Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 14, 2012, 03:52:19 PM

Title: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 14, 2012, 03:52:19 PM: Any of you reloading buffs have an opinion on loading and going straight to the field to hunt with it? I've heard some guys arguing you need to "fire form" it (shoot it once) before using it in the field. Other guys argue specs on new brass are good enough to just load and go (i.e. no different than shooting new factory ammo).

It's Weatherby brass if that makes any difference?

Thanks for any input!
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: h20hunter on September 14, 2012, 03:56:36 PM: All of my brass for my main rifle is fire formed simply from working up loads and using the same brass. I think it is part of the proccess and that is why most brass is that way. For most hunting applications I would think that your point of impact should be pretty darn close if you have one load with fire formed brass next to one piece of new brass. Now...the long range guys can say whether or not it matters when you are reaching way out there...I don't have the experience to comment on long range.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 04:26:08 PM: I have shot my reloads both ways... Once shot in my gun and reloaded and just brand new brass loaded up... absolutely no difference.

Besides, if you are full length resizing, then you are destroying that "fire formed" brass effect in your rifle. The only way this would work is if you are NECK SIZING only..
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: FALFire on September 14, 2012, 06:07:52 PM: I've seen little to no difference in new brass vs fired brass for general hunting accuracy. I do at minimum, run the new brass thru the neck sizer just to round out the mouths before I stuff a bullet into them.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 06:39:39 PM: Quote from: FALFire on September 14, 2012, 06:07:52 PM
I've seen little to no difference in new brass vs fired brass for general hunting accuracy. I do at minimum, run the new brass thru the neck sizer just to round out the mouths before I stuff a bullet into them.

That is all I do with mine as well FALFire...
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: MuleDeerCrazy on September 14, 2012, 07:05:08 PM: Kind of what I was thinking... especially the part about full length sizing reshaping the "fire formed" fit anyway. For kicks I'm gonna take it up one last time and see how they compare through my gun. I suspect the difference will be negligable, but I guess I'll know for sure.

I'll post what I find after I shoot it.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:23:30 PM: I bought some "range brass" and it would not chamber into my gun. I found out I needed to resize the entire case. I'm new at doing this, so don't crawl up my ying yang for using the wrong term. I'm sure the pro's will let you know what it's called.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 07:29:39 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:23:30 PM
I bought some "range brass" and it would not chamber into my gun. I found out I needed to resize the entire case. I'm new at doing this, so don't crawl up my ying yang for using the wrong term. I'm sure the pro's will let you know what it's called.

Campmeat... Range brass is previously fired, and yes, you need to resize it and fire in your gun, then you can neck size only and be fine...

not crawling up your ying yang for no amount of money either... so :hello: :chuckle: :chuckle: :hello: :hello:
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:40:31 PM: Quote from: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 07:29:39 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:23:30 PM
I bought some "range brass" and it would not chamber into my gun. I found out I needed to resize the entire case. I'm new at doing this, so don't crawl up my ying yang for using the wrong term. I'm sure the pro's will let you know what it's called.

Campmeat... Range brass is previously fired, and yes, you need to resize it and fire in your gun, then you can neck size only and be fine...

not crawling up your ying yang for no amount of money either... so :hello: :chuckle: :chuckle: :hello: :hello:

I did neck resize mine and it wouldn't fire. They figured out it was fired from a semi auto.
As for the ying yang, some guys like to do that !!! :tup:

John,
The meatcutter says he has 9 bears in so far. I saw 2, 2 days ago........... :)
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 07:45:40 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:40:31 PM
Quote from: Huntbear on September 14, 2012, 07:29:39 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 14, 2012, 07:23:30 PM
I bought some "range brass" and it would not chamber into my gun. I found out I needed to resize the entire case. I'm new at doing this, so don't crawl up my ying yang for using the wrong term. I'm sure the pro's will let you know what it's called.

Campmeat... Range brass is previously fired, and yes, you need to resize it and fire in your gun, then you can neck size only and be fine...

not crawling up your ying yang for no amount of money either... so :hello: :chuckle: :chuckle: :hello: :hello:

I did neck resize mine and it wouldn't fire. They figured out it was fired from a semi auto.
As for the ying yang, some guys like to do that !!! :tup:

John,
The meatcutter says he has 9 bears in so far. I saw 2, 2 days ago........... :)

Full Length size previously fired brass... then neck size... :tup: :tup:

Wish I could get up there ... want to kill a bear.. :bash:
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on September 14, 2012, 08:07:28 PM: I run new brass through the neck sizer mainly to make sure the case mouth hasn't been dinged out of round in the forming and packaging process. Also, it is wise to run a new case through a trimmer to check on the proper case length. You'd be surprised how many times the cutter only touches half of the case mouth!
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: hub on September 14, 2012, 08:35:37 PM: For hunting I use either new brass or once fired in my rifle with neck size only. I also run my new brass thru the neck sizer.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 14, 2012, 08:49:07 PM: I use weatherby/norma brass. I used to fireform/neck-size for hunting loads, but no more. The reason was fireforming was giving me too many issues in the field. The main issue was the bolt not closing--had to let the rifle and ammo sit at the same temperature until the ammo would fit within the tolerances to allow the bolt to lock. And when any dirt/oil/powder residue was in the chamber I'd start to get the same issue. I found it is great at the range where everything can be cleaned and equalized, but just an added hassle in the field.
Title: Re: Reloading/hunting w/ New Brass?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on September 14, 2012, 08:57:46 PM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on September 14, 2012, 08:49:07 PM
I use weatherby/norma brass. I used to fireform/neck-size for hunting loads, but no more. The reason was fireforming was giving me too many issues in the field. The main issue was the bolt not closing--had to let the rifle and ammo sit at the same temperature until the ammo would fit within the tolerances to allow the bolt to lock. And when any dirt/oil/powder residue was in the chamber I'd start to get the same issue. I found it is great at the range where everything can be cleaned and equalized, but just an added hassle in the field.

Check the case length. Sometimes even the minimum trim length is long enough to let the case mouth bottom out in the chamber. I have a CZ .204 that is like that. When the bolt is hard to close, you can see the shine on the fired case mouth where it rubbed on the chamber at the end of the mouth of the case.