What is the difference between so called FC small print? and FC large print Headstamped .223 brass? Anyone got a photo? Is one better or worse than the other for Reloading? I've got some Fed. American Eagle once fired - and would like to use it.
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.223 FEDERAL CASE Q?
- Thread starter DISTINGUISHED PISTOL SHOT
- Start date
I've found that the primer pockets loosen up quick with either headstamp.
If it's once-fired, go ahead and load it if you don't have to trim it, but I usually get two reloads out of it tops, so I don't like to put a lot of time into brass prep.
If it's once-fired, go ahead and load it if you don't have to trim it, but I usually get two reloads out of it tops, so I don't like to put a lot of time into brass prep.
I have had the same experience with this brass; soft and not very durable. I have never had to trim this stuff so it works pretty well for short range matches (100 yds or less) where you won't get a chance to pick up your brass.
For some reason I was having a hell of a time priming the fc brass. It was like 1/10 would not want my rem 7 1/2 primers. They wouldn't seat properly or get smashed. I was priming them on my rock chucker but today I was doing everything the same way but with rem brass and they all turned out perfect? I just won't try to reload the fc brass anymore and stick to rem I guess.
1903Collector
NES Member
1903Collector
NES Member
Were the primer pockets crimped?
I'm mostly finding that virtually all 5.56/.223 brass is crimped these days.
It's almost like they run the commercial brass on the same assembly machines as the mil stuff, and just leave the crimp station running.
I treat all brass, whether it says 5.56 or .223 Rem as crimped, and put it all through the swage/deburring system on the way to re-priming.
It's almost like they run the commercial brass on the same assembly machines as the mil stuff, and just leave the crimp station running.
I treat all brass, whether it says 5.56 or .223 Rem as crimped, and put it all through the swage/deburring system on the way to re-priming.
You probably found some primer pocket crimps on some of those Federals. Like Duke said, lots of .223/5.56 is crimped (FC, PPU, etc). I've never seen any R-P brass with crimped pockets, so it makes sense that your Remingtons primed OK.
Not all FC is crimped, but some is. Same with Prvi and I even have some crimped Winchesters.
I've never seen Prvi Partizan 5.56 once fired brass that wasn't crimped. The new Prvi brass (UNLOADED, in bags of 100) isn't crimped, of course. But every piece of once fired Prvi I have picked up at the range is crimped. It's pretty good brass. I have a lot of winchesters that are crimped, and also some RP's, and fc's.
