FC brass good , bad, ugly?

[55fairlane]

So I was processing some 223 brass last night and I found a bunch of once fired FC brass mics out at 1.735 .....normally I trim to .750 , but .015 undersized my trip size......so I went to the SAAMI website they say case leanth 1.760 minus .030 .....
I have all ready delegated this as practice ammo / range fooder...

Anyone else notice this with your FC brass or have any issues with it?

 

[turnerdye1]

FC brass has loose primer pockets after a couple loadings but other then that theres no issues. And I wouldnt worry about the brass being a little too short. Load it and go.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Load it till it splits or you lose it. Just keep an eye on the primer pockets

 

[indyjohn]

I've used FC for years. I use it for match loads and every thing else. I get 3 - 4 reloads out of it. I've used CCI, Remington, and Federal primers without any jumping out. Full length sized and trimmed to 1.750 all day long.

 

[cmann250]

The FC that I have has a crimp in the primer pocket. I think it’s brass from the American Eagle my friends shoot.

I have 3-4 loadings on some of mine and so far so good.


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[55fairlane]

Thanks.bunches guys

 

[bigedp51]

Below the "ugly" of Federal brass, it is softer than many other brands of .223/5.56 brass and the flash hole web is thinner.

Meaning the primer pockets will stretch out of shape faster than other brands with higher pressure loadings.

And on the flip side Lake City 5.56 cases are made of harder brass and have thicker flash hole webs that add radial strength to the base of the case.

At AR15.com the moderator uses a 2 inch rod that is cup shaped at one end to fit over any flash holes burs. He then measures the cases and rejects any cases with thin flash hole webs.

And some Federal cases have thicker flash hole webs and are worth reloading and not worrying about gas leakage around the primer and a etched bolt face.

The photo below also came from AR15.com and the poster said he didn't worry about loose primer pockets and would just replace the bolt on his AR15 when it got bad enough.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

Those are some interesting photos bigedp51. Thats some serious pitting on that bolt face. I'm going to make a measuring rod. Glad most of my once-fired is mostly all LC.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Short cases won't be a problem. They already worked fine once, right?

 

[bigedp51]

Here is another trick I learned at AR15.com, you use a Lee depriming tool to check for loose primer pockets. If the primer moves with just finger pressure the case goes in the scrap brass bucket.

 

[Sniper 79]

I scrap all FC brass. Rule for me is if there's any question it goes in the trash. Life is good. Guns are not cheap, body is priceless. Brass is free or really cheap. Go with quality and scrap them often.

 

[Robert Richardson]

I have been using a lot of S&B Primers and don't remember the primer pockets feeling oversize.
When swaging primer pockets with the old RCBS tools I haven't noticed the FC brass feeling thinner that other brands.

 

[1stLast&Always]

I have had an opposite problem: a lot of my FC has been crimped, making reaming it necessary, then putting primers in sometimes very difficult/wasteful. I use it for Blackout. PMC loads like a dream for me, but its never cheap!

 

[Sniper 79]

I have had an opposite problem: a lot of my FC has been crimped, making reaming it necessary, then putting primers in sometimes very difficult/wasteful. I use it for Blackout. PMC loads like a dream for me, but its never cheap!

I like PMC too. I buy when Cabelas has factory loaded on sale at 6 bucks a box with free shipping. Pay with my points and head for the range. Shoot and load for next to nothing.