Reloading Lake City Cases

[Savage30L]

I was moving some stuff around in the garage just now (trying to make room for more ammo) when I discovered 1000 rounds of surplus 30-06 Lake City ball ammo that I'd forgotten about, that I bought 20 or 30 years ago...looks like I'll make a lot more trips to the range this season. Has anyone here reloaded using Lake City cases? These were sold to me as Boxer, non-corrosive, so I assume I can re-use them. I haven't opened the bags yet so I don't have an empty case to look at.

Any caveats?

 

[Ironicaintit]

If there are any that pre-date 1950 or so (I can't recall the approximate cutoff date) they may have had corrosive primers.
Other than that, they're good cases. Or, I've had good luck with them.

 

[Laphroaig]

They have crimped primers so you will have to deal with that before you reload them. Many ways to do that, swaging is best IMO.

It's good tough brass.

 

[Savage30L]

I don't think that these are pre-1950. They are still pretty bright with no patina.

Thanks for the heads-up about the crimped primers. I'll watch out for those.

 

[Laphroaig]

The year of manufacture is on the headstamp. LC-69 and LC-72 have been the most recent years that I've seen.

 

[Savage30L]

The year of manufacture is on the headstamp. LC-69 and LC-72 have been the most recent years that I've seen.

Thanks. I like your handle.

I looked and the date is indeed on there...71. However, though I thought that this was Lake City, the identifier is "F N", meaning Fabrique Nationale....so it will be non-corrosive, but maybe Berdan. So I'll have to shoot one and look closely.

I didn't get any ballistic data with these loads. I thought they might have been Garrand-pressured, but if Belgian, they might be hotter. Good for practice, at least.

 

[lightman]

A quick Google search shows that you are correct. It looks like FN went to non-corrosive after 1957 however they are probably Berdan primed. And they may be loaded hotter than whats good for your Garand.

 

[Savage30L]

A quick Google search shows that you are correct. It looks like FN went to non-corrosive after 1957 however they are probably Berdan primed. And they may be loaded hotter than whats good for your Garand.

I don't have a Garand, but know plenty of folks who do. I just don't want to hand a hot load to some unsuspecting shooter out on the range.

 

[lightman]

I saw Garand and jumped to conclusions. Sorry about that!

 

[Jeremy2171]

A quick Google search shows that you are correct. It looks like FN went to non-corrosive after 1957 however they are probably Berdan primed. And they may be loaded hotter than whats good for your Garand.

it's not "hot".... its perfectly fine 30cal ammo.