FC 223 REM Brass, Worth the Time Reloading?

[Guest TNdad]

Fellow reloaders, I'd like to get some of your thoughts on FC 223 REM brass.  On some other reloading sites, there are some bad reviews on reloading FC saying that they are soft and thin and that they shouldn't be reloaded.  Most of these bad reviews were back a few years, around 2009.  I have shot through 1k and saved the brass.  I'd really hate to scrap them.

 

Also, does anyone know how the volume differs from typical mil-surp brass like LC?

 

Thanks!

 

[Garufa]

I believe the primer pockets can be loose.  Not always but sometimes.  I blew a couple of primers on some I reloaded, but it was a fairly hot load.

[Raoul]

I've not had any major problems with it.

[seez52]

ive got a coffee can full but haven fooled with them since they have crimped primers, though I would like to.

[Omega]

Its on the list as a decent case for conversion to 300 Blackout so can't be all that bad.

[Guest TNdad]

I measured the thickness of the three different head stamps like what they say on AR15.com and it's all in spec.  Some are close but most are well over.  The two on the left are similar in head thickness but the one on the right are just barely in.  I'll leave the thin ones for later unless I get more brass.  Then I'll likely just take it to the brass scrap.

[Garufa]

How do you measure the headstamp thickness?

[Guest TNdad]

I got this off of AR15.com, it's a 2" brass rod that is inserted into the brass and when you measure the head and rod then subtract the rod length (2") you get the head "web" thickness.  Thin stuff <0.175" is considered too thin and could go kaboom.

 

Check out the 5th post by dryflash

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/276154_.html&page=1

[Dolomite_supafly]

It is the case head that is soft and the primer pockets will be loose within a loading or two. That is unless you are loading really light pressure loads.

[Guest TNdad]

Around 2800, that was the most accurate speed out of my 20" Wylde chamber.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Velocity has little to do with pressure. I could probably use a fast pistol powder and blow a rifle up without the bullet getting past 1,500 fps

[gregintenn]

It doesn't take much pressure to insert primers, but so far I've had no problems with it.

 

Those Wal Mart Federal Value packs sure were accurate. It seems a shame to throw away the brass.

Edited March 13, 2015 by gregintenn