Is Winchester .233 brass soft?

[Tim K]

I was just priming a large pile of Winchester brass and and finding lots of loose primer pockets. This will be only its second reloading. Is Winchester known to be soft?

[C Ward]

Not normally

[Tim K]

Hmm, I had 25% with loose pockets. The load showed no other signs of being hot, so it surprises me.

24.5g Varget and 77g SMKs.

[Hoser]

24.5 is a touch on the warm side for 77s.

[Zombie Steve]

I've had an entire bag of 100 virgin Winchester that the primer pockets were loose. As you might suspect, any time loose and virgin are in the same sentence it makes me very sad.

Chalk it up to QC going down the terlet with them running 24/7... just like everyone else.

[Tim K]

24.5 is a touch on the warm side for 77s.

I don't seem to read AR brass well. Maybe you can take a look tomorrow.

I'd hate to back off that load since my rifle loves it, but killing brass is pissing me off.

[clocker]

What primers were you using? I was recently reading a thread and it appears that there are small differences between the brands and between SR, SRM and military SR. You might be able to save the brass with just a change in primers.

[Madusa]

I've found that Winchester brass is harder than Federal or Remington.

[USNrigger]

I would back it down a touch. Ive just rolled some 24gr Varget loaded with LC/WCC brass and CCI 41 primers, and I know that's a crunchy load when seating the bullet. My normal load right now for most shooting is 23.8gr Varget with LC/WCCBrass and CCI #41 and a 77gr SMK. Are you trying to clone Mk262 loads? Id have to check my log but I had the best results cloning that load by using ramshot TAC - I haven't done much follow up on my attempts to get my Mk12 Mod 1 a good clone load for the Mk262. I have found that it shoots factory Hornady 75gr like a house of fire. I would start a bit lower and look at both the Varget and maybe look at getting some TAC to compare. for you original question about Win brass, ive found it to be barder then RP and Fed.

[esaabye]

24.5 is what I load for 77's both in 1/7.7 20 inch and 1/7 18 inch wo with no problems using LC brass and CCI 400. 5-6 loads is what I get normally before I recycle them. I don't anneal so that hurts life a bit.

24.0 - 24.5 is a popular range for highpower shooters.