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Posted By: steve4102 Winchester Brass… - 02/02/23
… like it.

Me? Not a fan. Only use it when it’s the only game in town

In the process of loading all my 25 WSSM brass, all 450 cases.

This is what I found in the first bag of 50.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Found 3 more so far with 200 new cases processed

Nice ey
Posted By: Beaver10 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/02/23
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫
Posted By: steve4102 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Yeah, they be fu*ked, pretty bad for new out of the bag

Just found two more in the next new bag of 50
Posted By: 12344mag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
From what I understand WSSM's have a short case life.
Posted By: steve4102 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
It new, never loaded straight out of the factory bag
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Loaded 300 for the 222 last weekend. 1 bad brass from each bag of 100.

Pretty typical from what I have seen over the last 20+ years.

Every now and then you get lucky and get an extra piece or two to cover it.
Posted By: gregintenn Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Looks like their quality control ain’t what it should be. I’m guessing those were relatively expensive too.
Posted By: steve4102 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Loaded 300 for the 222 last weekend. 1 bad brass from each bag of 100.

Pretty typical from what I have seen over the last 20+ years.

Every now and then you get lucky and get an extra piece or two to cover it.
Winchester brass?
Posted By: CashisKing Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
It new, never loaded straight out of the factory bag

I am sure CS at Winchester will get you straight.
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Loaded 300 for the 222 last weekend. 1 bad brass from each bag of 100.

Pretty typical from what I have seen over the last 20+ years.

Every now and then you get lucky and get an extra piece or two to cover it.
Winchester brass?
Yes.

In 20+ years I have rarely had 100% of the brass be perfect.

If you get a perfect bag the next bag will have 2 bad pieces.

Call em w lot # and they may send you put a piece or 5.
Posted By: gunzo Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Previous to 2000 or so, Win was my preferred brass of it, Fed, or Rem. But it seemed like it failed after that. Now will use Starline or Hornady for regular stuff. Lapua or Alpha for the more serious loads.
Posted By: 12344mag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
It new, never loaded straight out of the factory bag

Well that's just bullschit!!

I'd send a picture to Winchester and see what happens.
Posted By: 12344mag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by gunzo
Previous to 2000 or so, Win was my preferred brass of it, Fed, or Rem. But it seemed like it failed after that. Now will use Starline or Hornady for regular stuff. Lapua or Alpha for the more serious loads.


I like Starline Brass, I load some pretty heavy schit for my 454 Casull and have never had a case problem.
Posted By: MuskegMan Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Call em w lot # and they may send you put a piece or 5.

Well, that'll restore confidence in their product !!!
Posted By: memtb Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I believe that 30 years ago they had better quality control. At least the 500 pieces of 375 H&H brass has been very good so far! memtb
Posted By: rainshot Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Must be a typo. I don’t think 57 gr. Of H335 will fit in a 223 case. 27.5 probably will though. For hunting loads WW brass is fine.
Posted By: 10gaugemag Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by Beaver10
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫
I wonder why!!!!🤣🤣
Posted By: gregintenn Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Originally Posted by Beaver10
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫
I wonder why!!!!🤣🤣
Compressed load. grin
Posted By: hanco Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Things have gone to hell
Posted By: bsa1917hunter Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
… like it.

Me? Not a fan. Only use it when it’s the only game in town

In the process of loading all my 25 WSSM brass, all 450 cases.

This is what I found in the first bag of 50.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Found 3 more so far with 200 new cases processed

Nice ey

Why you guys keep buying this schidt is beyond me.. Carry on though..
Posted By: steve4102 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter
Originally Posted by steve4102
… like it.

Me? Not a fan. Only use it when it’s the only game in town

In the process of loading all my 25 WSSM brass, all 450 cases.

This is what I found in the first bag of 50.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Found 3 more so far with 200 new cases processed

Nice ey

Why you guys keep buying this schidt is beyond me.. Carry on though..
Can you supply me with a brass manufacturer other than Winchester that makes or even used to make WSSM Brass
Posted By: Beaver10 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Originally Posted by Beaver10
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫
I wonder why!!!!🤣🤣
Originally Posted by gregintenn
Originally Posted by 10gaugemag
Originally Posted by Beaver10
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫
I wonder why!!!!🤣🤣
Compressed load. grin

Laffin...My actions were smoldering.

Reduce the charge, Beav!

🦫
Posted By: Jim_Conrad Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Always seemed fine to me.

Get a bad one once in a while.



Would never consider calling them though....
Posted By: ltppowell Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Better than Hornady or Remington.
Posted By: shootbrownelk Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Not a Winchester brass fan, Remington works better for me than Winchester. I use mainly Starline or SIG brass in handgun ammo and Hornady or Nosler in my hunting calibers.
Posted By: gregintenn Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by ltppowell
Better than Hornady or Remington.
I have a bunch of Hornady brass in 44 magnum and 357 Magnum that is short. I guess it was originally loaded with those FTX bullets, or whatever they’re called. I cut the 44 brass down to 44 Special. I guess I could cut the 357 to 38 Special length, but then I’d have mismarked cartridges. You’d think they would Have designed the bullets to fit correctly in normal brass.
Posted By: Ben_Lurkin Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Well, it seems you’re stuck with it in that chambering. Whucha gonna do? Not buy it?
Posted By: plainsman456 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Back in the 80's a friend bought 1000 pcs of brass for his 41mag.

Every one had a split neck when fired and some split while seating the bullet.

He had ordered them from Gander Mountain.

He called Winchester and they sent him a new 1000 pcs and told him to do what he wanted with the rest.

Not all of them split but even after annealing them there would be more split than good.

They knew they had some bad brass leave the plant.
Posted By: bsa1917hunter Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
Originally Posted by bsa1917hunter
Originally Posted by steve4102
… like it.

Me? Not a fan. Only use it when it’s the only game in town

In the process of loading all my 25 WSSM brass, all 450 cases.

This is what I found in the first bag of 50.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Found 3 more so far with 200 new cases processed

Nice ey

Why you guys keep buying this schidt is beyond me.. Carry on though..
Can you supply me with a brass manufacturer other than Winchester that makes or even used to make WSSM Brass

If Winchester is the only manufacture of that brass, I would not buy the red and black bag stuff. It is total garbage. You probably should have read about a lot of people having issues with it. It's been around for about 5 years now. I believe Steve Redgewell started a thread on it, to name one person off the top of my head. My best suggestion is to find some older Winchester brass. They still sell older stuff or even once fired older brass on gunbroker. Buy the blue bag stuff, if need be. It's better quality from what I've seen. That's just a suggestion based on my experience, but others will probably agree. There are a couple/3 bags of it on gunbroker right now.
Posted By: Vic_in_Va Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I understand their LR primers are OK now, but I still don't trust them. Had a bunch get holes in them at the radius and dig a divot in the bolt face of a brand-new Garand bolt.
Posted By: Edwin264 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I bought some Winchester ammo for a 30-30 that had 2 of the bullets loaded into the case backwards. I wished I would have taken a picture of them.
Posted By: PJGunner Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I like Winchester brass. It has been my go to brand for years That if if nione was available then I'd go with Remington. Never did much care for Federal. I usually bought my brass in bulk from a guy that went to one gun gun show a year. He was out of Colorado and he'd come to Tucson for that one show only. He always had a lot of brass and bullets which is what he specialized in. Last time I did a buy had to be at least ten years ago. I bought every round of 7x57, Winchester and Remington, Winchester .358 brass and his last four bags of Winchester nickel plate .280 Rem. brass, Of the 7x57, no rejects. Not a single one. Five or six rejects on the .358 Win. brass. Seems like I have a few .356 Win. cases stamped .358. One the .280, no reject cases but every bag was short a few cases. IIRC, the total was 8 missing in action. That brass has made excellent ammo and case life has been quite good.
PJ
Posted By: blindshooter Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
I understand their LR primers are OK now, but I still don't trust them. Had a bunch get holes in them at the radius and dig a divot in the bolt face of a brand-new Garand bolt.

I have a SA Range Officer with a pitted breech face from a bad lot of WLP I purchased during the dark lords reign. Same issue, tiny hole at radius and most of them had a crack down the side of the cup as well. I caught it before the pitting got bad. Only bought one brick of the bad ones. Should have badgered Win but I had a divorce going on and let it go.

The load was mild and one that I had loaded thousands before and after.

Some time later I read on Enos forum that some guys got Win to pay for new slides.

I still have 5k WLP in my stash, different lot number from the bad box. I'll use them if I have to.
Posted By: Sycamore Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by 12344mag
From what I understand WSSM's have a short case life.

Originally Posted by steve4102
It new, never loaded straight out of the factory bag

that's about as short as case life can get......
Posted By: Vic_in_Va Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by blindshooter
Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
I understand their LR primers are OK now, but I still don't trust them. Had a bunch get holes in them at the radius and dig a divot in the bolt face of a brand-new Garand bolt.

I have a SA Range Officer with a pitted breech face from a bad lot of WLP I purchased during the dark lords reign. Same issue, tiny hole at radius and most of them had a crack down the side of the cup as well. I caught it before the pitting got bad. Only bought one brick of the bad ones. Should have badgered Win but I had a divorce going on and let it go.

The load was mild and one that I had loaded thousands before and after.

Some time later I read on Enos forum that some guys got Win to pay for new slides.

I still have 5k WLP in my stash, different lot number from the bad box. I'll use them if I have to.

Wow, hadn't heard that about the WLPs. I had used a brick to load a thousand rounds of 30-06 for my Garand, but had to break down 800 of them and reprimer.

Not fun.

They did send me the money for a new bolt and replaced the primers. I use them on low-pressure .45-70 loads, so far so good.
Posted By: blindshooter Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
Originally Posted by blindshooter
Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
I understand their LR primers are OK now, but I still don't trust them. Had a bunch get holes in them at the radius and dig a divot in the bolt face of a brand-new Garand bolt.

I have a SA Range Officer with a pitted breech face from a bad lot of WLP I purchased during the dark lords reign. Same issue, tiny hole at radius and most of them had a crack down the side of the cup as well. I caught it before the pitting got bad. Only bought one brick of the bad ones. Should have badgered Win but I had a divorce going on and let it go.

The load was mild and one that I had loaded thousands before and after.

Some time later I read on Enos forum that some guys got Win to pay for new slides.

I still have 5k WLP in my stash, different lot number from the bad box. I'll use them if I have to.

Wow, hadn't heard that about the WLPs. I had used a brick to load a thousand rounds of 30-06 for my Garand, but had to break down 800 of them and reprimer.

Not fun.

They did send me the money for a new bolt and replaced the primers. I use them on low-pressure .45-70 loads, so far so good.


Glad you got something, I dropped the ball on that.

I'd still be careful using that same lot. The .45acp load I was using is a well known and used bullseye load. Very mild and still the bad primer cups pinholed and cracked.

The worst combo was a case with generous radius on the primer pocket. RP in my case.
[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]
Posted By: shrapnel Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Those are Remington primers and they are not consistent in their size. I would blame the primer before the brass…
Posted By: blindshooter Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by shrapnel
Those are Remington primers and they are not consistent in their size. I would blame the primer before the brass…


Win LP primers in RP cases.

Definitely bad primers.

The larger radius on RP cases just allowed the defect to show up more often.

Nothing wrong with the RP cases.

Sorry for the confusion.
Posted By: jorgeI Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I like WW brass, but they stopped making brass for two of my favorite cartridges. FOrtunately I managed to score a large supply, but they are my preference.
Posted By: steveredd1 Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by Beaver10
Those two look like my hot loads for a 223.

57.5 grains of H335 is cracking necks.

🦫



that's a smoking load there
Posted By: gunswizard Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
I've used Winchester brass for rifle loads ever since I started reloading 50 yrs. ago, never encountered any problems although I've always used cases from factory ammo that was shot in my rifles. Starline is my preferred brass for handgun loads.
Posted By: shrapnel Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Originally Posted by Vic_in_Va
I understand their LR primers are OK now, but I still don't trust them. Had a bunch get holes in them at the radius and dig a divot in the bolt face of a brand-new Garand bolt.


I had that happen with Remington primers on a Sako rifle. I sent the bolt to a competent gunsmith and he welded and machined the bolt face back to original. He could probably do the same to your Garand bolt and it is easy to send just the bolt to get repaired…
Posted By: Vic_in_Va Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Thanks for mentioning that. If enough of life gets out of the way, I'll do that.

Thanks again.
Posted By: Vic_in_Va Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/03/23
Garand brass, pressure approximately 46-48 kpsi.

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Posted By: LBP Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/04/23
Originally Posted by rainshot
Must be a typo. I don’t think 57 gr. Of H335 will fit in a 223 case. 27.5 probably will though. For hunting loads WW brass is fine.
223 WSSM.
Posted By: MuskegMan Re: Winchester Brass… - 02/04/23
Originally Posted by steve4102
Can you supply me with a brass manufacturer other than Winchester that makes or even used to make WSSM Brass

I note that in the Horny #11 manual, they state that they made their 243 WSSM cases from reformed 300 WSM brass. This would open up some doors for different manufacturers. You'd probably have to turn necks though.
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