WCC Headstamp

[General Tso]

What is this brass? I am a newb, I purchased some once-fired brass. Everyone of the brass that was stamped "WCC" was VERY hard to re-prime. I destroyed several primers (CCI SP) in the process till I decided to pitch the WCC brass. This was all 9mm.

 

[Walkalong]

Winchester. Works just fine, although some has crimped primers. Sounds like yours did. You have to ream them or swage them like military 5.56.

 

[Maj Dad]

Fish Them Out Of The Trash

and swage/ream them. There are any number of threads on which primer pocket swager/reamer is best, but for the numbers involved in pistol reloading, consider one that will allow you to swage/ream large numbers in less time. I use an RCBS swager, but would like to have a Dillon. Others, me included, have used a simple counter sink in a drill (or drill press) - press the primer pocket onto the sink and shave off enough to get ride of the crimp. Takes a few cases to get the hang of it & fine tune, but I have done literally thousands of 5.56, 30-06 & 7.62x51 that way & they worked fine (still do). The Dillon is my Holy Grail - as soon as I have a C-note to spare, I'm getting it.

 

[Randy1911]

WCC (Western Cartridge Company) is a military headstamp. The majority of military brass has crimped in primers that have to have the crimp removed before you can re-prime. I have the Dillon Super Swage 600. It is the best thing going since sliced bread.

This link will help you in the future identify headstamps. http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes_bottom.htm

 

[D. Manley]

WCC is good stuff. I give mine just a little "bump" with the Dillon Super Swage for smooth seating although a high ratio will accept a primer anyways.

 

[bobelk99]

Randy is right on with his response.

WCC brass typically has a thicker wall than commercial brass, and loads should be carefully tested.

I use it exclusively for 9mm, but I ream all the primer pockets before first reloading.

 

[Sapper771]

I ran into some of the WCCs two weeks ago. I figured it was crimped when it started hanging up in my press at the priming station.
I pitched mine in the trash, I didn't have enough to warrant buying a swager.

 

[medalguy]

Send 'em to me. Don't trash them!

 

[FROGO207]

I have lots of them (4K) and I really like them the neck tension is better (thicker brass at neck?). You can use the deburring/reaming tool to remove the crimp and avoid purchasing an expensive addition. I will purchase the military as opposed to commercial brass anytime as they last so long I don't ever need to replace them yet. Did I tell you that I am CHEAP? IMHO they are worth saving.

 

[ReloaderFred]

If you're throwing out military 9x19 brass, you're wasting some of the finest brass made in that caliber, in my humble opinion. I lament the fact that the U.S. Coast Guard went to .40 S&W, since I used to get all their 9x19 military brass from our range after they qualified.

The WCC and FC military brass is more robust than commercial brass and I prefer it in the 9x19 caliber.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[GarandNewby]

I never threw mine away; I just threw it in the "I can't use this stuff" bucket. It _is_ getting kinda full. Next time I run out of yard chores I'll dig through it and pull out all the WCC. I'm leaving the S&B in there, though.

 

[D. Manley]

I never threw mine away; I just threw it in the "I can't use this stuff" bucket. It _is_ getting kinda full. Next time I run out of yard chores I'll dig through it and pull out all the WCC. I'm leaving the S&B in there, though.

WCC is good stuff and if the S&B is really BRASS, it's top notch too. S&B, for reasons unknown, sells both brass and brass-coated steel versions. They are indistinguishable from appearances, need a magnet to tell for sure. The primer pockets are a little tight on all of them but the real jammers are the brass plated steel. I've found that hitting the pockets a light bump with the Dillon Super Swage turns the S&B (real) brass into about as good a case as you can find anywhere...very consistent and durable.

 

[EddieNFL]

The WCC and FC military brass is more robust than commercial brass and I prefer it in the 9x19 caliber

.

I'll second that. I have thousands of WCC .45 ACP from the mid to late '80s. Rarely do I find a split. I generally lose them before they wear out. Same for a batch of TZZ.

For some reason, these particular years, the crimp is so light I've never had to swage any. I'll get maybe one in 1,000 that's too tight. Goes in the scrap box.

 

[hydraulicman]

might have crimped primer pockets. winchester cartridge company
military brass

I load them in 9mm no problems other than priming. I just use a camfer tool on them for easy priming