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Posted: 7/28/2016 3:23:24 PM EDT
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Do we still hate it? My collection of pickups with this headstamp has gotten into the 2k area. My intention has always been to recycle it, but I decided to measure using the hollow 2" rod method that I've seen here before. I'm getting a very consistent average of .185" in the webbing/extractor groove. I'd imagine that a guy still needs to keep an eye on the primer pockets. Thoughts? |
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Quoted: Do we still hate it? My collection of pickups with this headstamp has gotten into the 2k area. My intention has always been to recycle it, but I decided to measure using the hollow 2" rod method that I've seen here before. I'm getting a very consistent average of .185" in the webbing/extractor groove. I'd imagine that a guy still needs to keep an eye on the primer pockets. Thoughts? Well it's good they have increased the web thickness, but is the brass head still soft? Soft case heads lead to early primer pocket enlargement rendering the case into scrap. Is the OAL of once fired FC 223 cases still around 1.740? That's too short for me. You can load them if you want, I will continue trading off any I get. I won't load FC rifle cases. FC pistol cases are fine. |
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You will have to learn the hard way by testing. I would load a small lot. My way of not using FC rifle cases works every time. I'm this way because I prepped a large batch of 223 FC cases, 5-6 hundred. Tumbled, sized, removed lube, trimmed, deburred, removed primer crimp, uniformed primer pockets, deburred flashole. Then started seating primers. They were all loose and I scrapped the batch. (2007) Then see the warnings of thin webs and my choice was the right one for me. |
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I got some, I prefer LC, but I have reloaded some of it. It's got one or two reloads in for sure.
Load up 500 known once fired, and stash it away for when You can't retrieve Your brass. Buy a primer pocket tool from Ballistic tools, and check the pockets. I have the 3 tool set, and use it all the time, very good tools to have around. |
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I've never really had a problem with them take all I can get. What I really like to use them for is ranges that don't allow you to retrieve brass or grass ranges .
The pockets do loosen up quicker on some when I feel the primer seat too easy I hit it with a sharpie marker and sort them out . |
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IIRC, the last time I saw a SAAMI spec drawing .185'' web thickness was the minimum dimension. That doesn't exactly instill much confidence in their ammo.
You'll probably get 2-3 firings and start noticing primer pockets getting loose. I use it for blasting ammo and where I can't pick it up. |
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Seven years ago I purchased a large (for me) batch of once-fired brass (5.56) and received a wide array of head-stamps: Speer, Lake City, Winchester, PMC and about 150 Federal.
When I trimmed the crimps from the various makes I noticed that the Federals primer pockets were way too loose for my Wolf 5.56 primers that fit perfectly in all but the Speer brand, the Speer brass primer pockets were very tight compared to the other makes. I tried some CCI400 primers in the Federal cases and felt a nice smooth insertion (like the Lee hand primer) and was happy until trying to seat the same CCI400s on a second loading. The CCI400s were then loose in the Federal cases and they went into the trash and I don't pick up Federal brass at the range any more. |
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