Over the years, I've noticed the differences in a lot of brass.
In the interests of accuracy, I've never mixed different headstamps,
and also tried to end up with good, quality stuff.
Accumulating brass for the .308, I noticed with Federal,
there were two distinct size of headstamp lettering in the brass that I was using.
I used to segregate the large from the small, just to keep like with like.
I never reloaded any of the surplus stuff I used for practice.
My two loads were differentiated with using Lapua and Federal.
I found the Federal pretty soft, and primer pockets expanding.
The Lapua are excellent uniform quality.
Also, in .22Hornet, just acquired a 100 of RWS cases,
again coming with a good reputation, and heaviest of all the cartridges that I've been using,
i.e. RP, WW, Prvi, S&B, Frontier
In the .222, after using mostly RP and PMC, I've purchased a 100 Lapua Match cases.
They weigh more than the other brass that I've had to compare with,
and I noticed when FL sizing the new cases, how tight the expander ball was on extraction,
with their thicker neck. (by a thou, each side, I think.)
I've also accumulated a 100 Sako cases of various usage and age.
They have a good reputation as well, and have less powder capacity than say RP and PMC.
I've also noticed two size lettering in the headstamp,
and strangely of all, I have a half dozen with what appear to be stamped flash holes, with red coloring around the pocket, much as you would see a glued/crimped military round
rather than the supposedly drilled holes that I have been lead to believe is the norm with Sako, Norma and RWS.
Quality European brass.
It's possible, I suppose, that at some time, manufacture has been contracted out elsewhere ?
Have a look at the pic below, and you will see the difference in lettering and flash hole,
and the bit of red around the pocket.
(One pic with light, the other without. Not sure which one shows up best !)
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cheers,
SS