Nosler primer pocket off center

[Koda]

Once again, Nosler brass quality lets me down. I know its "just a 30-30" but this isnt the only caliber Ive had issues with Nosler brass. A rough measurement is about .020" offset was just enough to pick up by eye, very visible when rotated in a V groove.

Would you keep using this case?

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[orygun]

Nice.

Never seen anything like that before.

 

[Koda]

Me neither, Went to start prepping these and noticed one with a primer strike appearing way off center. Nosler brass has been nothing but a thorn in my side since I started reloading, I always assumed they were a higher end company so I bought Nosler brass for several cartridges I have at the beginning and gave up on all the rest. Decided that since this was "just a 30-30" Id go ahead and use these since Im frugal but not even "just a 30-30" can escape Noslers mark.

 

[Greenbug]

The deer won't know, or care...

 

[Bobbygun]

Would you keep using this case?

Yeah. I would. But I might choose another manufacturer for my brass next time.

I don't have a lot of experience with Nosler brass, just their bullets. I have an unopened box of .300 Weatherby Magnum brass in my cupboard. This might make me curious enough to give it a look, but I'm not sure I want to open the sealed box. I may want to sell it and buy something different.

 

[Koda]

Yeah. I would. But I might choose another manufacturer for my brass next time.

I don't have a lot of experience with Nosler brass, just their bullets. I have an opened box of .300 Weatherby Magnum brass in my cupboard. This might make me curious enough to give it a look, but I'm not sure I want to open the sealed box. I may want to sell it and buy something different.

I marked this one and will load it the same and see if it shoots noticeably different velocity or POI. I'll probably spin them all in a V groove to look for the pocket position being off center. Ive had nothing but issues with 3 different calibers of Nosler brass now, I gave up on the other two but this is "just a 30-30"... bugs me now though.

 

[Mikej]

Used .30-30 brass is readily available. Saw 100ct bags at the OAC show today for $20.00.
I don't even see .30-30 win on their site now. And they want $1.40 EACH! For .30-06 and 308!?
That must be some great brass?

 

[Koda]

Used .30-30 brass is readily available. Saw 100ct bags at the OAC show today for $20.00.
I don't even see .30-30 win on their site now. And they want $1.40 EACH! For .30-06 and 308!?
That must be some great brass?

Exactly.
The disappointment is this... Nosler 30-30 brass is just about $1 a piece.
I know its "just a 30-30" but a hundred bucks for a bag of 100 and not have centered pockets is a joke. All I wanted was a simple supply to last and was willing to pay for it and have been burned every time.

Nosler 30-30 Winchester Brass Bag of 100

Nosler Brass is manufactured with the traditional Nosler philosophy of uncompromising attention to detail. Nosler cartridge brass is created to exact...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Bobbygun]

I marked this one and will load it the same and see if it shoots noticeably different velocity or POI. I'll probably spin them all in a V groove to look for the pocket position being off center. Ive had nothing but issues with 3 different calibers of Nosler brass now, I gave up on the other two but this is "just a 30-30"... bugs me now though.

In my head I'm having trouble coming up with a scenario that primer hole position offset would have much effect (as long as it ignites the powder), but I'm not a scientist. Like you mentioned, for the price I would have expected Nosler brass to be better than Starline or Hornady, not inferior. I have a friend that was an engineer at Nosler. If he still worked there, I'd definitely have some questions for him. Kind of lost touch with him and he works for a small aircraft company now, or at least did the last time I heard from him.

 

[Koda]

In my head I'm having trouble coming up with a scenario that primer hole position offset would have much effect (as long as it ignites the powder), but I'm not a scientist. Like you mentioned, for the price I would have expected Nosler brass to be better than Starline or Hornady, not inferior. I have a friend that was an engineer at Nosler. If he still worked there, I'd definitely have some questions for him. Kind of lost touch with him and he works for a small aircraft company now, or at least did the last time I heard from him.

Flash hole consistency plays a noticeable difference in precision ammo, the flash needs to run to the powder unobstructed and on center to burn evenly. I would think an offset pocket would be even worse.
Whats interesting is I had a different point of impact with this production "lot" of handloads than last time, same recipe. This time the group was inconsistent in both group size and POI. I don't know if it was my handload or just the old lever gun with a pitted shot out barrel but it held 1moa with the same handload 2 weekends ago. I have struggled with this and have been thinking its just the old rifle but this makes me wonder if I should try different brass.

 

[Local Loader]

I've used several cases of other brands that were offset like that and they are shot just fine. As for brass, I'd switch to a different brand of you're having continuous problems with their brass.

 

[eb in oregon]

Being off center won't change the ignition one darn bit. The only place that might cause a problem is punching out the used primer. In over 45 years of reloading I've encountered off center flash holes on the highest quality brass before. Stuff happens. It reloaded and shot just fine. And again it won't change the ignition of the powder one darn bit.

 

[Mikej]

It makes me think about pressing the primers in. Still may not make one bit of difference in the final outcome. But after hand priming several hundred 9mm in the last week or so, some of those primer pockets take a LOT of pressure to get primers seated.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Once again, Nosler brass quality lets me down. I know its "just a 30-30" but this isnt the only caliber Ive had issues with Nosler brass. A rough measurement is about .020" offset was just enough to pick up by eye, very visible when rotated in a V groove.

Would you keep using this case?

View attachment 2061408

Primer pocket or flash hole? Hard to tell by the pics.

 

[Mikej]

Nosler is outsourcing....

View: https://youtu.be/LfB-vuYMQKE

 

[Caveman Jim]

The OCD is strong with this one.
It looks like it shot just fine along with the other ones, if it bugs you that much discard it, if not, just shoot it.

 

[awags_86]

It baffles how poor Nosler brass is yet how much they charge for it.

 

[2ndtimer]

It baffles how poor Nosler brass is yet how much they charge for it.

As a former die hard Nosler fan, I am sad that they have priced me out of their market. Their .270 WSM brass goes for $64.95 for 25 cases! That works out to $2.60 per case. When available, you can find quality factory loaded ammunition cheaper.

 

[Koda]

Yes, it's the price is not worth the quality.

 

[Bobbygun]

As a former die hard Nosler fan, I am sad that they have priced me out of their market. Their .270 WSM brass goes for $64.95 for 25 cases! That works out to $2.60 per case. When available, you can find quality factory loaded ammunition cheaper.

That's ridiculous. I paid $72.99 for 50 Hornady cases from Graf & Sons a couple of months ago. That was spendy enough.