Low Brass vs High Brass: What's the Difference?
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to cover low brass and high brass
ammo today.
Ammunition of both types is fairly present on the market, prompting questions from shooters. Today we are going to delve into their differences, traits, and other considerations. Now, let’s go over low brass and high brass
ammo.
What Ammo Do These Classifications Apply To?
The terms low brass and high brass are used to refer to
shotgun ammunition. The term is not applicable to
handgun,
rifle, or
rimfire ammo.
Ammunition of this type is observable in the form of
12 gauge,
20 gauge,
28 gauge, and
.410 bore shotgun ammo offerings.
Low Brass vs High Brass
These two types of shotshells can easily be discerned from one another with at a glance. Shooters will also interchangeably use the terms “low base” and “high base” when referring to shotgun brass heights. These terms are fully interchangeable with the terms low brass and high brass.
Like the name suggests, low brass loadings feature a lower, shorter brass base. Conversely, high brass loadings feature a distinct tall brass base. Additionally, some companies will go as far as to mark
ammunition boxes and containers with information regarding the brass height of a round. For example, some loadings will specifically reference the fact that they are high brass to distinguish themselves from low brass offerings.
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Does the Brass Height Actually Indicate the Potency of a Loading?
Historically, the brass height of a shotshell served as an indicator of the potency of the loading. Practical knowledge for many years was that high brass loadings were much more potent than their low brass counterparts. Additionally, high brass bases were historically utilized to make shotshells more robust before the advent of plastic hulls. Higher brass allowed for hotter loadings to be produced while still maintaining structural integrity.
Nowadays, modern loadings in both low and high brass varieties are both available in potent forms. Today, shooters can find low brass loadings which are more potent than their high brass counterparts. Conversely, high brass loadings can be more potent than their low brass counterparts. Simply put, in today’s day and age, the height of brass on shotshells is not the clear indicator of potency it used to be.
Ammo Specifications are Still Key
At the end of the day, one should ultimately consider and focus on the specifications of their
shotgun ammunition over brass height. Factors such as shot size, velocity, dram equivalent, and shotshell length actually influence the performance of a shotshell as opposed to brass height. These factors and more should be at the forefront of one’s mind when considering
shotgun ammunition for their use cases. All in all, one should base their
shotgun ammo purchases off of the merits and capabilities of the cartridge rather than the height of the brass on the shotshell.
Some Shotguns Have Preferences
As with many firearms, shotguns can also have preferences when it comes to
ammunition. These preferences can come down to factors such as velocity and inertia, variables which often impact cycling. Additionally, the height of the brass on a shotshell can also play a role in reliable function in some models of shotguns.
Of course, break action shotguns such as double-barreled shotguns have few issues extracting or ejecting
ammunition in the first place. Potential issues with reliability and ammo preferences typically manifest in the case of semi-automatic and pump action shotguns. Action components such as extractors in these types of firearms may have issues fully engaging with certain brass heights. Some shotguns may run both low and high brass loads reliably while others struggle with one type or another.
To maximize reliability and performance, one should sample a variety of loadings in their shotgun of choice to determine which loadings are best for their use cases. By doing so, one can minimize future issues for failure once they have selected loadings that they have personally vetted. This process can be done easily by buying a single box of a variety of loadings to cast the widest net. Once an appropriate loading for your shotgun has been found, one can
buy bulk ammo quantities to stock up on what works.
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Who Produces Ammo of these Types?
Low brass and high brass shotshells are produced by a number of companies. These offerings are available in the form of individual box quantities and in the form of
bulk shotgun ammo quantities, often called “flats.” Companies such as
Winchester,
Aguila,
Nobel Sport,
Rio, and
Remington are among the producers of low and high brass
shotgun ammo. These companies and others such as
Federal produce a wide range of specialty loadings of this type in a variety of gauges and shotshell styles. These loadings are generally optimized for use cases such as hunting, competition, clay shooting, and defense.
Does Brass Height Impact Reloadability?
Shotshell reloaders can effectively reload both low brass and high brass hulls. The height of the brass on a shell will not hinder one’s reloading process or require special tooling. Simply put, a reloader can reload both low brass and high brass shotshells to their heart’s content.
Conclusion
And there we have it. Now we have gone though the difference between low brass and high brass shotshells. This distinction is not quite as important in this day and age as it used to be, but it still helps for shooters to understand the difference. If you are after
shotgun ammunition or wanting to
buy ammo of another type, we here at True Shot Academy have got you covered. From plinking
ammunition to defensive options and specialty loadings for the field, we have it in stock. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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