Match Grade Brass? Which brand?

[BNE]

So a friend and I have started the quest for the most accurate sub-sonic 308 cartridge.

We are working with a 200 grain NOE mold, and are also going to try some j-words.

I’ve hear of people weighing their brass etc to get the most consistent volumes in the case.

What BRAND do you Reccomended I start with? Lapua, star-line, RP ? I am wide open to your helpful suggestions.

BNE

[Winger Ed.]

Any of the name brands are fine.

Get a bunch with the same number of times being fired sized and trimmed.
Then weigh them out looking for ones that are super close to being the same.

[M-Tecs]

Lapua for the best QC but reality is for sub-sonic 308 cartridge anything will work well. Once you get to the point that you can shoot sub 1/2" MOA five shot groups you might start seeing a difference.

[BLAHUT]

Doesn't matter, for that light of loadings. Weigh the brass and get all of them to weigh the exact same. After first firing how well you clean them will keep them weighing the same and have the same volume. I have had good luck with Remington and StarLine, all heavy loads 1200fps or more.
Lupa - when and if you can see a difference ? ? I make sure everything weights the same for all loaded cartages.

[dverna]

If I was going down that road, I would start with good bullets and decent brass. That means jacketed bullets. If you cannot get jacketed bullets to meet your accuracy criteria, you will waste a ton of resources.

Most accurate is not a specific goal...pick something. 1 MOA is likely "good enough" for a round that will not be used past 200 yards. And I mean the average of ten 5 shot groups.

I would start with new or once fired brass of the same headstamp and preferably of the same lot. I bought Norma brass for my testing and I have not used it so cannot say it was worth it. I have a 1.25 MOA hunting load with LC brass so lost interest in wasting any more time. Deer are not small targets.

I know suggesting starting with jacketed bullets is blasphemy on this site, but IMO they are a waste of time if you want accuracy and good terminal performance at ranges from short to long.

If you meet your goals with jacketed, at least you know the rifle is capable. Then the real work will start.

[Hickok]

Just my experience....always check the bullets run-out after loading the cartridge. About .003" or less seems to be a good standard for seeking tight groups.

I have found in my shooting of rifles for varmint hunting and long-range accuracy, that low bullet run-out is one of the most important things to getting small groups...it is often overlooked.

Starting a bullet straight down the bore, it tends to go straighter out the barrel.

[BNE]

Great info. Thank you guys.

BNE

[SSGOldfart]

I tend to use Lake-City or LC as it has become known. Just try to get the same lot if you can, I would expect under MOA even out to 1000yards.

[GregLaROCHE]

If you are looking to shoot subsonic, there are a lot of variables to deal with before the brand of your brass. If you already have some brass, start with what you have. Spend your money on different powders and boolit molds first.
I’d say Lapua is one of the best brass manufacturers today.

[slim1836]

Just my experience....always check the bullets run-out after loading the cartridge. About .003" or less seems to be a good standard for seeking tight groups.

I have found in my shooting of rifles for varmint hunting and long-range accuracy, that low bullet run-out is one of the most important things to getting small groups...it is often overlooked.

Starting a bullet straight down the bore, it tends to go straighter out the barrel.

Measuring run-out on cast boolits is harder than you think, more of a guesstimate. Still critical for good shooting results.

Slim

[ascast]

I did not see it mentioned , so..deburring brass inside and length trimming can vary weight by a few grains. You will want to do this before weighing to load. I will be eagerly waiting for your results. I'd like to go this route with 30-06 when time permits.

[Hickok]

Measuring run-out on cast boolits is harder than you think, more of a guesstimate. Still critical for good shooting results.

Slim

Agreed with the checking the run-out on cast boolits.

I saw that BNE mentioned some jacketed bullets...I should have specified j-words bullets....oops!

[rockrat]

I would use either Lapua or Starline (which is what I use). Match prep them and go for it

[stubshaft]

Lapua gets my vote

[sparky45]

Nosler sells some very nice match grade brass.

[RickinTN]

I would suggest the small primer Starline. I particularly like it because I don't have to worry about shoulder setback with mild loads. I have a couple hundred but am anxious to for them to become available again. Borrowed from Ben here I also recommend trying about 8 grains of International Clays. I have a mold which drops a 185 grain gas-checked bullet for my Remington 308's with their long freebore and have gotten to about 1/2" at 50 yards for 5 shots. I haven't had opportunity to work with it further. I didn't chronograph my load but suspect it to be slightly super-sonic. You may have to drop the charge a bit with your 200 grain bullet or maybe not. I consider the International Clays to be a slightly slow version of Red Dot powder.
Good Luck with your project,
Rick