosler brass. 

[slm9s]

Like others I have had nothing but good experience with Nosler brass (my understanding also is that it is actually made by Norma).

However, there have been many threads like this, that the brass is done after 3 or so firings so maybe I'm just lucky?

[Gun smoke]

Ok , I did miss the Redding dies by a mile , they are the master hunter two die set . I tried to attach a few photos of what’s happening. The belt is physically getting larger in diameter after 2 nd firing and resizing . 1 st and second load , chamber and fire flawlessly. Third time will chamber and shoot the same as first two ( no change in accuracy) just physically won’t fit into the mag well . They have to be loaded one at a time strait into chamber .

[Gun smoke]

Dang it , same pic twice . Here is a pic of Remington case ran through same die . And a pic of nosler case not fitting .

[b23]

I think it's been about ten years ago Nosler bought out, I think it was Silver State Ammo but don't quote me on that as I'm not certain, so Nosler has had their own brass manufacturing line for a number of years now.  The million dollar question seems to be which cartridges they make their own brass versus which cartridges someone else makes the brass for them because I've had Nosler tell me they make some of the brass they sell themselves and some cartridges they sub out for but then I talked to them at a different time and they tell me they make all of it.  It's been a few years since I talked to any of their techs so it's very possible they're now making all the brass they sell with a Nosler stamp in house on their very own brass making line.

[b23]

Something else to consider.  If you're running the same load in all your different head stamped brass it's not very likely it all has the same internal volume case capacity.  I recall hearing some of the newer Nosler brass was weighing heavier than the previous brass was for the same cartridge.  Generally, heavier brass equals less case capacity and using the same load in brass with less case capacity equals higher pressure.

Your load may not be hot in one piece or brand of brass but that same load in another manufactures brass with slightly less case capacity can go from ok to on the hot side.  Something is swelling your brass around the belt area and I can't think of anything that would do that but pressure so as I mentioned in a previous post, I'd back the load off in the brass that's swelling the belt area.

[Gun smoke]

Little update , talked to gun builder . He’s seen it before with nosler and Norma brass , tight primer pockets but expanding in the belt area . Mentioned it’s softer and recommended Remington  or ADG brass. I have a fresh bag of Remington brass so I’m Gona do a shoot reload shoot 4-5 times to see if it’s provable. I don’t think it’s a brass “quality “ issue it’s just softer . I’m aware that the load is probably pushing a belted case pretty hard , but if I can change brass brands and get a few more reloads vs changing load I’m going to give it a try . Thanks for the replies

[b23]

I’m aware that the load is probably pushing a belted case pretty hard , but if I can change brass brands and get a few more reloads vs changing load I’m going to give it a try . Thanks for the replies

If I read that right, then you are using the same load in different brands of brass, yes?  If so, going forward with your reloading, it's generally best to reduce and work back up when switching brands of brass because it all will say Rem 7mm mag but that doesn't mean it'll all have the same case capacity.

[Gun smoke]

B23 , yes that was my plan . Makes sense to back off and work back up , how far would a guy go ? I currently have zero over pressure indicators with the nosler brass . Unless we’re counting the enlarged belt as overpressure . Gunsmith didn’t say if it was caused by the reloading process or the firing , just that he’s seen it before specific to nosler/Norma brass . What do you think ? Thx

[b23]

B23 , yes that was my plan . Makes sense to back off and work back up , how far would a guy go ? I currently have zero over pressure indicators with the nosler brass . Unless we’re counting the enlarged belt as overpressure . Gunsmith didn’t say if it was caused by the reloading process or the firing , just that he’s seen it before specific to nosler/Norma brass . What do you think ? Thx

I can't think of anything else, except pressure, that'd be stretching the belted area of your cases so in the brand of brass your stretching the base area on I'd back off at least a full grain of powder, maybe even more.  You can always work back up. 

[Gun smoke]

I’ll give it a try , better safe than sorry . Thx

[jamesjett]

B23 , yes that was my plan . Makes sense to back off and work back up , how far would a guy go ? I currently have zero over pressure indicators with the nosler brass . Unless we’re counting the enlarged belt as overpressure . Gunsmith didn’t say if it was caused by the reloading process or the firing , just that he’s seen it before specific to nosler/Norma brass . What do you think ? Thx

I have worked up to 61.4g of 4831 in my 7MM Rem Mag.  I am on my fourth round with this brass and had zero signs of over-pressure.  I was thinking maybe it was just that batch of brass you have but if a gun builder has seen it before maybe there is more to it.  I use RCBS FL dies and have been happy with them.  Keep us updated on the results from your worked up loads.

[b23]

I don't know how well they work but Larry Willis makes a collet resizing die that's supposed to help with belted case bulge.  Maybe take a look at getting one of his collet dies as another option.

[royalbull]

I have had no luck with Nosler brass, purchased a .28 Nosler and bought 5 boxes of ammo to break in gun. Fifty rounds were used to break in rifle per Christensen Arms, used the other fifty to warm up the barrel when I would test my reloads. I load max loads per manufacture reloading manuals. I used Berger, Nosler, Barnes and Hornady bullets in my testing with several powders listed for each. I had primers blow and necks split. I finally found ADG brass and purchased 200 new cases, loaded same exact loads with no issues. I use Norma brass in my 30-378 with zero issues. I won't use Nosler brass again.

[whacker1]

i had a custom rifle built in 7 SAUM.  difficult to find brass for the last few years.    I bought Nosler brass and gun builder informed me that the thickness of the neck was too thick and he was getting too much pressure leading to inconsistent loads.   now, i am learning the trade of neck turning to get proper spec on neck wall thickness.   I can't find any other brass at this point.

[Gun smoke]

update : re worked up load in Remington brass . Ended at exact powder charge with no effect on pressure or accuracy ! Pretty happy about that . So far it Seems Remington brass is more resistant than nosler in my specific situation . After 4 firings / reloadings the single case  is still loading in mag well . Loaded up a box and shot 3 @ 500 yds to verify dope . All good , cold bore and two more !

[jasnt]

Nice shooting

[dyhardhuntr]

I’m glad you found something that works for you. It can be fun and frustrating to find the right load. I’ve got lots of reloads in brass that I didn’t load to the max. You don’t have to load it exactly as the books say. Those #s are what worked for the specific gun THEY used in their testing. Every gun is different. Take that information as a suggestion. I have never used nosler brass. I heard it was always good brass. But like I said what works in one gun may not work in another. Sometimes you may change the primer or a grain of powder or seat the bullet differently. Where I run into issues is the time it takes. I don’t have endless hours to find the perfect load. I find one that is accurate and go with that. It is fun though. I love reloading.