SSN Vet
Member
Last year I loaded up some Fiacchi 223 brass I scrounged on the range.
I was under the impression than only the Nato stamped Mil. Surp. brass (Lake City, etc...) was crimped.
the Fiocchi brass had a very slight ring around the primer which looked much different than the heavilly crimped Lake City brass that I set aside.
So not knowing better, I loaded it up. In my notes I wrote that a few of the primers went in "crunchy".
I shot off the rounds earlier this summer without any noticeable problems. Certainly no slamfires. Accuracy seemed the same as reloads using RP brass.
Since that time I've learned exactly what a primer pocket crimp is and now know that these Fiocchi cases were indeed crimped.
So I'm going back to re-processing some of this brass. I was depriming and sizing last night. Brass that is under 1.76", I'm priming and loading. 1.76" and longer I'm trimming.
Just for kicks and giggles (learning by experimenting you know) I primed some of this Fiocchi brass.
(Note: I'm priming on the LCT press.)
If I make sure the case is as far as it can go into the shell plate, the primers slide in smoothly. They are nice and snug, but know binding or scraping.
One case wasn't all the way back into the shell plate and the primer scraped just a little going in, but seated flat with no noticeable damage.
So I loaded and fired this brass once without swaging or reeming.
Should I do it again?
I was under the impression than only the Nato stamped Mil. Surp. brass (Lake City, etc...) was crimped.
the Fiocchi brass had a very slight ring around the primer which looked much different than the heavilly crimped Lake City brass that I set aside.
So not knowing better, I loaded it up. In my notes I wrote that a few of the primers went in "crunchy".
I shot off the rounds earlier this summer without any noticeable problems. Certainly no slamfires. Accuracy seemed the same as reloads using RP brass.
Since that time I've learned exactly what a primer pocket crimp is and now know that these Fiocchi cases were indeed crimped.
So I'm going back to re-processing some of this brass. I was depriming and sizing last night. Brass that is under 1.76", I'm priming and loading. 1.76" and longer I'm trimming.
Just for kicks and giggles (learning by experimenting you know) I primed some of this Fiocchi brass.
(Note: I'm priming on the LCT press.)
If I make sure the case is as far as it can go into the shell plate, the primers slide in smoothly. They are nice and snug, but know binding or scraping.
One case wasn't all the way back into the shell plate and the primer scraped just a little going in, but seated flat with no noticeable damage.
So I loaded and fired this brass once without swaging or reeming.
Should I do it again?