223 loads

[BsChoy]

I did have a sweet load for fed commercial brass in 223 using 26.2 grains varget and a 60 grain vmax but, it turns out the gurus were correct and upon the 3rd loading of this brass the primer pockets were soooo loose I could probably seat them with my fingers. I have copious amounts of LC brass I am going to sell of but I am going to grab about 200-300 for my self and work up a new load. Though LC is military (made by federal) will it hold up under say 6-10 firings minimum? Or should I just by new commercial brass? I have varget and RL15 on hand so I have room to play a bit. Any one have pet loads with this brass and 60 grain bullets with these powders. Oh, it is from a bolt gun and I usually seat to 2.29 oal so I got room to breathe.

 

[mc223]

I have some LC with 15 loadings. Caveat: I anneal my brass. The photo below should help clear up why Fed brass in 223 does not last.

 

[boobap]

mc223,

Caveat: I anneal my brass.

How do you anneal your brass and when do you do it?

 

[rdaines]

Maybe I have too much money but I don't reload the brass that comes flying out of my ARs. I'll make handloads for the AR from brass used from my bolt.223 but the AR shot brass look too beat up to me.

 

[mc223]

I anneal my "good stuff"after each firing. the other stuff about every 4th or 5th firing.
Annealing is a process to heat the area of the neck and shoulder to the correct temperature, which changes the molecular structure from work hardened to somewhere around 1/2 hard. Work hardening is caused by firing and sizing,and over time will cause neck cracks ie. failure.
Here is a link to some info about annealing. Bear in mind the website has a lot of info. I use the simple method of annealing in a darkend room and dropping into water to stop the annealing. I also use a Tempil Stik to verify correct temp.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/jun96cases.html