November 7, 2015

Seems if it’s one of the “cowboy” cartridges you have more choices and they are likely to be loaded to more moderate velocities. I’m actually not qualified to answer this question; I’ll spend $200-300 getting set up to cast & load to avoid buying a few $30 boxes of ammo. May want to add CCI to your list, tho.
Blueliner,
I am sure there are deeper answers than what I will provide, but I will chip in a personal observation and opinion. I have not seen Federal load any of the less common cartridges such as the .38-55, .25-35, .25-20. The only brands I have seen available over the many years have been alternately Winchester and Remington, with Remington seemingly limited of latter years to the .25-20, and so on. Neither Winchester nor Remington makes any of these types of cartridges on a consistent basis. Often there is only one manufacturer with any ammo on the shelves at a given point in time. Thus the question, if you are buying factory ammo, is more along the lines of “which can I find available”. Like TxGunNut, I tend to reload as I control the final product, etc. Thus the limiting factor for me is the availability of brass.
Within the U. S. manufacturers, all subscribe to the SAAMI specifications for loaded ammunition. Now, if you are shooting for bench rest level accuracy, batches of loadings tend to be more consistent from one time to another, etc. I doubt that will enter the equation for the calibers I think we are discussing. I might mention, if you are after .405 Winchester, then look to Hornady. .45-70, I think, is loaded by all the big names and what one person praises another will cuss. Personally, since Winchester made the rifles and have the original specifications, if available I would suggest Winchester-Western as the perhaps better source when they make a run of a given caliber. I suspect they and others will get around to a new run of the less common calibers one of these days as the supplies of the more popular calibers begin to catch up with demand. But I doubt you will have much choice–more like take what is out on the shelves/in the dealers.
Tim
Thank you for the insight, Tim.
I’m not sure what the tolerance levels SAAMI has, but to get to my question/point, I revert to the process control W. Edward Deming championed in his operational statistical control in manufacturing. Consistent quality by measurement.
I have noticed Larry Potterfield, MidwayUSA uses a lot of the language in Deming’s philosophy of quality and measurement, and his company has won awards for that.
From the process and management, I was trying to find what ammunition manufacturers use the tightest controls for consistency , thus a polling of available WACA members with a lot of shooting experience. It’s really not just the smaller rounds, it’s all rounds. Usually the larger, more sophisticated makers ( not counting you reloaders that work so precisely ! ) will have the best, most efficient equipment.
I’m sure there are a lot of differing answers to this question, and even more specific to the rifle & round.
Bill
November 7, 2015

With the rifle cartridges you mention I’d take a hard look at Hornady ammo. I like their brass very much for the price point (and above) and I’ve been a fan of their rifle bullets for quite some time. I’m not a fan of the LeverRevolution ammo but it’s very good ammo for most of the rifles it’s intended for. In my limited experience it’s just a bit hotter than I like or need.
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