Home
Posted By: m77 Brass recommendation 338 Win Mag? - 04/22/14
Good day.

I am currently using Norma brass in my 338 Win Mag and I will need to get a new batch pretty soon. I use Norma in most of my rifles but there is a huge shortage in South-Africa at the moment.

Nosler, Win and Rem brass is available and would like to hear from you guys which of these brands do you recommend? I would have preferred to stick with norma and use my current loads but guess it will not turn out that way.

Thanks

Pieter
I've been using some older R-P for a long time. Now days if you are going to buy new stuff, I've heard the Winchester brass is a little better (quality wise) than the R-P. If you can get your hands on some Hornady brass, that's always an option too. I've never really used Nosler brass, so I can't comment on it. I don't like Federal (FC) brass either, but use a lot of that in my 300WSM..
I have used Federal and Winchester brass for my .338. It is not a round I use all the time so the brass hasn't been over worked so I can't tell you about how many reloads you can expect from it. It was also bought years ago so its quality may not be representative of what is available today. For all that I have had good success with it.

I have used Nosler brass in the 30-06 and .270 Win. It is very consistent and comes weight sorted and chamfered. Checking loads on a concentricity gauge for the 06 showed the least runout with Nosler brass than any other American made brass. Nosler is said to be made by Federal or Norma.
Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter
I've heard the Winchester brass is a little better (quality wise) than the R-P.


You've heard wrong, IME wink

The WW brass I've used in multiple chamberings over the last few years has been crap, while RP has remained decent.
I have to agree with Jordan. I don't even waste my time with WW any longer.
I've had several instances of crap Remington brass recently.

Winchester 338 Mag brass has been just fine.
I have heard of guys saying some of the Nosler brass was supplied to nosler by norma. Is this true? I think the nice thing about nosler brass is that they are pretty well prepared before leaving the factory.

Pieter
I've used both Rem and WW brass in my 338 with good results.
When nosler brass first came out I bought 200 pcs of 300 WM blems@ $18 per 50 and wish I would have bought a bunch more,that was some of the best brass I have ever used in my 300's!
I have been shooting and loading the 338 Win. since 1988 and have used Rem., Win. and Federal brass and have not had any problems with any brand. I have just started to use Nosler brass in several other Calibers and like it as well. Remington would be my first choice and Nosler second but any you can get in quantity will work.
Originally Posted by Jordan Smith
Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter
I've heard the Winchester brass is a little better (quality wise) than the R-P.


You've heard wrong, IME wink

The WW brass I've used in multiple chamberings over the last few years has been crap, while RP has remained decent.


Same here. R-P is perfectly servicable. The Win has been poorly annealed, failing in 1-2 firings in standard chamberings. Also, there multiple flaws cases. weirld lines in the brass itself, off centered flash holes, and large flash hole burrs.
Guys, thanks a lot for the info you guys gave me. I just got a call back from a guy in a town 250 miles from here and they have 100 Norma cases available for me. They will courier it before the end of the week! I am really happy about this as all of the Norma brass I have used worked extremely well and it seems like they are pretty durable.

Other shops told me that there is no way I would get Norma 338 WM brass before the end of this year!

Thanks again.

Pieter

© 24hourcampfire