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Top 5 Military Surplus Once-Fired Hand-Sorted Brass in Canada for 2025 - Best 7.62x51, 7.62x39 and 5.56 NATO Picks

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Military surplus once-fired brass hand sorted by headstamp and condition is a popular category among Canadian reloaders, collectors, and precision shooters. These lots typically include calibers like 7.62x51, 7.62x39, and 5.56 NATO and are inspected for corrosion, primer type, and dimensional consistency before resale. Consumers choose hand-sorted military brass because it offers cost savings versus new factory brass, consistent case geometry when sorted by headstamp and condition, and durable cartridge alloys that often withstand multiple reloading cycles. In Canada the market favors suppliers who clearly identify primer type (Boxer versus Berdan), headstamp origin, and degrees of wear or pitting. Hand sorting reduces mixing of different headstamps and primer types, which simplifies sizing, loading, and quality control for hobbyists and small-scale reloaders.

Quick Menu

1. Best Overall 7.62x51

2. Best Budget 5.56

3. Best Hand-Sorted .308

4. Best Eastern Bloc 7.62x39

5. Best Mixed-Headstamp Value

1
BEST OVERALL 7.62X51

Dominion Arms Once Fired 7.62x51 NATO Brass

Dominion Arms
🏠 Local Product

Dominion Arms Once Fired 7.62x51 NATO Brass is best-in-class for .308/7.62x51 reloaders thanks to consistent headstamp profiles and conservative hand-sorting that favors uniform weight and neck condition. Compared with Ellwood Epps' premium sorted .308 Winchester offering, Dominion Arms delivers similar technical consistency at a lower per-case price and outperforms the 7.62x39 options on this list for caliber-specific compatibility.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Mil-spec consistency

  • Reloads like butter

  • Mil-spec consistency

  • Reloads like butter

Review Summary

88%

"Buyers say Dominion Arms' once-fired 7.62x51 NATO brass is consistently good quality and largely uniform, making it a reliable value for reloaders; some report occasional primer crimp or minor dents but few catastrophic defects. Overall customers appreciate the balance of price and consistency for military-spec .308 reloading."

  • Rifle-ready sparkle

  • Once-fired 7.62x51 NATO military surplus brass suitable for reloading.

  • Rifle-ready sparkle

  • Once-fired 7.62x51 NATO military surplus brass suitable for reloading.

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Dominion Arms Once Fired 7.62x51 NATO Brass is best-in-class for .308/7.62x51 reloaders thanks to consistent headstamp profiles and conservative hand-sorting that favors uniform weight and neck condition. Compared with Ellwood Epps' premium sorted .308 Winchester offering, Dominion Arms delivers similar technical consistency at a lower per-case price and outperforms the 7.62x39 options on this list for caliber-specific compatibility.

  • Mil-spec consistency

  • Reloads like butter

  • Rifle-ready sparkle

  • Once-fired 7.62x51 NATO military surplus brass suitable for reloading.

  • Good consistency with minimal pitting when hand-inspected and sorted.

  • Mil-spec consistency

  • Reloads like butter

  • Rifle-ready sparkle

  • Once-fired 7.62x51 NATO military surplus brass suitable for reloading.

  • Good consistency with minimal pitting when hand-inspected and sorted.

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$120-180 CAD

2
BEST BUDGET 5.56

Prophet River 5.56x45 NATO Once Fired Brass

Prophet River
🏠 Local Product

Prophet River 5.56x45 NATO Once Fired Brass is the market leader for 5.56 reloaders because its hand-sorted lots focus on primer pocket and neck integrity while striking a balance between quality and competitive pricing. It provides a noticeably more uniform lot than Tenda Canada's mixed headstamp packs and represents a price/quality midpoint between budget mixed lots and premium single-headstamp suppliers.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Neck uniformity

  • Smooth resizing

  • Neck uniformity

  • Smooth resizing

Review Summary

82%

"Prophet River's 5.56x45 NATO once-fired brass is popular for bulk reloading — reviewers note decent case life and common headstamp variety, though it often arrives mixed and may require cleaning and sorting. Many consider it a good low-cost option but not as pristine as new or carefully sorted brass."

  • Northern polish

  • Once-fired 5.56x45 NATO surplus brass offering an economical bulk option.

  • Northern polish

  • Once-fired 5.56x45 NATO surplus brass offering an economical bulk option.

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Prophet River 5.56x45 NATO Once Fired Brass is the market leader for 5.56 reloaders because its hand-sorted lots focus on primer pocket and neck integrity while striking a balance between quality and competitive pricing. It provides a noticeably more uniform lot than Tenda Canada's mixed headstamp packs and represents a price/quality midpoint between budget mixed lots and premium single-headstamp suppliers.

  • Neck uniformity

  • Smooth resizing

  • Northern polish

  • Once-fired 5.56x45 NATO surplus brass offering an economical bulk option.

  • Mixed headstamps make it a cost-effective choice for practice and high-volume shooting.

  • Neck uniformity

  • Smooth resizing

  • Northern polish

  • Once-fired 5.56x45 NATO surplus brass offering an economical bulk option.

  • Mixed headstamps make it a cost-effective choice for practice and high-volume shooting.

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$50-90 CAD

3
BEST HAND-SORTED .308

Ellwood Epps Sorted .308 Winchester Military Brass

Ellwood Epps

Ellwood Epps Sorted .308 Winchester Military Brass occupies the premium niche by emphasizing meticulous hand sorting and tighter tolerances for reloaders who prioritize uniformity over cost. Compared with Dominion Arms, Ellwood's product typically commands a higher price but can reduce resizing and trimming time and deliver the extra consistency match-minded shooters need.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Premium sorting

  • Consistent weights

  • Premium sorting

  • Consistent weights

Review Summary

92%

"Ellwood Epps' sorted .308 Winchester military brass is widely praised for careful sorting and higher-than-average quality control, with reviewers reporting very few out-of-spec cases and minimal prep work. Users willing to pay a premium like that it saves time and reduces surprises during long reloading sessions."

  • Hand-picked charm

  • Hand-sorted .308 Winchester military brass prioritized for uniform weight and dimensional consistency.

  • Hand-picked charm

  • Hand-sorted .308 Winchester military brass prioritized for uniform weight and dimensional consistency.

Skill Development & Mastery

Time-Saving Convenience

Ellwood Epps Sorted .308 Winchester Military Brass occupies the premium niche by emphasizing meticulous hand sorting and tighter tolerances for reloaders who prioritize uniformity over cost. Compared with Dominion Arms, Ellwood's product typically commands a higher price but can reduce resizing and trimming time and deliver the extra consistency match-minded shooters need.

  • Premium sorting

  • Consistent weights

  • Hand-picked charm

  • Hand-sorted .308 Winchester military brass prioritized for uniform weight and dimensional consistency.

  • Higher-quality selection reduces prep work like trimming and case-weight sorting for precision reloaders.

  • Premium sorting

  • Consistent weights

  • Hand-picked charm

  • Hand-sorted .308 Winchester military brass prioritized for uniform weight and dimensional consistency.

  • Higher-quality selection reduces prep work like trimming and case-weight sorting for precision reloaders.

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$150-230 CAD

4
BEST EASTERN BLOC 7.62X39

Reliable Gun Vancouver 7.62x39 Once Fired Cases

Reliable Gun Vancouver
🏠 Local Product

Reliable Gun Vancouver 7.62x39 Once Fired Cases are the go-to choice for AK/7.62x39 reloaders, offering economically priced, hand-sorted brass that weeds out common defects and maximizes usable yield. Unlike the NATO-centered offerings on this list, these cases are a specialty caliber that gives AK owners better value per case, though they are not interchangeable with .308 or 5.56 components for technical reloading needs.

3.9
★★★☆☆

  • Unique headstamps

  • Chamber-ready fit

  • Unique headstamps

  • Chamber-ready fit

Review Summary

78%

"Reliable Gun Vancouver's 7.62x39 once-fired cases are viewed as an affordable source of brass with generally usable cases, though reviews frequently mention mixed condition, occasional dents, and the need for trimming or depriming. Customers appreciate the price and availability but warn to expect more prep work than premium-sorted offerings."

  • West-coast grit

  • Once-fired 7.62x39 cases sourced from military surplus, suitable for SKS and AK platform reloading.

  • West-coast grit

  • Once-fired 7.62x39 cases sourced from military surplus, suitable for SKS and AK platform reloading.

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Reliable Gun Vancouver 7.62x39 Once Fired Cases are the go-to choice for AK/7.62x39 reloaders, offering economically priced, hand-sorted brass that weeds out common defects and maximizes usable yield. Unlike the NATO-centered offerings on this list, these cases are a specialty caliber that gives AK owners better value per case, though they are not interchangeable with .308 or 5.56 components for technical reloading needs.

  • Unique headstamps

  • Chamber-ready fit

  • West-coast grit

  • Once-fired 7.62x39 cases sourced from military surplus, suitable for SKS and AK platform reloading.

  • Often includes a variety of Eastern Bloc headstamps and offers good value per case.

  • Unique headstamps

  • Chamber-ready fit

  • West-coast grit

  • Once-fired 7.62x39 cases sourced from military surplus, suitable for SKS and AK platform reloading.

  • Often includes a variety of Eastern Bloc headstamps and offers good value per case.

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$80-140 CAD

5
BEST MIXED-HEADSTAMP VALUE

Tenda Canada Mixed Headstamp 5.56 NATO Brass

Tenda Canada
🏠 Local Product

Tenda Canada Mixed Headstamp 5.56 NATO Brass is the budget-focused option, supplying large mixed-headstamp lots that minimize cost per case for high-volume reloaders and informal shooters. While less uniform than Prophet River's single-origin sorted brass and requiring more initial sorting, its clear price advantage makes it ideal when quantity and savings outweigh the need for the tightest dimensional consistency.

3.8
★★★☆☆

  • Collector variety

  • Bulk savings

  • Collector variety

  • Bulk savings

Review Summary

75%

"Tenda Canada's mixed headstamp 5.56 NATO brass is considered a budget-friendly bulk option with typical surplus issues — varied headstamps, dirt, and occasional damaged cases — and most buyers say it performs well after cleaning and sorting. Reviewers value the low price but note it requires more prep than matched, new brass."

  • Headstamp party

  • Mixed-headstamp 5.56 NATO brass that delivers strong value for general reloading and practice.

  • Headstamp party

  • Mixed-headstamp 5.56 NATO brass that delivers strong value for general reloading and practice.

Eco-Friendly Living

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

Tenda Canada Mixed Headstamp 5.56 NATO Brass is the budget-focused option, supplying large mixed-headstamp lots that minimize cost per case for high-volume reloaders and informal shooters. While less uniform than Prophet River's single-origin sorted brass and requiring more initial sorting, its clear price advantage makes it ideal when quantity and savings outweigh the need for the tightest dimensional consistency.

  • Collector variety

  • Bulk savings

  • Headstamp party

  • Mixed-headstamp 5.56 NATO brass that delivers strong value for general reloading and practice.

  • Varied headstamps mean case lengths and primer pocket conditions can differ and benefit from sorting.

  • Collector variety

  • Bulk savings

  • Headstamp party

  • Mixed-headstamp 5.56 NATO brass that delivers strong value for general reloading and practice.

  • Varied headstamps mean case lengths and primer pocket conditions can differ and benefit from sorting.

Order Now

$40-80 CAD

What research and testing say about once-fired military brass

Laboratory testing and industry bench work support the benefits of using well-sorted once-fired military brass for reloading. Key findings focus on brass metallurgy, dimensional consistency, and the impact of primer type and corrosion on safety and case life. For beginner reloaders, understanding the underlying material properties and basic testing approaches helps you choose and prepare brass more safely and predictably.

Alloy and durability: Cartridge brass used in military cases is typically a copper-zinc alloy (often near 70/30 copper to zinc). This alloy balances ductility and strength, allowing repeated resizing when cases are in good condition.

Dimensional consistency: Independent pressure and chamber-fit testing shows that brass sorted by headstamp and condition produces more uniform neck tension and seating depths, which helps accuracy and reduces pressure variance across loads.

Corrosion and primer integrity: Visual inspection and media cleaning reduce the risk of hidden pitting and primer pocket fouling. Cases with visible corrosion or degraded primer pockets have shorter useful life and higher risk during reloading.

Primer type matters: Many military cases are Berdan-primed and require specialized tools or conversion for reloading. Boxer-primed military brass is preferred by most Canadian reloaders because it is straightforward to decap and reload.

Annealing and case life: Controlled annealing and avoiding excessive work hardening increase the number of safe reloads per case. Bench testing by reloading communities confirms that sorted, lightly worn military brass can provide reliable service for multiple cycles when inspected and, if needed, annealed.

In the Canadian market for 2025, military surplus once-fired brass remains a cost-effective and sustainable option for reloaders and collectors. The five top picks covered here include Dominion Arms Once Fired 7.62x51 NATO Brass, Prophet River 5.56x45 NATO Once Fired Brass, Ellwood Epps Sorted .308 Winchester Military Brass, Reliable Gun Vancouver 7.62x39 Once Fired Cases, and Tenda Canada Mixed Headstamp 5.56 NATO Brass. Among these, Dominion Arms Once Fired 7.62x51 NATO Brass stands out as the best choice for most reloaders seeking a balance of availability, consistent headstamps, and overall quality. I hope you found what you were looking for; you can refine or expand your search using the site search to filter by primer type, headstamp, caliber, or condition.

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