brass questions?

[Axis II]

I sorted my brass last night and found 20-30 federal-probably from AE-223.

30-40 lake city between 11 and 12 but some as old as 07-08. I also have some Winchester, perfecta and some brass that reads A-usa.

I understand lake city stamps the year and I have no clue where this brass came from but all of it should be once fired.

is it okay to use older LC brass? I'm also thinking about getting a 250 count bag of top brass for $40. I looked through a bag today and seen its mostly LC 11-12.

I'm trying to make target loads and accurate varmint loads using V max bullets if this helps.

 

[slowr1der]

As long as I don't see any signs of cracks, or feel any signs of case separation with the paper clip trick, I use it with great results.

 

[flashhole]

Why would you think it is not alright to use the LC brass?

 

[entropy]

The majority of my .223 brass is either FC or LC, gleaned from the range after LE shoots. Never had a problem with any of it. As a matter of fact, the only brass in .223 I have ever had a problem with is TZZ, the primer pockets are sometimes loose on those.

 

[Axis II]

As long as I don't see any signs of cracks, or feel any signs of case separation with the paper clip trick, I use it with great results.

whats the paper clip trick?

 

[Axis II]

Why would you think it is not alright to use the LC brass?

isn't the number the year it was made? new to this so making sure its still good to use since its almost 10yo

 

[ants]

To me, "older" brass is World War II.

Any Lake City brass is good as long as the it holds the primer snugly in the pocket
and a visual inspection shows no sign of impending doom. It may last longer than we do!
Ten years old is NOTHING.


Paper clip probe for incipient Case Head Separation:
If the case body stretches away from the base and is about to separate the case into two pieces,
the inside gets rough from erosion of the brass. If you bend a paper clip into a tiny 90 degree probe
you can scrape the inside of the case down at the base and feel for roughness.
Roughness is really, really rough. In fact it almost feels like a ridge that catches the probe.
If it feels slightly rough like the rest of the interior, it's just soot.


However, 223 doesn't usually get that bad. The case mouth usually splits first.
It isn't as big a deal as might be found in much larger rifle cartridges, especially
big magnum like Weatherby.

By the way, on of the big reasons for early case head separation is bumping the shoulder too far back.
Another recent thread discusses Small Base dies. Unwise use of tightly adjusted Small Base die
can bump the shoulder back too far. So the cartridge seats really deep in the chamber.
Upon firing, the body stays forward and the base stretches backward until it hits the bolt.
That always stretches the body above the base.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Your old geriatric LC 07-08 should be okay. Brass fails from use, not from years.

Regardless of the year it was made, all brass should be thoroughly scrutinized as part of the reloading process.
I just prepped a bunch of 7.62 that was made anywhere from 60-84. All low mileage, some only once fired. They were fine.

The only brass I pitch out "just because" is amerc.