Bertram Brass Quality?

[PCC600]

There are too many independent negative reports out there for me to deny that they certainly had some issues with quality control in the past.

That said, I’ve personally found both their .425 Westley Richards and .600 Nitro Express brass to be quite excellent.

Me too .

 

[CBH Australia]

I think the negative comments come from years ago.
I have 100 x 6.5 Beanmore cases by Bertram Brass in the cupboard for later so I hope they are ok.

 

[PCC600]

I'm not sure how big the operation is but I don't think it is all that big.

My mate has been there and was telling me that Bertram Brass did some military contract developmental stuff years ago and in part it's what set Bertram up. The development stuff and the concept was dropped as Defence do and the rest is history.

ADI is an Aussie based company owned by Thales International. ADI make brass and produce bulk ammo for an Australian distributor. Another Australian company NIOA bought it Barrett so there are some connections here for military contracts.

Nightforce set up an approved/templated range on a remote property for military contractors to be able to test equipment on an approved range in Australia without going overseas.

Worth noting ADI here in Australia also make the Hodgdon brand powders sold in the USA .
NIOA from Brisbane are doing very well with their U.S. investments .

 

[PCC600]

I've never actually had a problem with them either, in .450 no.2, and .600, going back ages, but I still agree with the muzzleloader thing, if only due to what you get for the insane price. When I looked at and held my first Jamison .450 case, I remember having felt cheated all my life. I've never used Bertram in .500 3", I loaded up on Jamison's for that. Only wish I had done the same for .577, not for NE, but BPE in both that and the .500. I went BPE crazy years ago when age started kicking my arse and I got slower, and those pressures don't stress brass, but if I were Bob, I'd feel the same and they would have heard from me as well. No reason that should have happened if annealed.

I suspect I buy my brass in Australia for less than what people pay overseas . And I have much better availability . Worth noting Bertram also make bullets . I just purchased a few hundred 425WR and 505 Gibbs all RNSN . I’m more than happy to use them . Not as good as Woodleighs but certainly perfectly acceptable to me .

 

[Tintin]

NIOA from Brisbane are doing very well with their U.S. investments .

Including their ownership of Barrett Firearms.

 

[BlueFlyer]

If you anneal Bertram Brass before every reload it is perfectly OK.
I have also had some average Winchester & Remington brass.
The base metal is no where as good as Norma, Norma is the best brass I have used.

 

[CBH Australia]

Worth noting ADI here in Australia also make the Hodgdon brand powders sold in the USA .
NIOA from Brisbane are doing very well with their U.S. investments .

Agreed,

If only Woodleigh had the capacity to produce more products they could do a great service to the world of big bore shooters and double rifle enthusiasts.

Unfortunately those family businesses are not big companies.

There are a few people making copper projectiles in Australia.

Outer Edge, Atomic 29 and another named Rexem that I’ve seen on YouTube. Rexem, that’s what it does.

Atomic 29 show great results

 

[CBH Australia]

Including their ownership of Barrett Firearms.

It would be nice to see the Barrett Fieldcraft available in Australia but it was already discontinued. I suspect they are focused on bigger contracts rather than hunting rifle models.

 

[mms45]

If you anneal Bertram Brass before every reload it is perfectly OK.
I have also had some average Winchester & Remington brass.
The base metal is no where as good as Norma, Norma is the best brass I have used.

i just bought my first bartam brass in 450 rigby... guess i need to get some annealing equipment not something i have ever done before.

 

[264]

A fieldcraft in a magnum cal would be awesome.
Bertram brass quality is good. A trip of the Bertram factory is well worth while.

 

[PCC600]

Including their ownership of Barrett Firearms.

And some other things too . Tipping a lot of money into the US. Also making a lot of 155mm artillery shells here . I think they are all going to Ukraine .

 

[PCC600]

Agreed,

If only Woodleigh had the capacity to produce more products they could do a great service to the world of big bore shooters and double rifle enthusiasts.

Unfortunately those family businesses are not big companies.

There are a few people making copper projectiles in Australia.

Outer Edge, Atomic 29 and another named Rexem that I’ve seen on YouTube. Rexem, that’s what it does.

Atomic 29 show great results

Woodleigh don’t make copper projectiles . The Hydrostats are made by another guy and just marketed by Woodleigh . I recall all the details are in the Woodleigh reloading book .

 

[PCC600]

i just bought my first bartam brass in 450 rigby... guess i need to get some annealing equipment not something i have ever done before.

I don’t anneal my brass . Not had any problems to date . But agree after a lot of use it is worthwhile. Annealing not that difficult to do .

 

[Tintin]

i just bought my first Berrtam brass in 450 Rigby... guess i need to get some annealing equipment not something i have ever done before.

I just use a cordless driill, with a cheap deep socket set and a propane torch to anneal. I'm no guru, but it seems to work fine and I've had excellent longevity from Bertam brass.

I've never used the Tempilstik Heat Crayons, or the like, that is sometimes recomended.

I've been to the Bertram factory many times and have seen them anneal ing their cases.

As @264 said, the factory is well worth a visit if you're nearby.

 

[CBH Australia]

Co

Woodleigh don’t make copper projectiles . The Hydrostats are made by another guy and just marketed by Woodleigh . I recall all the details are in the Woodleigh reloading book

Correct, the Hydro’s look more like a brass alloy to me.


I listed the 3 I can remember and I think there might be another brand that I don’t remember the name of.