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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 28, 2009 23:58:21 GMT -5
Seems like the general thoughts last week was that high brass shells were not only a waste of money but offered no additional advantage. I got looking at some things and must disagree  If you've ever shot into a block of wood you'll notice that there are different depths of penetration. In the case of busting through brush for rabbits or penetrating a squirrel's hide/bones, I think extra power is a good thing. It just might get those weaker pellets to penetrate further b/c they might be the only ones that hit a killing location. And it's certainly an advantage on long shots when the pellets are really starting to lose power at a fast rate. Just an observation: When compaing the two shotshells, we can also compare two centerfire rounds. The 308 and 30-06 (when both are shooting a 150 grain powerpoint) has about a 10% difference on paper. This is nearly identical to the low/high brass difference. |
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Post by jmarriott on May 29, 2009 9:17:03 GMT -5
The only time we ever used low brass shell was when we shot clay birds and that was back when KMART was still selling them at less than 3.00 a box and the clays were almost as cheap.
Dad's A5 has to have the lever switched for low brass shells so all he normally bought were high brass. Since back then I just grabbed the shell for the 870 of dad's shell shelf in the hunting cabinet I always grabbed the high brass shells. Since i did that I always bought high brass shells. We used #4 shot for tree rats and most of the bunnies we shot cause it was easier to see all the shot and get it out of the meat. I may have missed a bunny or two shooting #4 with a less dense pattern but even those shot up close with the #4's I eat less lead.
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Post by jimiowa on May 29, 2009 12:21:25 GMT -5
I use high brass #5's as my universal load for small game and Pheasant(late season Pheasant are very skitish). Rabbits don't require a high brass load but it's what I have on hand so use it(though I try to never center a pattern on them as a 12 ga load will totally destroy them.
I won't use a shotgun for our Iowa Fox Squirrels.
I have shaken too many pellets out of the hide that never penetrated and have had too many wounded get away, so consider shotguns unsporting for squirrel. If I can't put a .22 in the head they deserve to live another day.
High /Brass has it's place, but I think Magnumitis being prevelent in today's world causes people to think it is necessary when a standard load would be sufficent if people pick their shots.
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Post by klsm54 on May 29, 2009 13:05:31 GMT -5
When I was young & foolish......drove too fast, talked too loud and thought bigger was better, I always used high brass shotgun shells.
But as I got older, more experienced and hopefully somewhat wiser, I switched almost exclusively to low brass loads in my 12 gauges. I found that 1-1/8 oz of shot, at a slightly less velocity that the 1-1/4 oz express loads, killed everything, even a couple turkeys, just as dead as could be.
I suppose, in theory, that little extra velocity might make a difference, out at the extreme effective range of a shotgun. But at typical ranges, probably 35 yards and in for my type of hunting, no rabbit or bird will ever know the difference between 1200 and 1300 fps. If a few more shot, and a few feet per second, makes you a happier, more confident, hunter, then by all means, that is probably what you should use. Me? I'm happy with lighter recoil, less noise, and a few less shot.
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Post by jabba on May 29, 2009 16:37:55 GMT -5
My issue with hi vs low brass is that what GOOD does the extra brass do you? Are hi-brass shells automatically more powerful? If so... do you need the extra brass to help contain the PRESSURE of the extra powder? I think not.
So... now answer me... what's the extra brass for?
My opinion.... marketing.
Jabba
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 29, 2009 22:34:59 GMT -5
So... now answer me... what's the extra brass for? My opinion.... marketing. Jabba Probably right But if they just put more powder in the low brass shell and charged double the $ as they do with the current high brass loads, does that really change anything? I don't think it does. It all comes down to your belief in the extra umph  |
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Post by jabba on May 30, 2009 5:53:56 GMT -5
I am a believer in the extra hootspah... for sure man. I really am.
I just wonder why, we still follow the term. You can find, very high velocity, low brass shells.
You can re-load low brass shelld to hi brass specs.
What's the brass FOR if not simply marketing?
Jabba
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Post by jmarriott on May 30, 2009 8:09:10 GMT -5
I guess i just stuck with the high brass cause that's always what I have purchased.
If it was a marketing gimick all I can say is that it worked. I haven't seen the high powered low brass shell because I have never looked at them. That's some powerfull advertising gimick.
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Post by dovehunter on May 30, 2009 9:22:40 GMT -5
Virtually all the shotshell loading manuals say there is virtually no difference in strength or reloadability between "high brass" and "low brass" shells. They emphasize that you may load the heaviest charges into "low brass" shells with complete confidence. I have some 12 ga Federal hulls I would consider "high brass" which were originally loaded with 1 oz. of shot. I also have some 12 ga. Remington STS hulls I would consider (very) "low brass" which were originally loaded with 1-1/4 oz. of shot. For reloading purposes I actually prefer the "low brass" style (such as the Remington STS) since they are much easier to resize
It is my personal feeling that loading heavier loads into "high brass" shells and lighter loads into "low brass" shells is just a manufacturing holdover from yesteryear. I remember, as a kid, assuming "high brass" shells were "high powered" and "low brass" shells were "low powered". Apparently others must have drawn the same conclusion. Maybe that is why manufacturers have perpetuated this apparently unnecessary practice all these years.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 30, 2009 10:51:58 GMT -5
I just wonder why, we still follow the term. You can find, very high velocity, low brass shells. That is true but you get less lead for the same velocity |
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Post by jimh on May 30, 2009 10:58:18 GMT -5
gosh i hate to admit this but i partialy agree with red on this one with a bit of a twist. if i'm shooting my 12's for squirrels i'm find with low brass on a #6 shot load configuration. but if i'm shooting my 20 then i want the high brass. don't know why exactly but that's where i'm at with it.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 30, 2009 11:02:52 GMT -5
don't know why exactly but that's where i'm at with it. Because a low brass 12ga is the same as a high brass 20ga |
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Post by klsm54 on May 30, 2009 11:24:48 GMT -5
When I say "High Brass", I'm talking 1-1/4 oz of shot, at whatever the powder charge, though it is typically Max. When I say "low brass" I'm talking the 1-1/8 oz loads at a slightly less powder charge. I could care less about the actual "brass" configuration on the hull. I still have several boxes of Remington Premium Shotshells that were 1-1/4 oz Hi-velocity loads in hulls with low brass. A local gunshop had a big close-out on them. Seems Remington had a fire sale on them as the general public wouldn't buy them at "High Brass" pricing...too confusing to those who have the mind-set that a "Express" load has to be in a hull with that extra 1/4" or so of brass. So, good for me, bad for Remington. I got a bunch of good shells, they had the high quality target hulls, at the price of those 1 oz promotional loads....  |
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Post by jimiowa on May 30, 2009 13:33:04 GMT -5
Did you ever wonder why Trap & skeet loads were always low brass and cosistanly do the job ar reasoable target ranges?
If the trap & skeet shooters can consistantly center and break their target why do we need high output loads to take game?
An apropriate shot size in a target load should do the job.
I think in many ways it's all mental, that said if it makes you more confident use the mag loads.
I know for Rabbits" I have blown too many all to hell" and don't like heavy loads for them.
I will use High brass for pheasant because I don't hunt over a dog and late in the season they get up 25 yds ahead of me so I'm stretching the range.
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bounce
Royal Member
Posts: 5,727
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Post by bounce on May 30, 2009 14:16:31 GMT -5
How about the no brass shells are they less than low brass? ......smiles Far as I know brass in modern hunting means nothing back in the 50's and before it did but not anymore today you must read the lable.
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