Headstamps used for .223 reloading

[Chris2087]

I have a mixed bag of headstamps and I am awaiting the delivery of the rest of the reloading supplies that I ordered. In descending order of amounts. Give me some of your experiences with it.

PMC
RP (Remington) part number 223VR
LC
FC
CBC (Remington) part number 223V this stuff shoots like shit in the 700
Black Hills
WCC 01

I decided to go with a RCBS single stage, Lee neck dies, RCBS swagger for the LC brass. Ramshoot X-terminator powder.
Chris

[sabot_round]

Never had any issues with the ones you mentioned except for black hills, which I have no experience with.

[Akyla]

I could be wrong-just got started reloading myself-but I thought the PMC was military crimped.

[Chris2087]

Its no big deal if it is, I am running all of them through the crimp removing step as I process them.

Chris

[Troublco]

One thing - you might want to separate the military brass from the commercial brass. Mil brass has a thicker case wall and web, and you'll get higher pressures from the same load from what you would get in commercial brass. I would NOT recommend mixing the two for reloads. You can use the military stuff, just separately.

[ShipDate]

I've done some PMC Bronze and they did not have the crimp.

[jerrymrc]

One thing - you might want to separate the military brass from the commercial brass. Mil brass has a thicker case wall and web, and you'll get higher pressures from the same load from what you would get in commercial brass. I would NOT recommend mixing the two for reloads. You can use the military stuff, just separately.

I will say that this is very true in .308 but less so in .223. I have done a bunch of case volume measurements in .308 and .223.

All cases sized and trimmed to the same length, primer installed. I did 2 of each year or batch.

IVI 85= 32.7/32.8
LC 01= 32.8/32.8
LC 04= 32.2/32.2
LC 92= 31.8/31.9
WCC 84= 33.5/33.3
WCC 01= 32.8/32.7
FC = 31.7/31.6

The WCC and FC are commercial cases All the rest were Mil. In this case the higher pressures would be in the FC cases and the lowest would be in the WCC cases, both commercial. Just some thoughts.

As with any load you start small and work up.

[gnihcraes]

and no need to run all of them through the rcbs swag die - hold the die in your hand and check each primer pocket, if the die fits and releases without effort, that pocket is good without running it through the swag die.

Save a lot of time sorting out the ones that need it and the ones that don't.

As for the military brass, I've checked several lots I have, LC and PPU in 5.56 and 223, the LC seems to have a thicker case than the ones labeled 5.56. All the others I have in FC, REM, etc all were within a smidge of each other for case capacity.

You should just put an old primer in a few cases and weigh them with and without water in them to double check.

I've only seen a difference in .5 grain in capacity, not sure how much that will affect the pressures, most likely not much.

[Chris2087]

I have had problems chambering LC cases in the 700, I noticed the rim is thicker on the LC and the extractor takes a shave off. I am working up the loads from min to comfortable levels. I am not worried about speeds just hitting the same spot everytime, cheaply. Plus its sorta fun.

Chris

[sabot_round]

One thing - you might want to separate the military brass from the commercial brass. Mil brass has a thicker case wall and web, and you'll get higher pressures from the same load from what you would get in commercial brass. I would NOT recommend mixing the two for reloads. You can use the military stuff, just separately.

The difference between the two is sooooo small, that I wouldn't worry about separating cases while reloading.