.223 and crimping

[Gravedigger56]

Just how many manufacturers actually crimp their .223 brass? I was getting a load of mixed brass ready and I was very surprised at how many of the .223 cases had crimped primers. I didn't really notice it when I decrimped them but discovered it when I tried to prime the brass. I expect the crimped 5.56 military loads but the .223's caught me napping.

I also noticed that with one headstamp (LC II), the Winchester primers just fell out of the pockets.

 

[Garrobo]

I guess the LC stands for Lake City. Who knows what the II means. I've gotten thousands of "military" once-fired brass over the years. Some had crimped primers and some didn't. A lot of it was just current production ammo sold by Remington, Winchester, etc. to the military. I set up a jig on my jeweler's lathe to ream out the crimps. I could do about 15 a minute if I was paying attention. As far as the primer holes being too large, I haven't got a clue. It could be that some of them were overcharged by some high speed nut or the military specified them for a special primer.

 

[rcmodel]

LC means Lake City army ammo plant in Missouri.

II means 11, the last two of 2011.
It is military brass and is crimped.

Much commercial .223 is now crimped, because most of it is produced to possibly be used in semi-auto or full-auto firearms.

All military 5.56 NATO spec ammo is crimped.

All you can do is get used to it, and get a means to deal with it if you reload .223.

rc

 

[Gravedigger56]

Much commercial .223 is now crimped, because most of it is produced to possibly be used in semi-auto or full-auto firearms.

There's what I was looking for. Thanks.

This is my first go-around with .223/5.56. I picked up a Dillon 600 to swage the military brass but didn't know that about the .223. I had separated my accumulated brass since I was told that .223's weren't crimped. Now I'll just have to go through all my .223 and sort out the crimped ones.

 

[243winxb]

5.56 Nato ammo in 223 Rem chambers.

I also noticed that with one headstamp (LC II), the Winchester primers just fell out of the pockets.

From SAAMI- Nato Military 5.56 mm ammo should not be fired in a 223 Rem chambers.

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[carbine85]

When I get my hands on range brass I go through the whole process of reworking the primer pockets the first time around. You can't always tell who crimped and who didn't so I just uniform the pockets.
I have about 500 PMP cases and it's the worse stuff in the world to decrimp and resize. It's thick heavy brass.

 

[gpb]

With range pickup brass, I prefer that it has the primer crimp. That means it's almost 100% sure to be once fired and not something that's been fired several times. With the right equipment the crimps are quick and easy to remove.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

Agreed w gpb love mil brass and crimp brass. It's extra work sure but you get a known quality for brass mileage, annealing, and alloy composition. I use both the rcbs die set for primer pocket swaging, but my fav remains the Lyman primer pocket crimp remover chucked into a drill, wear gloves and work fast.

 

[lysanderxiii]

...the Winchester primers just fell out of the pockets.

Sign the brass was subjected to excessive pressure at some point.

 

[Kaldor]

When I get my hands on range brass I go through the whole process of reworking the primer pockets the first time around. You can't always tell who crimped and who didn't so I just uniform the pockets.
I have about 500 PMP cases and it's the worse stuff in the world to decrimp and resize. It's thick heavy brass.

Same here. Any range brass that I pick up gets a quick inspection, decapped, and decrimped even it doesnt look like it has a crimp on it. I like my .223 brass to all be uniform. Makes it easier to load.

 

[Trailduster79]

It is more common for me to come across crimped primer .223 than not crimped anymore.

my box labeled "Crimped Primer .223" is much fuller than my normal .223 box....

 

[Potatohead]

A chamfer bit and a drill has worked for me so far, just dont get all overzealous on the drilling.

On 2nd thought, I wonder if that's why I have a trail of primers following me everywhere I go at the range

 

[cheygriz]

If you reload 5.56X45 in lots of 1000 or 2000, as i do, the Dillon "Super Swage 600" is is the way to go.

If you're as poor as I was fresh out of the military 50 year ago, a pocket knife blade will work!

 

[345 DeSoto]

I would venture a guess that the Commercial .223 ammo has crimped primers in the event that it needs to be "pressed into service". While I'm at it, can anyone tell me how the Police Departments are getting current issue (LC 14) Military .556 ammunition for Range practice?

 

[lysanderxiii]

You will also find that a lot of commercial ".223" is made at LCAAP....