Using mixed head stamped brass for accuracy loads?

jmccracken1214

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Looking to pick up some brass from a member. (308)

Head stamps are mixed...

What would be the best way about keeping loads as consistent as possible? Whats the range in weight to keep brass in same group?

I loaded some 223 for a bolt gun with mixed nato brass and couldnt keep groups consistent at all... bought all new hornady brass for it and all was great.
 
For consistency........keep your head stamps consistent. Then you can sort for weight within the same headstamp if you want to go further.
 
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You likely are going to not have the same round counts on each case. You’re likely looking at differing case wall thicknesses along with case tension and case hardness. For OCD accuracy loads I run brass in lots ... from prepping to handloading to range sessions. In the lots they are inspected, cleaned, and inspected again all at the same time ... also annealed if that is in the mix. Consider secondhand mix brass range fun fodder and for the times when it is business your known brass you take from the cradle to range and back is my choice.
 
With 4 dif. Stamps sorted, I'd slice one case from each stamp to check brass thickness through the cases
And I'd save the thickest ones for the hotter load ranges and the thinnest for fun rounds.
That would still include ladder testing what ever load I was settling on, and like always work that load up checking for over pressure.
If you did a ladder test for each of the stamps at what ever loads, you'd have accuracy throughout all the loads for that gun.
 
Working up 4 sets at once will drive you crazy in what is already a crazy game, so sort by headstamp and then work with a single headstamp.
 
I'd just buy some lapua and call it a day...

Good for at least 10 reloads, and you know the brass isn't the problem if you have strange things happening.

Sometimes spending a bit of money is worth the lack of headaches.
 
I'd just buy some lapua and call it a day...

Good for at least 10 reloads, and you know the brass isn't the problem if you have strange things happening.

Sometimes spending a bit of money is worth the lack of headaches.

I agree. Thats what I ended up doing with my 223. Im hoping out of the 1000, i can find a decent amount of LC or similar good head stamped brass, and will sell the rest.

If most of the brass will net me a 1moa group, Ill load it cheap and use that to plink with then buy some good brass and load up for accuracy.
 
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