Lesson Learned-------Odd 223 Brass

[CoalTrain49]

I'm considered low class in some circles and it has nothing to do with my brass

We are in times of plenty now and my inventory is full, particularly with once fired .223 and .308 brass. The only thing I'm scrounging for at the range now is .45 ACP

That 45 ACP is hard to come by at my range also. I think everyone that shoots a 45 reloads, or it appears that way. I'm saved by my shooting partner that gives me all of his brass. I sold him a Sig P220 just so he would shoot more 45 ACP.

Low class enough for you?

 

[lightman]

Well, thats pretty low! I like the strategy though!

 

[Blue68f100]

Some times you can change primer mfg and get a tighter fit, not all run the same size. For the loose one, I use CCI #41's. The Rem 7 1/2 run slightly smaller and the 41's fits tight enough for a few more cycles before they go into the scrap bucket.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

All I see at the public range is 9mm, 40 S&W and some .380 Auto. I don't see any rifle brass to speak of. Once and a while I see some .223 but not often.

 

[FROGO207]

I have also loaded a metric butt load of mixed brass 223 multiple times and never have had the problems of the OP. I have had tight or crimped primer pockets but none so loose after the initial firing I could not get more than one reload out of them. BUT I am not trying to shoot 1000YDS either. For 300YDS a regular load and mixed brass shoots the same for me in my bolt rifle as when I sort brass by head stamp and weigh the bullets. So now I do not bother go overboard on loading tricks. Granted the better the bullet the better the group but along with that comes a higher cost per round. You have to decide where you want each round to be performance wise.

 

[Demi-human]

I have also loaded a metric butt load of mixed brass 223.

I use standard buttloads as I am already measuring in inches.

 

[FROGO207]

I am inherently lazy and using the metric system eliminates calculating in fractions of inches. Why I still use grains is an even bigger mystery.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I am inherently lazy and using the metric system eliminates calculating in fractions of inches. Why I still use grains is an even bigger mystery.

The world would be a better place if everyone was on the metric system.

If you ever worked in any engineering field you would understand in about 3.0045 seconds.

 

[GBExpat]

I can recall when it was announced from the White House in the late '70s that the US was going to begin its transition to Metric. Seems to me that the ETA of Metric as Primary was about a decade, or so ... like ~1990.

KPH was added to speedometers & Interstate speed limit signage ... among other things ...

... and then, after about a decade ... the Metrics push had evaporated.

 

[Demi-human]

There's a reason it's called standard. It's because the rest of the world is wrong.

 

[ACES&8S]

I've got a Prairie Dog hunt coming up and we will be shooting out of ATV's so there is a possibility of loosing some brass. I decided to prep a bunch of my odd ball commercial and military cases for the trip. I resized them, trimmed them, deburred the flash hole and uniformed the primer pockets. I also swadged any primer crimps. When I started priming them there was so much difference in the pressure required to seat the primer that I just junked the whole mess! Its not worth etching a bolt face trying to save a few dollars on brass. I know better, good 223 brass is so plentiful and cheap its not worth messing with odd stuff. Just venting, I'm better now!

Lots of us have had to do that.

 

[Toprudder]

There's a reason it's called standard. It's because the rest of the world is wrong.

I will apologize right now, but I just could not resist.

 

[Kaldor]

Swaging multiple headstamps at one time without adjusting for case head thickness will cause issues like this. As all my blaster brass is just random crap, (you name it, I probably have it, its like Heinz 57 in that bin) much in the way the OP's is, I just cut the crimps out with a RCBS crimp cutter. Its stupid proof, which is perfect for me.

I generally see primer pockets start to loosen up at about 5-6 reloads with 223. At that point I mark the brass with a red Sharpie for recycling as I load, culling that stuff after I fire it.

 

[Toprudder]

When I was using the Dillon swager with the swaging rod adjusted so that it would cam-over, adjusting for each headstamp was necessary, but when I adjusted the rod longer, so that it would stop well before it would cam-over, and just going by feel (pressure) I had pretty good luck swaging mixed headstamps without changing adjustments.

 

[WVRJ]

Over the years,the number of companies that make 223 ammo has increased several times over.Bulk ammo at bargain prices is a lot of trouble when it comes to reloading.I still get range brass from time to time,and can sort it by headstamp and get along great.There are some types of brass that are just plain raunchy.I like accurate reloads,and nasty brass can take away from that,and maybe be a safety hazard.Bargain basement brass can be loaded,but in my experience,it needs to be closely screened.Primer crimp,primer pocket/flash hole consistency,thickness,neck dimensions all need to be considered.An old friend of mine used to say "you can't make apple butter out of horse poop".This is true for some of the brass that's out there nowadays.

 

[greyling22]

I'm considered low class in some circles and it has nothing to do with my brass

We are in times of plenty now and my inventory is full, particularly with once fired .223 and .308 brass. The only thing I'm scrounging for at the range now is .45 ACP

I picking up 45 now myself, and it's driving me nuts that there are 2 sizes of primer cases.

 

[Dudedog]

The flash holes were off centered

I have seen in in GFL .223, far enough off to mess up a decap pin if your not careful.
Common issue with GFL brass from what I have seen/heard.

I sort it out but haven't ran any to any other flavors (that are brass with boxer primers)
that put in the recycle can right away.