The standard and consistency of brass circumstances are essential for attaining precision in reloaded ammunition. Variations in case dimensions, wall thickness, and inside quantity can considerably affect chamber strain and bullet velocity, resulting in inconsistencies in accuracy. In case you don’t begin with high-quality brass, you’ll by no means add sufficient steps into your reloading course of to show it into uniform, match-grade brass.
Fred Sinclair was a aggressive rifle shooter and gunsmith who based Sinclair Worldwide within the Seventies (later acquired by Brownells). Fred started by crafting high-quality reloading instruments for Benchrest shooters and varmint hunters – a bunch recognized for pushing the boundaries of precision rifles on the time. Fred had 50+ years of expertise reloading, and within the Precision Capturing Reloading Information, Fred Sinclair defined, “Step one in case preparation is to acquire high quality circumstances.” Sinclair says the objective of brass prep is for “our circumstances to be practically an identical previous to firing a shot.” So, the extra constant brass you can begin off with, the higher.
This text shares what sort of rifle brass the 200 top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) select to run in long-range rifle matches. (Study in regards to the Precision Rifle Collection.) This knowledge is a big pattern measurement of opponents which are additionally the easiest precision rifle shooters on the planet. If a big group of those guys are utilizing a model to get to the highest of the leaderboard at pro-level, two-day PRS matches throughout the nation – you possibly can know for sure that it is extremely constant and able to world-class precision.
I’ll point out that that is the primary article that’s primarily based on the newest survey of the top-ranked shooters within the PRS on the finish of the 2024 season. That survey was simply after the PRS season finale match earlier this month.
Finest Rifle Brass
Let’s dive proper in! I’ll present a extra detailed breakdown of what model guys are utilizing for particular cartridges later on this article, however let’s begin with this chart exhibiting the preferred manufacturers of brass amongst these elite marksmen no matter what cartridge they had been operating:
Many individuals are probably shocked solely to see 4 manufacturers of brass represented amongst all 200 of those shooters! I used to be shocked by that myself. The final time I revealed knowledge on the brass these guys had been utilizing was again in 2019, and there have been 10 manufacturers of brass represented then, together with Alpha, Gunwerks, Hornady, Lapua, Norma, Nosler, Peterson, Prime, Sig Sauer, and Starline. So, there was a number of consolidation amongst this group into just some of the premium brass producers over the previous 5 years.
Alpha Brass: 67% of Execs
Alpha Munitions was by far the favourite rifle brass amongst professional shooters, with 67% selecting to run Alpha brass. That included 6 shooters within the high 10. It mainly was the vast majority of shooters, no matter the way you slice it. Within the survey I performed on the finish of the 2018 season, solely 5% of the highest 200 shooters stated they used Alpha brass. What a large swing over just some seasons!
Alpha Munitions was based in 2015, and right here is how they outlined their objective:
Alpha’s Objective: “To fabricate the best high quality most constant rifle brass on the planet, one thing we name Alpha Grade. Alpha Grade means we train exacting management over each factor of manufacturing, whereas using probably the most superior applied sciences in each manufacturing and high quality management. We don’t manufacture totally different grades of brass. If it’s not Alpha Grade it doesn’t exit the door.” – Alpha Munitions
Their major viewers is the precision shooters who weigh to the kernel and measure to the thousandths. Frankly, it’s the shooters which are represented on this survey – and those studying this text! 😉
I met with a number of the founders of Alpha at SHOT Present 2016 and heard about their imaginative and prescient for the corporate. For the longest time, Lapua was the de facto gold customary when it got here to high-quality brass. Different European producers had been probably the following tier of brass high quality, whereas most US-based brass producers had been trailing when it comes to high quality. A lot of that needed to do with the truth that US-based producers weren’t utilizing fashionable manufacturing tools. Alpha’s founders got here with a variety of expertise in different industries, together with medical gadgets, prescribed drugs, and engineering, and so they understood the potential of bringing fashionable, state-of-the-art tools and rigorous high quality management processes to the brass {industry}. That features an industry-leading inspection system that has a number of factors of inspection on each single case.
Alpha Munitions says their OCD (Optimized Case Design) Expertise is the primary main development in brass manufacturing in many years. In testing, OCD brass plastically deforms lower than opponents at an identical masses, leading to higher consistency, brass life, and efficiency in all environmental situations. That’s why they declare that OCD brass is the strongest, most sturdy rifle brass ever produced, giving shooters the widest efficiency envelope.
Here’s a video the place Tom Danielson, Founding Accomplice/Proprietor of Alpha Munitions, explains what makes Alpha brass totally different:
Alpha makes manufacturing facility circumstances for many of the cartridges this group of shooters makes use of, excess of some other producer. For instance, they make manufacturing facility 6mm Dasher brass, however Lapua doesn’t. In case you wished to shoot Lapua brass out of a 6 Dasher, you would need to purchase Lapua 6mm BR Norma brass after which fireform it in a Dasher. However in the event you select Alpha brass, you possibly can load it up proper out of the field and take it to a match.
Listed below are the cartridges that Alpha affords manufacturing facility brass in (on the time this was revealed). They appear so as to add new cartridges each month. The record very intently resembles the preferred short-action cartridges used within the PRS.
22 ARC
22 GT
22 Creedmoor
6mm ARC
6mm PPC
6mm BR
6mm BRA
6mm Dasher
6mm GT
6mm Creedmoor
25 GT
25×47 Lapua
25 Creedmoor
260 Rem
6.5×47 Lapua
6.5 Creedmoor
7mm-08
7mm SAW
308 Win
8.6 BLK
I do know a couple of of the highest 10 shooters who load up virgin (by no means fired) Alpha brass and take it to a match. They don’t really feel like Alpha brass needs to be “once-fired” via their rifle to provide them the perfect consistency shot-to-shot. The truth is, you possibly can hear from a type of guys instantly:
Austin Buschman is a PRS Champion and two-time IPRF World Champion who makes use of Alpha brass.
In an interview final yr, I requested Buschman what he did earlier than he masses brand-new brass for the primary time:
Do you run your brass via a neck mandrel to set a constant inside neck diameter? No.
Do you trim new circumstances earlier than you load them? No.
Do you ever neck trim to get extra constant neck rigidity? No.
Do you uniform flash holes or primer pockets? No.
Do you weight-sort or cull any circumstances that had been outliers when it comes to weight or quantity? No.
Austin Buschman: “No, you don’t have to do any of that with Alpha brass. It’s tremendous constant.”
Austin solely does one factor to model new Alpha brass earlier than he masses it: “I do chamfer the within of the necks to keep away from the necks damaging the bullets as they’re seated. I don’t do that step once more except I trim the brass.”
I requested, “Do you imply you’d take model new, unfired brass straight out of the field, chamfer it, load it, after which take that ammo to a match?” Austin: “Yep. I received 1 or 2 matches this yr with virgin Alpha brass straight out of the field. These matches had been near the beginning of the yr, and I had acquired new brass firstly of the season and was nonetheless taking pictures via all of it for the primary firing. The Alpha brass appears to carry out precisely the identical on the first and subsequent firings.” A kind of matches Buschman used virgin Alpha brass in was the Leupold Metal Basic PRS Match in Texas, which he cleaned – that means he didn’t miss a single shot over two days! He hit each goal over 176 photographs! That was the primary and solely time anybody had ever cleaned a pro-level, two-day match. That appears to be fairly definitive proof that any additional steps in prepping new Alpha brass could also be a waste of time!
Lapua Brass: 24% of Execs
It’s no shock to see 24% of those top-ranked shooters selected to run Lapua brass. That included 2 of the shooters who completed the season within the high 10, together with Ben Gossett, who was the 2024 PRS Season Champion.
Lapua brass was thought of the de facto gold customary of premium rifle brass for many years. It’s a secure guess that extra world championships have been received with Lapua brass in Benchrest, F-Class, and different precision centerfire rifle taking pictures disciplines than some other model. Earlier than Alpha Munitions, most critical opponents may argue there actually wasn’t even a detailed second in comparison with Lapua brass high quality.
There are veteran reloaders who would nonetheless argue that Lapua makes the perfect brass. I haven’t seen any goal, independant analysis that compares high quality or consistency between these producers, however clearly, Lapua continues to be extraordinarily succesful.
Lapua has added a number of new manufacturing facility case choices over the previous 10 years which are related to this group of shooters, just like the 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor – and, this yr, the 6mm GT. However they nonetheless don’t supply as large of a spread of cartridges which are standard among the many high shooters within the PRS as Alpha Munitions. Most notably, Lapua doesn’t supply manufacturing facility 6mm Dasher brass, which is by far the preferred cartridge among the many professionals. In addition they don’t at present supply any 25-caliber brass, which is changing into more and more standard within the PRS. Typically, it looks like Lapua lags behind different producers when it comes to including new, standard cartridges to their lineup.
Nevertheless, Ben Gossett and some others had been utilizing Lapua brass out of their 6mm Dasher. In that case, they might begin with 6mm BR Norma brass from Lapua after which fireform that of their chamber. After one firing of their chamber, they may load it like regular 6mm Dasher brass. The headstamp would nonetheless say “6mm BR Norma,” however with the additional fireforming step, it may be utilized in a Dasher. (Study fireforming)
Listed below are the manufacturing facility circumstances that Lapua at present affords (on the time this was revealed):
222 Rem
223 Rem
220 Russian
22-250 Rem
6mm BR Norma
6mm GT
243 Win
6mm Creedmoor
6.5 Grendel
6.5×55 SE
6.5-284
6.5×47 Lapua
260 Rem
6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 PRC
7mm-08 Rem
7×64
7x65R
284 Win
7.62×39
308 Win
30-06 Springfield
300 WSM
300 Win Magazine
300 PRC
300 Norma Magazine
7.62x53R
8×57
338 Lapua Magazine
338 Norma Magazine
9.3×62
Peterson Brass: 7% of Execs
7% of those top-ranked shooters had been utilizing brass made by Peterson Cartridge, together with a pair within the high 25: #16 Keith Baker and #17 Andy Slade. The recognition of Peterson brass amongst professional shooters has been steadily rising over the previous couple of years.
Andy Slade received the $30,000 prize on the 2023 AG Cup utilizing Peterson brass. The AG Cup is a singular, 3-day precision rifle match that includes the largest money payouts of the yr – which at all times attracts the perfect shooters on the planet to compete. So clearly, Peterson brass is able to profitable on the highest ranges.
Peterson affords all kinds of manufacturing facility circumstances, together with 6 Dasher and several other different standard cartridges amongst these professional shooters (e.g., 25 Creedmoor). Peterson’s record of cartridges is considerably longer than each Alpha and Lapua, together with a couple of cartridges which are standard in Excessive Lengthy Vary (ELR) taking pictures:
22 Creedmoor
6mm BR Norma
6mm Dasher
6×47 Lapua
6XC
243 Win
6mm Creedmoor
25 Creedmoor
257 Weatherby Magazine
6.5×47 Lapua
6.5 Creedmoor
260 Rem
6.5-284 Norma
6.5 PRC
6.5 Weatherby RPM
26 Nosler
6.5-300 Weatherby Magazine
270 Win
270 Weatherby Magazine
27 Nosler
7mm-08 Rem
284 Win
280 Rem
280 AI (Ackley Improved)
7mm Rem Magazine
7 PRC
7mm Weatherby Magazine
28 Nosler
7mm Rem Extremely Magazine
308 Win
30-06 Springfield
300 Win Magazine
300 PRC
30 Nosler
300 Weatherby Magazine
300 Norma Magazine
300 Rem Extremely Magazine
338 Weatherby Magazine
33 Nosler
340 Weatherby Magazine
338 Norma Magazine
338 Lapua Magazine
33XC
375 EnABELR
375 CheyTac
408 CheyTac
I’ll add that in the event you’re inquisitive about studying how brass is made, Peterson has an ideal web page that walks you thru that with visuals.
Hornady Brass: 2% of Professional Shooters
Lastly, there have been 4 shooters who stated they primarily run Hornady brass at matches. Nevertheless, these 4 had been all ranked 101 to 200 within the 2024 PRS Season within the Open Division.
Hornady affords brass for a TON of cartridges, so I received’t record them out right here. (Full record of Hornady manufacturing facility circumstances)
I’ll point out that Kahl Harmon, who was the 2023 PRS Season Champ and completed 2nd within the 2024 season, advised me that he typically makes use of Hornady brass. Kahl is on the taking pictures staff for the US Military Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), and USAMU ballisticians load all of his match ammo. Kahl advised me a few of his match ammo is in Alpha brass, and a few is in Hornady brass.
That brings up an excellent level: In case you gave golden bullet winners like Kahl Harmon, Ben Gossett, Austin Buschman, Austin Orgain, or Clay Blackketter ammo that was loaded with Starline or Remington or ANY OTHER BRAND brass – they’re nonetheless going to outshoot 99.99% of the rifle shooters on the planet!
Articles like this aren’t making an attempt to suggest causation. I’m not saying the rationale these guys completed on high is as a result of they used a sure model of brass. It’s merely one element that performs into the precision they’re able to persistently obtain at national-level matches. On the very least, the brass they’re utilizing isn’t holding them again. At most, it’s serving to them acquire a really slight edge when it comes to hit chance via extra constant muzzle velocity and/or improved teams.
Needless to say many of those pro-level PRS matches are received by simply 1 or 2 factors over two days of taking pictures. Particularly, 21 of the 41 professional matches in 2024 had been determined by 2 factors or much less! The truth is, 7 of these had been ties that needed to go to the tiebreaker stage to find out the match winner! So these guys are looking for something they will to spice up their hit chance – even whether it is by fractions of some extent as a result of the sport has turn out to be so aggressive! (Extra on that in an upcoming article!)
Brass Primer Measurement
A number of of those producers may supply brass for a similar cartridge with the choice for primer pockets made for both a Giant Rifle Primer (LRP) or a Small Rifle Primer (SRP). A well-liked instance is the 6.5 Creedmoor. The unique 6.5 Creedmoor case design from Hornady had a big rifle primer, however Alpha, Lapua, and Peterson are all providing 6.5 Creedmoor circumstances with a small rifle primer or a bigger rifle primer.
I used to be curious what number of of those top-ranked shooter opted for one or the opposite, so I did some evaluation on it – and it’s fairly conclusive!
98% of those guys had been operating brass with small rifle primers! Solely 3 folks had been operating giant rifle primers, and none of these had been inside the highest 100. The truth is, 2 of these utilizing a big primer had been taking pictures a 308 Win within the tactical division (however nonetheless shot properly sufficient to complete inside the highest 200 within the open division). So, in the event you had been questioning if you should purchase the brass with a small rifle primer pocket or giant – this group appears fairly definitive on that!
I’ll add that I’ve heard guys from Hornady say in case you are utilizing a Creedmoor-sized case in chilly situations (under freezing), they might extremely suggest a big rifle primer. They are saying you possibly can expertise ignition issues making an attempt to gentle powder in these circumstances which have over 35 grains of powder with a small rifle primer. I personally competed with a 6mm Creedmoor for five+ years and simply fired 10,000+ rounds with a small rifle primer in it with out a single ignition situation – however only a few of these rounds had been fired under freezing. The blokes at Hornady are consultants, and that’s solely my anecdotal expertise. However I simply wished to current a balanced view.
I’ve additionally heard Jayden Quinlan, Hornady’s Senior Ballistician, say that of their analysis, they’ve discovered no precision or consistency benefit to small rifle primers. He additionally hadn’t heard of some other critical analysis that had been performed by different labs that might point out some intrinsic profit from small rifle primers for precision.
One cause many of those shooters go for small rifle primers is the assumption that extra materials on the base of the case may both prolong brass life or probably assist barely larger pressures. I’d additionally guess that some folks do imagine that small rifle primers are probably extra constant and may assist precision. However, once more – I haven’t seen any critical analysis (primarily based on applicable giant pattern sizes) that appears to assist that conclusion. So I can’t affirm or deny that. If anybody is conscious of analysis into small rifle primers vs giant rifle primers, please share it with us within the feedback!
I plan to share extra on primers these guys are utilizing in a future article, however I assumed no less than mentioning what measurement the primer pocket was could be related to this text on brass.
Avenue Worth
I assumed it’d be useful to indicate the present avenue value of every of those manufacturers of brass. All 4 of those producers promote 6.5 Creedmoor circumstances, so that’s what I pulled the numbers for from main on-line distributors.
You may see Hornady is the bottom priced and Lapua is the best. Alpha and Peterson are very related in that center floor between the 2. Pricing will range by cartridge, however this could offer you a tough gauge of how these are priced relative to at least one one other.
Brass Reputation By Cartridge
Lastly, here’s a breakdown exhibiting what model of brass shooters had been utilizing primarily based on the cartridge they had been utilizing at matches.
If considered one of my shut mates was moving into this sport, my recommendation could be to easily discover their cartridge within the record above and purchase 500 items of brass from the identical lot for no matter model is hottest for his or her cartridge. In case you did that, brass definitely wouldn’t be the factor that was holding you again! 😉
To be clear, not all the cartridges above can be found from the manufacturing facility. For instance, discover the desk says 42% of these taking pictures a 25×47 Lapua had been utilizing Lapua brass. Lapua doesn’t at present supply ANY 25 caliber brass. So what these guys probably did was purchase 6.5×47 Lapua brass from the manufacturing facility and necked it right down to 25 caliber earlier than fireforming it of their chamber (or you possibly can neck up their 6×47 brass). That’s the reason I included the record of what manufacturing facility cartridge circumstances firms like Alpha, Lapua, and Peterson supply on this article. In case you don’t need to wildcat brass, then discover a type of producers who supply the cartridge you’ll be utilizing.
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