winchester or wcc

[john paul]

just got my reloading equip. yesterday and when i went thru my 223 brass to clean and deprime, i found some that was headstamped wcc 02 and 03. who makes it and should i go ahead and use it? any other advice for a newbie? all i'm doing is trying to save some money on plinking ammo. thanks in advance.

 

[RustyFN]

Western Cartridge Company (Olin), East Alton, IL. I would use it. I reload a lot of mixed headstamps for 223.
Rusty

 

[RustyFN]

I forgot to add this in the last post. Check out this link next time you have a headstamp question. It doesn't have all of them but it should have most.http://www.cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes_bottom.htm
Rusty

 

[50 Shooter]

WCC use to be Western Cartridge Co. they were bought out by Winchester. Win. uses different headstamps on ammo so that they know where and who is getting it.

WCC headstamp usually goes to the Military while Win or Winchester goes to the public. I have .50 brass (Winchester) that's stamped "50 CAL", this is the stuff that goes out to the public. Although I do have some WCC head stamped .50 brass also.

 

[ilbob]

I don't even look at the headstamps when I reload. I make sure the case is not damaged and is of a reloadable variety.

The tiny differences in accuracy between brands of cases don't matter much to me since I cannot shoot the well to begin with.

BTW, I consider accuracy to be adequate if I can hit a paper plate offhand at 100 yards reliably. I have not done much rifle shooting of late so I doubt I can do that anymore. And offhand, you won't see any real difference between brands of cases. Off the bench you just might, if the rifle is good enough.

 

[nitesite]

You may have more difficulty decapping (removing the primers) as the primers have probably been crimped in. You can see a circular indent around the primer in the case head, and you can not see the outer edge of the primer if it's been crimped.

Several ways to decap these cases.

Then you'll have to remove the crimp before it's easy to seat new primers.

 

[def4pos8]

WCC XX brass is not commercial brass. It is military contract stuff. It likely has NATO's "circle and cross" stamped on the head too. A "heavy duty" decapping pin is useful if it has not been previously reloaded. Again, if not previously reloaded, the crimped primer pocket edge will require swaging prior to priming.

Most reload manuals suggest slightly less powder for GI brass, due to thicker case walls/less interior volume. This brass was designed to cycle through automatic weapons without ripping off the case head or leaving primers behind to jam the action.