I just sorted 200 LC 223 Match brass by year. I have another 500 pcs on the way, although I don't think it's Match brass.

I plan to full-length size, trim to uniform length, chamfer, ream primer pockets, and once fired in my gun, just neck-size for future reloading.

1) Is there any measurable performance advantage to sorting the Match brass by year?

2) Should I sort the non-Match brass by year?

3) Is it a better strategy to just sort them all by weight after totally prepared?

This is for a Savage 12BVSS for benchrest shooting at 100 to 300 yards.

Thank you !

Afew years back I was given a joint compound bucket full of LC 5.56. I did sort by year to inspect and thought it a good idea. If I had the same situation occur today I might just sort by weight!

#1, Though to tell if brass is the cause of flyers or wider groups...

#2, While I did... I still am not certain it matters that much.

#3, Now you have the picture. If all the outer dimensions are the same, then weight becomes a factor.

I sort Lake City brass by year, but that's more of a psychological thing. We have no idea how many different machines the LC plant uses each year to form the brass, so it's not quite the same as a lot number for commercial brass. Sort by year just to avoid the nagging thoughts in the back of your mind and then sort by weight if so inclined. I know several very successful high power competitors that used the reprocessed brass from River Valley Ordinance Works without sorting at all.