Have used 25-20SS and 32 Ideal RMC cases, the 25-20SS cases have been loaded with fixed at least 5-6 times with medium velocity (1500-1700fps) 60gr Jbullets in a Stevens M44 that has a poor bore and will not shoot cast bullets, they are still in like new condition with no Losses.
The 32 Ideal RMC bases have fired many fixed loads but of med/low velocity, not over 1400fps in my CPA sporter rifle. When I run them through the cleaner they look like new, have not lost a case in 3 to 5yrs of use.

The one thing I did notice is that the RMC 32 Ideal cases have about 3-5 grains less capacity than the original cases I have depending on the different brands I checked them against.

IMHO RMC is excellent quality brass and 1000+ times better than the "B" stuff,
MIKE-T

My experience has been the total opposite. The RMC cases are better dimensionally but dont hold up as well as the Bertram cases.  I've never had to resize a Bertram case. The RMC cases seem to have less spring back than the Bertrams and start sticking after about twenty five shots. Thats when breech seating. Might be a total different story when shooting fixed, the cases being resized for each reloading.   

               Joe.

Use RMC cases in 25-21, also I use everlasting 32-40 with small pistol primers.  I breech seat and have not had any problems.  I don't think I will ever wear out a 32-40 everlasting case.

There seem to be a few things going on here with turned cases... I'll lend my semi-educated opinion to the mix..

Cases turned from bar stock do NOT have the same mechanical properties as drawn cases. 

With turned cases, you do NOT size them, and you can NOT form them, without wrecking them.... If you neck them down to a smaller size, dang right they're going to split!  They don't, won't, can't, and never will have the same properties as drawn cases. No matter what the alloy.

If your cases need "sizing", then they don't fit YOUR chamber and will not work well.  Again, the mechanical properties of turned bar stock is not the same as for drawn cases.  If you blow-out-and-size-down the turned cases, they will fail.  Properly fit to the chamber so they do not expand past their elastic limit, they'll last forever.  Start sizing them, and they'll fail quickly.

Turned cases are not just a different way to make cases, they're a different sort of product with different mechanical properties in the material.


Paul F.

Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time I'd been wrong!
And being wrong in the cause of learning something is nothing to be ashamed of either. 

Perhaps it would have been more accurate for me to say that continued working of turned brass is not good?  The drawing and selective annealing also changes the grain structure vs as-delivered bar stock. The larger grain structure of bar stock is less elastic - but you've certainly pointed out that it can at least be formed once!

Anyway.. at the very least, turned brass is a different animal, and shouldn't be blanket criticized (or praised for that matter) over drawn brass.

Paul F.

I wished we both had a dollar for every time we were wrong.   

Something J Louis said makes sense to me. A chamber cast sent along with an order for turned cases. I had one near complete head separation with a 25/20 SS case because the cases were to small in the head area, or my chamber is to big. A chamber cast would be very good insurance. Also had a head separation in my sloppy chambered 38/55 with the turned cases. The turned cases just dont seem to have the elasticity and hardness in the head area. 
The gas leakage in my 38/55 cut a ring in my chamber. And that was using straight BP! 

              Joe.

I've made several machined cases for 30/40, 308 and 45/70. Mine were all made as reduced capacity cases for better load density. My most successful one was made of 304 stainless steel with a internal capacity of 1.9cc's. It had a .250 hole back to the primer area but the neck was reamed .3115 id and chamber size .340 od. It lasted for years but, gas finally got behind it and collapse the neck. There was no saving it but, I doubt if it ever could have had a head separation though. I also made a 30/40 out of bronze with a .3125 drilled straight chamber back to the primer pocket. It was 2.8cc's.  note here, you need to leave a thicker head area for machined cases. Most drawn cases have a head thickness of about .200, I made mine leaving  the head .250 behind the drill point. The head area is going to be softer and weaker than a drawn case, no matter what you do unless you use stronger materials like SS or aluminum bronze. The 45/70 I made with a .375 hole back to the primer. All but the 45/70's were made for small primers.

I would say that the biggest advantage of the machined case is that you can fix any head space issue you might have. I didn't find the "magic bullet" I was looking for in case capacity or primers ( I did have some success with the stainless case). But, I can stay one thing, That little stainless case saved a lot of powder!

One other thing, for those that would make them. The inside of the neck has to be very smooth. Do not just leave a drilled finish if you ever shoot it fixed. The bullet will grab the roughness and take the neck with it!

Joe, did you anneal your cases before reforming them?

Frank