Callelk Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 New guy here on this forum and I trust folks here can give me some answers to way too many questions. I will take them 1 at a time so I do not confuse myself with responses. I purchased 1K of pulled/primed Fed alum cases for lost brass matches. I am using Xtreme 147 gr plated which works with a Titegroup/Win cases/CCI primers but with the Federals they group 4-5” at 11 yards. My question is, do Federal primers prefer a specific brand or powder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 You may want to give a few more specifics in your description..your OAL , charge weight, shot from a bench rest or off hand ? Those help us help you determine issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeti Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Most of us do not reload aluminum cases. I know some guys do, but I never will. I have shot 'lost brass' local matches with the factory loaded Al and it was barely workable in 9, 40 & 45. It generally functioned, but was filthy and not very accurate. Combine some cooler weather and things really went downhill with FT extract issues. I used some 40 that had severe setback issues with minimal neck tension and that was it for me and aluminum. That being said, FED SPP are not picky. I have been forced to (availability) use numerous powders and have not encountered an issue with FED primers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 44 minutes ago, usmc90 said: You may want to give a few more specifics in your description..your OAL , charge weight, shot from a bench rest or off hand ? Those help us help you determine issues Right, My current recipe with WW brass is: CCI Small Pistol 3.2. GR Titegroup 147 gr extreme COl 1.151 shoots sub 2" offhand and 1" off sand bags. Using the pulled Fed alum (never fired) the only difference other than case and primer is COL of 1.149-1.150 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 40 minutes ago, Yeti said: Most of us do not reload aluminum cases. I know some guys do, but I never will. I have shot 'lost brass' local matches with the factory loaded Al and it was barely workable in 9, 40 & 45. It generally functioned, but was filthy and not very accurate. Combine some cooler weather and things really went downhill with FT extract issues. I used some 40 that had severe setback issues with minimal neck tension and that was it for me and aluminum. That being said, FED SPP are not picky. I have been forced to (availability) use numerous powders and have not encountered an issue with FED primers. I will say that it was 36 deg and sleet yesterday at the range..... These are new pulled cases from RM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeti Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 5 hours ago, Callelk said: Right, My current recipe with WW brass is: CCI Small Pistol 3.2. GR Titegroup 147 gr extreme COl 1.151 shoots sub 2" offhand and 1" off sand bags. Using the pulled Fed alum (never fired) the only difference other than case and primer is COL of 1.149-1.150 I know that is great soft shooting load in brass. May need to go up a wee bit with plated and Al cases at that OAL to get a better case-chamber seal and improve accuracy. 5 hours ago, Callelk said: I will say that it was 36 deg and sleet yesterday at the range..... These are new pulled cases from RM. Not ideal range conditions, but something tells me you all are used to it up there. Way nicer scenery up your way, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncie21 Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 I realize you came here looking for an answer to AI cases, however once fired 9mm brass is pretty cheap too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, muncie21 said: I realize you came here looking for an answer to AI cases, however once fired 9mm brass is pretty cheap too. True but the pulled AL are real cheap once you factor they are primed......loaded price of $96 per 1,000. I have a hard time walking away from brass.....I know, its a mental condition. Edited March 7, 2017 by Callelk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 6 hours ago, Yeti said: I know that is great soft shooting load in brass. May need to go up a wee bit with plated and Al cases at that OAL to get a better case-chamber seal and improve accuracy. Not ideal range conditions, but something tells me you all are used to it up there. Way nicer scenery up your way, though. I am wondering if I should go with a little slower powder like CFE, 800X, WSF or AutoComp though AutoComp velocities are low vs pressure.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Just an FYI, no feeding issues and they are running 893-912 fps per my "B" so at 2% variance, they are fairly consistent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewood Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 (edited) 10 hours ago, Callelk said: True but the pulled AL are real cheap once you factor they are primed......loaded price of $96 per 1,000. I have a hard time walking away from brass.....I know, its a mental condition. I hate walking away from brass also. There is a place that sells once fired 9mm (6000 pcs) for $132.00 tax and shipping included. This works out to 2 cents per case. So if I leave 200 cases on the ground it's $4.00 which is ok. This makes my loaded price about $130.00/1000 rounds. Not as good as your price but still ok. Short of casting my own bullets I think this is as good as it gets for me. I received a 6000 pc shipment of the once fired about 2 weeks ago, this after waiting about 6 weeks for it to ship. Anyway, sorted out all of the Federal and Winchester headstamp (which I use for my 929 moon clipped revolver). This left me with about 4500 pcs for lost brass matches. Even at lost brass matches I generally get some back so I think this will hold me for quite some time. At least that is the plan. My club had a match just before the winter weather set in and no one picked up brass on a few of the competition ranges, or at least no one picked up all of the brass. Over the winter I scavenged 3 of the ranges and brought home about 3000 9mm cases, maybe 500 40 S&W and a couple 100 45 acp. I'm sure I didn't get all of it but at least the easy picks came home. Some of it had been out there for a while. There is trap rock on the ground so you have to pick it up one at a time by hand. For this reason I've decided to just take the 2 cent loss. 13 cents/round is still less than factory costs. I would be interested in hearing how well the Al cases work long term. Edited March 7, 2017 by firewood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yeti Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 10 hours ago, Callelk said: I am wondering if I should go with a little slower powder like CFE, 800X, WSF or AutoComp though AutoComp velocities are low vs pressure.... CFE might be a better choice to test. I don't think 800X can get you where you are now FPS wise. WSF at ~4.0gr? Can't say. I have loaded 147's with 3.5gr N320 in mixed BRASS to similar PF to what you are getting now. It was a pleasant, reliable & accurate load. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 2 hours ago, firewood said: I hate walking away from brass also. There is a place that sells once fired 9mm (6000 pcs) for $132.00 tax and shipping included. This works out to 2 cents per case. So if I leave 200 cases on the ground it's $4.00 which is ok. This makes my loaded price about $130.00/1000 rounds. Not as good as your price but still ok. Short of casting my own bullets I think this is as good as it gets for me. I would be interested in hearing how well the Al cases work long term. That is not a bad price for brass. I assume they are all mixed with some plated. I don't even try to reload the AL. Figure what I have payed for primers over the lase couple of years, the cases are less than $0.02 each so they are not worth picking up. Additionally, I remove the decaping/sizing die and they fit my Dillon case gauge and pass the plunk test. If I can get them dialed in with a powder, they will be great for GSSF matches and state matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callelk Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 4 hours ago, Yeti said: CFE might be a better choice to test. I don't think 800X can get you where you are now FPS wise. WSF at ~4.0gr? Can't say. I have loaded 147's with 3.5gr N320 in mixed BRASS to similar PF to what you are getting now. It was a pleasant, reliable & accurate load. Just a thought. I stopped shooting skeet and for my 6.2# 1928 Elsie with a straight stock I am loading square loads in federal papers cut down to 2 1/2" with Red Dot and roll crimped so the 800X is just sitting. I loaded 100 CFE of various weights last night and with run them this weekend to see what's what. WSF at 3.9 seems to shoot ok with 147 but 4.9 gr behind a 124 FMJ is a great round in my G34. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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