What do I have here?

[Vartarg]

In a recent batch of once fired 9mm brass, I've found about 50 pieces of what appears to be 9mm, but has a primer pocket diameter of .172.....

The headstamp is "fc 03"

Just curious......

George

 

[mstreddy]

Might be Federal military loading with crimped primer pockets... I'll have to check some of mil once fired brass for the dimensions.

 

[Shadow 7D]

OR European

 

[rcmodel]

"fc 03"

Federal NATO 9mm made in 2003.
The primers are crimped and sealed with red lacquer.

You will have to ream or swage the crimps out before you can reload them.

rc

 

[ReloaderFred]

The Federal Military brass is excellent brass in 9x19, once you swage the primer pockets, which only needs to be don't once. It's some of my favorite brass in that caliber, since it's a little heavier than commercial 9x19 brass.

I used to get a lot of it when the Coast Guard was still shooting their M-9 pistols, but they've now switched to Sig pistols in .40 S&W, so they're leaving behind .40 brass headstamped "FC 08", meaning it's military .40 S&W ammunition produced in 2008.

Hope this helps.

Fred