Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Which brass to buy?

I've been a shotgun shell loader for 10+ years and have dabbled with pistol and rifle reloading. I just purchased a .308 and was going to take the time and effort in reloading rounds for it. I was on Brownells and there is a big difference in price for brass from Winchester, Hornady, Norma, Nosler, etc. It will be a hunting gun and playing around at longer distances, no competitive shooting. Is it worth spending the money for the more expensive brass?

Thanks in advance.

Sorry, I missed the "dabbled" part.

in a factory gun Remington Winchester Hornady will do just fine, in a custom gun with a custom chamber Lapua or Norma is the way to go

I have been reloading for more than 40 yrs. Winchester & Remington brass is all I have ever used, never any problems with either of these. Nearly all of this brass comes from factory ammo, some is purchased once fired seldom do I buy virgin brass.

There are a couple of good suggestions given, and I'd keep Sig in mind.

Me too. Except closer to 30 years here!

I've been handloading 40+ years and I have run into problems with crappy brass from Remington and Winchester.

I tried some Sig branded 308 Winchester and the batch I got was of high quality at a very reasonable price.

https://www.natchezss.com/sig-sauer-unprimed-rifle-brass-cartridge-cases-308-win-50-ct.html

Buy 100 pieces of Lapua, keep it properly annealed and it’ll last the rest of your life.

I have been reloading since I was 10 year old helping my dad and loading my own since I have been 12 and I am 59 now so it has been awhile. I always used Remington or winchester brass last year I tried Norma for my 300 blackout and this year I got some from Lapua for in my new Sako Finnlight in 7mm-08. The quality and precision of there brass is way better then what I am use to using and in the future if they make it for what caliber I am looking for I will buy it it is worth it to me. There is almost no case prep needed it has cut my case prep to almost zero a lot of time saved and will make the most accurate loads I can make with ease. The case length and neck run out is dead on and the weight is within 1gr the primer pockets and flash holes are a thing of beauty it just does not get any better. Widow

You got to match the caliber of the rifle you have!

Lapua is hard to beat...+1.

For my 308, the two brands of brass that I've found my best loads for have been Hornady and Lapua. Of the two, Lapua will more than likely outlast you with proper care.

This

I've used Sig brass in 308 and 22-250 it impressed me the quality you get for the price. Cant argue with the suggestions for Lapua brass its only expensive until you start using it. If your serious about using uniform brass by the time you sort out and cull the cases that aren't uniform in cheap brass to get 100 cases that are decent Lapua isn't looking that expensive anymore and like others have said it last damn near forever with a little care.

in you don't mind once fired brass... especially like a 308.... then we have a campfire member who sells it
for a real cheap price vs new....its tumbled and clean...

The Brassman.... https://brassmanbrass.com/product-category/rifle-brass-once-fired/

John's a great guy to deal with... real fair pricing, fast turnaround....flat rate shipping...

Another vote for Lapua.

38 years here, mostly Winchester. Started with Federal for my 7mm RM and still use it - it ain't broke. When Dad gave me his .22-250 he gave me 1500 pieces of Federal brass and a few hundred with other headstamps. Kept the Federal. For the 5.56 it is mostly Lake City. I have other 5.56 brass from pickups but it goes for plinker loads and doesn't get recycled - at least not by me, a reload, fire and forget thing. Starline for my .45-70 and .375 Win. Remingotn for my .280 Rem.

But mostly Winchester for the bulk of shots taken at the range or in the field - .243 Win .257 Roberts, 6.5-06AI (fire-formed from .25-06), .30-30, .308 Win, .30-06, .300 WM and .338 WM. Can't say the choice has been a bad one. The WW brass and handloads have allowed me to hit the steel at 600 pretty consistently and five of my rifles using WW brass have been used to hit clay pigeons at 600 yards. The 6.5-06AI took out 5 with 10 or 11 shots and the misses weren't by much.

No competitive shooting except against my previous results.