Winchester Brass

Ammunition, reloading, shooting, etc
Olpeddler
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:30 pm

Winchester Brass

Post by Olpeddler »

I just purchased 3, 50 count bags of new Winchester .30-40 Krag brass from a gun shop in Wisconsin. The owner could not remember how long he had the brass in inventory, but I suspect it could be as long as 5 - 8 years. Since I acquired my 1899 Krag carbine in 2019, I have been working with Hornady brass, and I now am on my 7th reload with those cases. Although I have not yet had any split necks or other case defects, I'm thinking I will after a couple more reloads. I would like hear If anyone has had any good or bad experiences with Winchester .30-40 Krag brass. BTW, this dealer has no additional .30-40 brass in stock.

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butlersrangers
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Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Winchester Brass

Post by butlersrangers »

During the past five or six years, I've been reloading with mostly W-W .30-40 Brass.

I just 'neck-size' my Krag reloads. So far, things have worked out well.

I'm about due to anneal, most of my Winchester cases. Hopefully the Brass continues to be problem free!

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Culpeper
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Re: Winchester Brass

Post by Culpeper »

I've only ever used Remington and Winchester brass. I started out with loaded ammo to get my brass but then I stocked up on bags of brass. I have not had any issues with my original 200 some odd rounds which are on their third reload from new. Rem and Win brass is good stuff. The guys here, and others elsewhere, have told me Krag brass has long life if you do not hot rod the loads.
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donki1967
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Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:05 pm

Re: Winchester Brass

Post by donki1967 »

Hi
Any opinion on Graf 30-40 cases please?
(I don't want to "pollute your original post")
regards

FredC
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Location: Dewees Texas

Re: Winchester Brass

Post by FredC »

We discovered a problem with Graf's brass. It is not hard to fix and the brass may have good life afterwards. We have not heard much on long term use.
One of the threads where this was discussed was: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5824
There was another thread where we found the need to set the front part of the shoulder back, I can not find it now.

This is the thread where we discovered the problem. I did send an email to Graf and never heard back. As hard as it is to get brass in France in normal times it has to be harder now. So if you can get Graf's product the fix is not hard with proper dies. Zac had every thing go wrong. Brass too long, bad gauge, defective die or shell holder. I think his rifle was fine.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5938
Last edited by FredC on Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Culpeper
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Re: Winchester Brass

Post by Culpeper »

I seem to recall the Graf 30-40 was made by the rotten %$#$^&^%$#@@@^&&*& SOB out of South Dakota. I refuse to purchase any thing made by that business, not even if it was the best brass on the planet and God said to buy it as the Eleventh Commandment. Thank the Lord he went out of business and all of the assets were liquidated.
Deacon in the Church of the Mighty Krag. Member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals).  Liberty Works Radio

Olpeddler
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Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2019 8:30 pm

Re: Winchester Brass

Post by Olpeddler »

I have not used any Graf .30-40 Krag brass, so I can't be of help.

FredC
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Location: Dewees Texas

Re: Winchester Brass

Post by FredC »

Take note of Parashooter's reply here: viewtopic.php?p=39188#p39188
If I copied and pasted it correctly Parashooter said that because of case elasticity the problem may be self correcting.
Not sure about Culpeper's nemesis, maybe he made it or maybe not. If Graf still has any of this brass and it was made my nemesis, he is gone now and will not be benefited by Grafs's sale of old stock.

Looks like I did the copy and paste correctly, it went to the exact comment.

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butlersrangers
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Re: Winchester Brass

Post by butlersrangers »

The OP asked about Forum members' experiences with .30-40 W-W Brass.

IMHO - Any .30-40 Krag Brass, that is available at a good price, is worth a try.
Personally, I have had good experience with W-W Brass, acquired four or five years ago from Graf & Sons.

Any manufacturer may turn out a batch of problematic cartridge-cases, if annealing process is not quite right or other equipment or adjustments are out of sorts.

Over the years, different manufacturers have turned out occasional cartridge-cases in various calibers with flaws and imperfections, that resulted in short case life.
I recall reading about some defects caused by damaged and worn stamping and forming Dies. Die 'scratches' or nicks on the 'Cup' during manufacture can result in weakened case walls.

Minor .30-40 problems, that I recall, discussed on this forum in recent years:
1. Hornady .30-40 Brass that showed feeding issues in the Krag. This was apparently due to the lack of a 'bevel' on the rear-edge of the case rim.

2. 'Graf marked Brass' that was a bit long from base to front of shoulder, requiring a bit of force to close the bolt.
This could be corrected with most Full-Length Re-sizing Dies or Fire Forming case.

If you tinker with old guns, none of this is a big deal.

Remember that brass "work hardens" and becomes more brittle over the years.
Just Neck-Sizing and periodic annealing of case-necks extends case reloading life.

Zac952
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Re: Winchester Brass

Post by Zac952 »

Once Graf brass is properly sized down to fit your chamber I have had decent life out of it with 8 reloads and full length resizing, I lost one case after 4 (a small blowout on the shoulder) and after 7 I lost another case due to the same thing.
Graf brass extra long shoulder may be of use to those with headspace on the large side as it will make sure the rim is on the bolt face. I would likely size them until the bolt just closed for better brass life and then neck size.
No experience with other brass yet for me but 8 full length resized reloads with a loss of two out of twenty seems pretty good. I annealed after 5 and after 8.

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