F&S 223 REM with tiny flash hole, who makes them?

[HankC]

The only head stamp found on the brass is F&S on the top and 223 REM at the bottom the other side. Red sealant, no crimp, not annealed. Picked up a few at the range, tiny flash holes and busted my de-capping pin. Googled the head stamp and found nothing. Definitely not for reloading.

 

[Dudedog]

This lists a lot of headstamps but not F&S.
http://www.cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes

Hmm no F&S here either
http://www.igman.com/ammunition/codes

Will dig some more.


Watch out for GFL brass as well, off center flash holes can ruin a pin.

 

[HankC]

Picture of the F&S brass. The flash hole is smaller than 1/16", I would not even say 3/64", more like the flash hole size of berdan primer. I almost thought it is berdan primer but there is only 1 hole at the center! The case is brass, not coated steel case. Watch out for this brass.

 

[kcofohio]

It may be a late comer to the ammo market, as Perfecta seems to be.

Speaking of Perfecta, their flash hole, in 223 at least, is way off center too. Proceed with caution.

 

[armoredman]

Perfecta brass in 9mm is also way off center in many cases - I throw it in the recycle bin.



I'll watch for the F$S stuff, thanks for the tip!

 

[atblis]

Turkish it seems.

 

[Kaldor]

Perfecta brass in 9mm is also way off center in many cases - I throw it in the recycle bin.

I'll watch for the F$S stuff, thanks for the tip!

Some Perfecta is trash, as your pic shows. Some decaps just fine and the primer holes are centered properly. I take it on a case by case basis, junk the junk, keep the good.

 

[Dudedog]

Off thread but picture of GFL while we are talking about .223 brass to watch of for.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748343

 

[HankC]

Cut the brass open to see exactly how small the flash hole is. Indeed a 1/16" drill bit would not get in the hole. Below is a picture side by side with FC brass.

 

[rg1]

From a post on the AR15 forum I learned from one post that F&S headstamps are ammo sold by Dick's Sporting Goods called Field and Stream. On a search I found this info:
https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/f-s-headstamp-on-223-rem-case/22488

 

[kcofohio]

rg1, thanks for the link. That answers where they came from. Looks like they have been spotted in only 3 calibers so far.

 

[wbbh]

I bent a depriming pin on some of those. On the bright side, the smeary red lacquer, like a drunk blind date, is a dead giveaway.

 

[spitballer]

Definitely not for reloading.

...good to be aware of these cases, thx for posting