Brass quantity for New Rifle

[jayquiver]

quick question here...


How many cases would you purchase for a new rifle that you are starting to load for?
Recreational shooter / Hunter. No PRS or competition shooting. I would like to shoot a few hundred rounds a year going forward. Maybe more but not sure if that will happen.

100? 200? 300? or more?

[Outbound]

At least double what you plan to shoot per year. I like to have components to load a minimum of 500 rounds per rifle that I load for or have at least 500 rounds of factory ammo per firearm that I don't load for

[DLab]

For me it depends on cartridge, brand of brass and availability.
Lapua brass will last longer than Hornady, some Lapua is pricey and hard to get.
A .223Rem. is one thing ,a 300 PRC or a Weatherby cartridge is another.
Are you annealing? Is it a custom chamber or factory?

For a hunting rifle having extra loaded rounds on hand is fine, Match ammo I load as needed.
I use the same 30-40 cases at a time till they wear out, that way I always have new brass on hand.

Do you have the spare time to load as needed? If not then that's another consideration.
But basically, a couple hundred, depending.

I load for 3 chamberings that use the same brass, I have the brass I'm using for them and 200 new on hand, again with supply shortages I grab when I can.

That's another consideration that wasn't an issue a couple years ago.

[elkhunter11]

With supplies the way that they are, I would buy as many as I intend to use in three years.

[waldedw]

For my hunting only rifles I have at least 150 rounds which I find more than enough, bear in mind I have enough reloading supplies to load that brass multiple times. For any rifles that I target shoot or for my .223 that goes to the gopher patch on occasion at least 500 and enough reloading supplies to reload them all a couple times.
Bottom line is it's won't go bad and it ain't getting cheaper, if you can find it now buy it.

[Smokinyotes]

If I buy a new rifle I usually try to buy a couple hundred Lapua brass at the same time. If I can’t get Lapua I buy Nosler.

[jayquiver]

Originally Posted by DLab

For me it depends on cartridge, brand of brass and availability.

Lapua brass will last longer than Hornady, some Lapua is pricey and hard to get.

A .223Rem. is one thing ,a 300 PRC or a Weatherby cartridge is another.

Are you annealing? Is it a custom chamber or factory?



For a hunting rifle having extra loaded rounds on hand is fine, Match ammo I load as needed.

I use the same 30-40 cases at a time till they wear out, that way I always have new brass on hand.



Do you have the spare time to load as needed? If not then that's another consideration.

But basically, a couple hundred, depending.



I load for 3 chamberings that use the same brass, I have the brass I'm using for them and 200 new on hand, again with supply shortages I grab when I can.



That's another consideration that wasn't an issue a couple years ago.

Brand - Lapua or ADG

Cartridge - 300 PRC. But applies to my other rifles, 7mm-08 ( have 100 Lapua) 7 Saum (have 300 ADG) 338-06 ( have 100 Lapua 30-06 brass)

Rifle- Don't own a 300 prc rifle yet. Will probably be a custom build, but in Saami Spec or a higher end factory offering.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by jayquiver

Brand - Lapua or ADG

Cartridge - 300 PRC. But applies to my other rifles, 7mm-08 ( have 100 Lapua) 7 Saum (have 300 ADG) 338-06 ( have 100 Lapua 30-06 brass)

Rifle- Don't own a 300 prc rifle yet. Will probably be a custom build, but in Saami Spec or a higher end factory offering.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

Be aware that Lapua has given notice that they will not be producing certain cases for a couple of years, so best to buy what you need now .

[Pathfinder76]

200 will wear a barrel pretty good

[prarie_boy1]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

200 will wear a barrel pretty good

X2 when I had a Remington re barrelled to 6.5x55 I purchased 200 new lapua brass this should last me some time and possibly the life of the barrel.

[DLab]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

200 will wear a barrel pretty good

Exactly, I get 15-20 firings or more with Lapua, ADG is even harder brass from what I understand, so it should have good life also.
7-08 brass is one that Lapua has temporarily suspended production on.

On the 300PRC note, be sure the gunsmith you use is aware of related issues with the line of PRC SAAMI spec chambers.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

200 will wear a barrel pretty good

X4

[wallz]

I usually have 100 loaded for my hunting rifles, and about 200 spare new brass. Its only going up in price, so if you have the means buy it now. Like all the components.

Plinking rifles, well usually 400 plus rounds each ready and loaded.

[gunluvr]

With bullet availability where it is, I keep at least 50 rnds. loaded with Accubonds for each big game hunting rifle. I have those loads tuned and don't shoot them at targets. They should last for a few years. I also keep 100-200 rounds for each hunting rifle loaded with match bullets or FMJs that shoot pretty close to the same POI as the Accubonds, cost less and are usually easier to find. They get used for practice and to verify accuracy and scope adjustment. So I guess 150-250 brass for a hunting rifle is what I keep.

[jayquiver]

Thanks. This info was helpful.

BTW - Prophet River has 300 PRC Lapua cases in stock...if anyone needs some.

[catnthehat]

For a huntimg rifle, eithrr 50 or 100 depending on the quantity I can buy.
For my match rifles. 200 is normally all I need......
I may buy more however
Cat

[32-40win]

I usually buy 200 if I can get that many right away. Oddball one like the 30R I have 300+ for. Not overly fussy about brand, not a fan of Fed or Norma brass, had good luck with WW & Rem over the years, some of the new brass stash I have is 30-40 yrs old though. Some of it only has one maker, like RWS for the 30R, or I bought what`s been readily available at the time I was buying it, like WW for the 218Bee. Trying out some Herter`s 6.5CM in one gun, as ammo was cheaper than buying brass, seems ok so far. I have bought Peterson and Starline mostly recently. I haven`t been able to wrap my head around Lapua or ADG or Alpha pricing, stuff I have, does what I need it to do.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

With supplies the way that they are, I would buy as many as I intend to use in three years.

I have a .270 WSM, I see brass, I buy it.

Grizz

[Big Thumper]

Originally Posted by jayquiver

BTW - Prophet River has 300 PRC Lapua cases in stock...if anyone needs some.

We just received a small quantity on Friday:
https://store.prophetriver.com/lapua...100ct-4ph7098/

[Cageyc]

I have 3 brands of brass about 40 each, I use certain brass for hunting and anneal after 4 fired rounds with the salt bath annealer.

[6.5 shooter]

I buy a hundred maybe two hundred for hunting rifles etc. If your catching your brass it will last a long time. It does not have to be the top of the line stuff, range brass has harvested many an animal in my experience. Just takes a bit more work to sort head stamps etc. especially if your just starting out, besides as you cycle your action in the field it hurts a lot more to loose a $2 dollar piece of brass VS a freebee from the range or a buddy.

IF you intend to shoot long range, varmints or any competition? that, is the place to spend money on top notch brass. Then buy as much as you can afford.

[kingrat]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

I have a .270 WSM, I see brass, I buy it.

Grizz

Exact same here. Lol