Lake City brass Frontier Ammo variations

[BigAlShooter]

Anyone been buying Hornady's Frontier ammo for 223?
I know they make many versions of this ammo.
I bought a few boxes of the 68 gr 223 a few months ago from Academy and it has the Frontier stamped brass. Don't know much about the Frontier brass.
Then I bought a bunch of boxes of the 55 gr 223 and it has LC brass.
Here is what I believe was from the 2 boxes I just shot:

So, I then opened up a box and the brass is this:


I will assume the LC brass is better than the Frontier and I got lucky, as this ammo was the cheapest ammo I could find and I plan to reload all of it.
And can I highjack my own thread and ask if anyone can tell me if it is crimped? I haven't reloaded or sized any yet.

 

[243winxb]

Military grade made at the LC plant. Looks crimped? Available at Midwayusa now. 73 cents each.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019565712

 

[chamokaneman]

I've bought the 55 grain in the past and it was crimped. Yours certainly looks crimped too.

 

[CMB]

Those are crimped for sure

 

[IALoder]

Both of those are good brass. I've never had any of the frontier ammo I've shot have LC headstamped brass, it's all been Frontier headstamped. Good to know! Yes, those are both crimped.

 

[lordpaxman]

Good deal on the LC brass! Yes it’s crimped. Anytime I’ve seen 5.56x45 with the NATO mark it’s been crimped. The .223 varies, but I’d guess if it’s off the same production lines then it gets the same treatment. Good luck.

 

[BigAlShooter]

Thanks for the feedback. I plan to shoot 100 or so before I start reloading them. By the way, I was getting about 1.25" at 100 yards out my DPMS lo-pro. Not bad for factory ammo. It was a little dirty and had a large flash out of the barrel and chamber. It seems a little hot as the brass was burning my forearm when some rounds would bounce around and land on me.

Don't have a swaging tool to remove crimp...yet. I plan to hit each case with the drill and a chamfering bit. I've read a 6mm bit will work, but I have an assortment of sizes. I don't mind being slow, I only load and shoot about 40 rounds at a time.

 

[Mike L.]

Bought some Hornady 5.56 that had the LC stamp. Surprising, but no biggie.
Primer pocket crimps in small quantities are no problem. Lacking anything better, a sharp knife can be use to remove them.

 

[Trey Veston]

Been buying these at the LGS since they were the cheapest .223 available at $12.99 a box. Good to know that they are decent. I don't reload for .223, which is why I'm paying stupid prices for it. I have about 100 rounds of the Frontier and haven't shot it yet.

 

[Random 8]

I use the Frontier brass for my varmint loads in both a carbine and my NM rifle once match season is over and it gets put into second service. I've found it very consistent, and HEAVILY crimped. LC is also very high quality, but I tend to have more of the Frontier of known OF origin. A couple of friends bought a large volume for plinking and they don't reload.

 

[KentM]

I collected a bunch of Frontier range brass marked "5.56 MM". It was crimped and so I swaged it with the RCBS swager. Primers still would not seat until I slightly chamfered the inside of the primer pockets.

Other than that, they loaded and fired fine. Now that they're swaged and chamfered I plan to reuse them.

 

[FROGO207]

I have reloaded Frontier brass in other calibers and it seems to be good brass. Havent tried any in 223/5.56 yet. Those rounds are definately crimped.

 

[Shaggy357]

Frontier brass used to be made by Remington. This was years ago. I do not know if they still do. If Hornady is getting LC brass for .223 ammo, maybe Federal is now making the Frontier brass. Does Hornady actually make their brass, or does someone make it for them? Between brass and bullets it is getting harder and harder to tell who is actually making what. Too many companies making product for one another.