Smaller shot needs less charge than larger/heavy shot so it would have low brass. To put it simply, the higher the brass, the stronger the recoil. ... High brass indicates a high amount of charge and heavy shot.

Steven, You will hear the terms “high brass” and “low brass” when discussing shotgun shells. ... Smaller shot needs less charge than larger/heavy shot so it would have low brass. Heavier shot, buckshot and slugs needs a larger charge thus high brass. Read the shell box. It should give you all the information needed.

to add, high brass functions better than low brass especially in semi autos, but some pumps as well.

There\'s really no difference between high brass or low brass shells. High brass and low brass are a legacy of the old paper shells. The the high brass prevented the larger powder load from burning through the paper. Today, low brass is really just to differentiate the shell as less powerful than a high brass shell but some low brass is as powerful as the high brass shells you should look at the velocity and shot weight ie 1oz at 1250 fps

Steven, high brass refers to a higher brass base for more powder (higher velocity) than low brass shotgun shells. Picture example here : -- rem870.com/2016/01/25/shotgun-shells-explained-types-of-ammo-birdshot-buckshot-slugs/