223 Brass

[masterkwan]

I've searched a few forums and read a couple of books on which 223 brass is better to reload. I have seen mixed reviews. Figured I ask everyone to see which brand they recommend. Here are the brass I am looking to buy.

Lapua (though very expensive)
Remington
Winchester
Lake City


A note, all the brass except for Laupua would be once fired.

Also, if anyone knows of some good websites to buy brass it would be much appreciated too! Thanks.

[What Just Happened?]

I'm told brassmanbrass is a good place. You could try some of the online reloading component trading forums.

http://brassmanbrass.com/

[Vepr62]

brass

#1 Lapua. NO COMENTS.
#2 Winchester/LC. Some Winchester brass doesn't have crimped primers, which eases brass processing. LC is good quality brass, but has primers crimped.
#3 Remington. All the remington brass I used didn't have crimped primers but brass life was shorter than Winchester/LC.
#4 FC, is the softest brass available (or maybe they make oversized primer pockets). Primer pockets get enlarged after 3-4 reloadings, rendering it useless.

Vasiliy

[rksimple]

Federal is soft. Stay away unless you like to blow primers or load lightly.

Most 223 brass now has crimped primers. I have a few k of older remington brass that doesn't, but a lot of the new stuff does. Your best bet, unless this is for a boltgun or very accurate ammo, is to find brass at your local range. Inspect it well and it'll be GTG. Lapua is for the best in accuracy and best case life. Only you can decide if its worth it.

[Jicko]

What's your purpose for those rounds?

Lapua are the BEST, but you would be heart broken if you loose them. So, if all you are doing is shooting from benchrest, and if you plan to use one of those brass-catching attachment to your gun.... then you would be fine.... if you are running around the stage shooting a tactical match... then you may not want to use these high priced brass as you WILL loose them.

LCs are good brass. Generally they are military, ie. crimped primer, therefore you would need to swage them. Just one more process.

Winchester = what black hill uses for their new ammo. Good brass.

Federal, they are ok too. As another members had mentioned, they seems to be softer, but, for 223s, the are fine. And lately, I had seen FC NATO(+) brass that stamped with a year-mark, looks awfully similar to LC NATO brass.

Actually, if you are just looking for cases for plinking, most brass are fine, just inspect them.

Where in SoCAL are you?

[masterkwan]

I'm basically just using the brass for plinking for right now, but would like to load accurate loads later on.

I'm located in Bakersfield and shoot pretty much at 5 Dogs. PM if anyone would like to meet up sometime.