As I was setting up to load some test loads for a new to me .223 T/C barrel, I got to wondering if anyone had any opinions on pros or cons of the use of military brass for building accuracy loads. Is it better, worse, or no different than commercial brass? I have an abundance of both which over the years I have "collected". I know you have to drop the powder charges on the military brass due to case capacity, but not many other differences. If you had both which would you use in search of the elusive "One Hole" group? Thanks, Mike

mbk, Most of my .223 brass is military brass and, if properly prepared, I can tell no difference between it and most commercial brass. I neck turn all brass for my .223 (just enough to get the 'high spots') and deburr the flashholes. You might want to weigh your brass and compare brands. I've found Lake City brass often is lighter than commercial brass and required no reduction of loads. ED

Some of my best shots were with 223 military brass and both a 14" and 20" T/C contender,
My favorite load was 26.5gr of W748, cci standard primer and a speer 52gr hp flatbased bullet

I no longer have those bbls or the brass and everytime I think of it I regret ever getting rid of them.
OH Well hopefully there will be others just as good.

Wes

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I was going to ask in the lead topic but forgot. I recognize all of the headstamps I have except the "T W" (which I seem have the most of). Anyone know who made it? It is also for the most part stamped "7 3" - year of manufacture? Thanks again, Mike

Twin Cities Ordnance Plant. 73 is the year of manufacture.

I have a bunch of Lake City .223 brass. Contrary to what I've read, this brass has MORE case capacity than the 50 or so commercial cases I have. My 308 brass follows the normal rule, with the mil brass having less case capacity than the commercial.

It's easy enough to check. Just fill one type of case to the top with powder, and dump it into the other type. You'll quickly know which one has more capacity.

I THINK the "GI brass is heavier" (smaller capacity) goes back to 30-06 and 308. I don't THINK it holds true with .223 brass.

Check out [URL=http://www.compasslake.com]www.compasslake.com go to break in inst.He has a couple of thoughts on the matter.I quit using military brass a few years ago,got tired of dealing with swaged primer pockets and internal cracks,switched to winchester brass, have no regrets. Rob.

[This message has been edited by claybuster (edited 05-22-2002).]

[This message has been edited by claybuster (edited 05-22-2002).]

I got all worked up this winter(cabin fever)and wanted to work up a mess of 223 for when the snow went away and the diggers came out. I spent 50 bucks on a 1000 LC cases from one of the sites. It arrived all shiny and bright and I seperated it into case years. Jack, I was in hog heaven. Haven't had that much brass of opne caliber since the days.

First thing I noticed after stacking up a block full and breaking out the mike was the numbers jumped around like me when I make a real long shot. The sizing wasn't the least bit uniform. I ran the whole block thru the rifle chamber and some fit tighter than others. I ended up resizing that bunch and the difference in sizes was very appearant. They were advertized as once fired, sized, trimmed, polished and ready to fire. NOT.

I did load up the block with 27g/W748,WSR, moly 55 Sie SP at various seating depths. It shot 1.25 to 1.75 5 shot groups. I did find some splits in the bodys and the necks in more of those 50 than I've had in a whole lot of years with a bunch of weapons.

I don't know for sure if the inaccuracy was due to the brass or to the rifle but the brass has been stuffed back in a far corner of the room and the rifle went back to the factory. I will think about that stuff now and then but I'm not sure whether I will use it or buy any more military brass.

Lots of people use it and find it OK. I have a NEF 223 coming and after I establish it's accuracy I may try another batch of the LC99 to give it another chance. It definitely went through a bunch of different rifle chambers and I think it was "roll sized" what ever that means. The 50 bucks included shipping so it is about half what Rem or Win commercial is. Not sure if that is good economics or not. Time will tell.

Makatak

Have a buddy that has obtained some .223 military brass. He has a 55 gal barrel half full. It all appears to be shiny. He gave me a nice sack full, says it is about a 1000. I haven't checked all the headstamps yet.

Both my shooting buds use "pickups" off the range. Nonetheless, they spend serious money on bullets.

There's only one way to get accurate ammo. You need to use uniform brass. Uniform brass is all fired the same number of times, annealed necks at the same number of firings, all trimmed OAL the same length . . .

I neck turn my brass -- one of the better investments I've made so far. (That and a chronograph.)

I'd suggest buying some new brass. I like Winchester, and so do a lot of shooters in here. Purchase a large quantity -- like a 1000 or so -- and get it all cleaned up. Deburr the flash-holes, uniform the pockets, neck turn, trim to length, polish the mouths.

THEN . . .

Don't be hesitant to toss the "bad stuff" in the bone pile. When it gets trimmed too short, nicked, dented, bent, scratched, whatever. Toss it.

Lots of discussion online about reloading. Everyone agrees that getting the variation out of your brass is key to accuracy. Varmint Al is a good place to start reading about brass prep:

http://www.cctrap.com/~varmint/arelo.htm

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