Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hornady Brass opinions wanted

One of my local reloading-supplies-shop seems to always have lots of Hornady brass available, and really very little of any other brands.

What is your opinion of Hornady when comparing their brass to Lapua and other top-quality choices?

Thanks!

Hornady 6.5CM - I have some that I have loaded 15 time and still looks great, but lately I had a batch (20 box) that the case necks were breaking off. Shot one where the bullet fired and case ejected but the neck was stuck in the chamber. Took gun home cleaned it, went back and had same thing happen. Tried to pull rest of bullets with impact puller and case necks would break off with bullets and I ended up tossing 20. I usually buy cheap Hornady Whitetail loaded ammo, shoot it up then reload the cases. That was the only batch that I have had issue with but it was very strange and not exactly confidence inspiring. Think I may try some Starline next time I buy brass.

I have found it to be of very good quality in 7mm Rem Mag ,30-06, and 338 Win Mag. Also use it in various handgun cartridges. Seems to be lasting well through several loading's.

centershot, Did you contact Hornady with your problem, and if you did, what did they say?

Compared to Lapua it's not as consistent - but my results are mixed based on three samples.

I look for neck wall concentricity first and foremost. If most of the cases in a batch of 100 vary no more than .001" in neck wall thickness (or maybe .0015" depending on the application) then I'm happy. It takes a while to determine longevity but neck sizing only and bumping shoulders a couple thou only every 4-5 firings seem to make most everybody's brass last a long time.

With that in mind, the bad first. Bought two 50 round boxes of Hornady .22-250 brass and results with the first firing were disappointing. Measured the 1X brass and fully 60% of them varied more .002", with a bunch of them going up to .003 and .004". I've never seen brass whose neck walls varied that much. I tossed the entire 100 cases, wasn't worth messing with them.

The good. Have purchased a batch of 100 6.5 Creedmore and 100 .250 Savage brass. Six of the Creedmoor cases varied over .0015", not great but better on average than Remington, Winchester or Prvi brass. The .250 Savage brass was about the same, 8 cases didn't make spec but the worst ones only went .002". Given the rifle and application they're used for that's fine.

Bottom line opinion - if your needs aren't critical then Hornady should fit the bill and might turn out to be very good, but if you want the best go for the top end and top $ names. Couldn't say on the Starline bottle neck cases but their straight wall .38-55 brass seems to be pretty good.

In the batch of Starline 6.5 Creedmoor brass I've tried, the consistency and tolerances were fairly horrid. Hornady has been much better IME.

223,6.5 Creedmor and the 6.5 Grendel brass has been good for us.

Some Grendel brass has been loaded about 12 times and have had 1 case with a split neck.

Can't say anything about the lapua brass because i have never had any.

The Starline brass has done a similar job in these and others.

Re Starline, from 2017:

I can not dispute what you say. I am not into shooting targets only in as much as I look for a good accurate load to hunt with in my guns and do not check my brass to the level some do.
Having said that then I guess I can't explain why when using average/normal reloading practices, I have found loads using Hornady brass that have given me moa or better results in three different rifles.
Not trying to be confrontational, just trying to understand and maybe learn a little something.
What kind of accuracy have you been able to obtain on 1st loading as opposed to once fired?

I like Hornady brass.

centershot, Did you contact Hornady with your problem, and if you did, what did they say?[/quote]

I just chucked them and moved on. I did keep one, maybe I should take a picture of it and send it to them.

Mathman was referencing Starline brass above after Centershot stated that he might try Starline.

Thank you sir. Reading comprehension not good today!

Sorry Mathman : )

Thanks friends, for your opinions on the Hornady brass.

Very interesting and diverse results from your experience.

I will try one bag of ‘06 brass and let you know how I come out.

I don’t pay much attention to how my first loading of brass performs, because my second loading, when I bump back .0015, is when I have higher hopes!

Have a super week.

I find I sort and reject about 2/3 of cases from Hornady due to weight variation, whereas some higher end manufacturers might be more like 1/3 rejected. For me it's about price. If the Hornady is enough cheaper, I'll use it. The primer pockets and flash holes seem to be OK, and I have no problem producing accurate ammunition with it.

You might look into the American Whitetail ammo from Hornady. It's not much more than raw brass and being how you will be shooting it once just to basically fire form, it may actually be cheaper in the long run. And from what I have tried it can be very accurate and is loaded with good old Interlocks.

I'm having good luck with the Hornady brass for my 308. It's their 'target' version, so I guess that they take a bit more care in it? Who knows. In my 308 I'm on my 3rd reload with no signs of any problems. I'm not a competitive shooter, just a hunter that likes to burn powder and send bullets.

Wow, this is a very, very good idea!
Thanks, centershot! This will save me the time of handloading that first loading just for the purpose of fire-forming.
Slick!!