Surplus Military Brass

[DedIdick]

Cheers TB, that is what I'm after but being new to reloading I thought I'd stumbled across a bargain! It doesn't sound worth bothering from what you've said.

Might buy a few just for a play with and see how they get on

L17A2 is Boxer primed.
The Ring crimp is easy to remove with the likes of an ordinary steel countersink tool in a battery driver or drill; 2 seconds and that's all it takes.
+/- 24 grains of Varget behind a 75gn Hornady HPBT (2750 fps) will do fine for Service Rifle at up to 600 yards. (1 in 8 Barrel).

[sidesy]

I'll do some checking and find out. I can't see a bit of crimping being a problem, surely the FL resizing die will push that out?

These cases are pennies so could either be a waste of space or a bargain!

if accuracy is your game ..think you'd be better off with some basic remington .....plenty of reloads out of them....or there is bound to be some once fired stuff going cheap and cheerful. "bargain" and consistent / accurate dont always sit well together in my experience.

[223AI]

Well, I'm pretty new at this too.

Have just started loading GGG brass for my .223, getting frustrating groups 3 shots inside 1/4" and 2 flyers, opening the group to 3/4"

Could this be the brass? Possibly, but the same load in federal brass (well below max, no pressure signs, don't panic) is giving 1.5", very frustrating! I'm going to try some rem brass next and also try changing primers (working up to the load). The primers I've used so far are what came with the rifle and I have a feeling they may have got damp as some are discoloured and I had one fail to go off recently.

To be fair the GGG brass seems consistent, good quality and it's well annealed, no burr whatsoever on the flash hole. removing the crimp is a pain but removing it from 50 cases with the right tool takes all of 10 minutes and you only have to do it once. A point of note is federal .223 brass also has crimped primers so that takes just as much effort.

Of course the flyers could just be me!

PS Elliot if you do try sizing some of this brass take it steady as if it's berden primed and you put too much effort in you'll bend your depriving pin. Might be worth chopping the base off of one to see if 1 or 2 flash holes are present rather than risking putting your dies out of action.

PPS buy that hornet I told you about, that is all....

[Parabuteo]

Yes defo boxer primed.
Used to reload 556 RG myself.
Only 762RG berdan primed.

It all became boxer primed once the MOD started going abroad to tender. Some of it was maked RG even then. I have RG boxer primed ammo.

The L number refers to a manufacturing spec and round type. There are many types of 7.62x51 NATO in use that are different L numbers.

Not that keen on RG either in my AR or for reloading, its a bit hot and the brass aint great. GGG works well and reloads well.

[223AI]

It all became boxer primed once the MOD started going abroad to tender. Some of it was maked RG even then. I have RG boxer primed ammo.

The L number refers to a manufacturing spec and round type. There are many types of 7.62x51 NATO in use that are different L numbers.

Not that keen on RG either in my AR or for reloading, its a bit hot and the brass aint great. GGG works well and reloads well.

I found one of these in a batch of GGG once fired I bought a couple of weeks back, I was batching the brass by weight (haven't got the patience to do it by volume), the RG was significantly heavier than the GGG so either has a thicker head or wall or both (which incidentally was quite consistent ciompared to the REM i batched a while back)

[Parabuteo]

I found one of these in a batch of GGG once fired I bought a couple of weeks back, I was batching the brass by weight (haven't got the patience to do it by volume), the RG was significantly heavier than the GGG so either has a thicker head or wall or both (which incidentally was quite consistent ciompared to the REM i batched a while back)

It is a bit chunkier in places. Someone that knows 556 inside out (who may be Irish) told me to just stick with GGG and so far this has proven to be ok (In my rifle) B.

RG is not supposed to spring back as well (I know I certainly had extraction issues with factory in my BAR) which should not be an issue with a gas operated semi auto or full auto but is a pain on a straight pull operated by a gay bar loiterer like moi.

There was all sorts going on with Mil ammo with it coming from Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil and who knows where else over various contracts, the NRA had enough fun with target fodder for the various Imperials as RG went west. Then you throw a change of primer or powder etc in the mix....Then its an "L....something else". Probably still SS109 (for 556) but still "L...something else".

Look up a site called " Mill Ammo" ONO. I believe the chaps passed on now but its a really useful source of info for collectors or just people who are interested.

[223AI]

It is a bit chunkier in places. Someone that knows 556 inside out (who may be Irish) told me to just stick with GGG and so far this has proven to be ok (In my rifle) B.

RG is not supposed to spring back as well (I know I certainly had extraction issues with factory in my BAR) which should not be an issue with a gas operated semi auto or full auto but is a pain on a straight pull operated by a gay bar loiterer like moi.

There was all sorts going on with Mil ammo with it coming from Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil and who knows where else over various contracts, the NRA had enough fun with target fodder for the various Imperials as RG went west. Then you throw a change of primer or powder etc in the mix....Then its an "L....something else". Probably still SS109 (for 556) but still "L...something else".

Look up a site called " Mill Ammo" ONO. I believe the chaps passed on now but its a really useful source of info for collectors or just people who are interested.

there we go then, have some 5.56 brass simply marked 'LC' 5.56 with the nato mark that came with the rifle, not loaded it yet though as only 40 cases so probably not worth mucking about with.

On another note are you at Bisley next Sunday? I still have all that scrap .223 for your mate as Danny wasn't at the last meet either!

[tacfoley]

I found one of these in a batch of GGG once fired I bought a couple of weeks back, I was batching the brass by weight (haven't got the patience to do it by volume), the RG was significantly heavier than the GGG so either has a thicker head or wall or both (which incidentally was quite consistent ciompared to the REM i batched a while back)

RG 5.56x45 was designed from the get-go to operate in an semi-auto/fullauto at rates of up to 6000 rpm in the GE Mini-gun. Hence the somewhat more robust construction and reduced volume.

Most other stuff that might not be full-military spec will weight less and have a greater volume, leading to all kinds of possible problems with maximum charges. The same circumstances prevailed with regard to 7.62x51 and the commercial interpretation - .308Win. The commercial stuff is loaded to higher pressures than the military stuff for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that the military stick to one bullet weight - around the 150gr mark [in general - LCA make a range of upper weight ammuntion for sniping use], whereas commercial stuff has been available in certain quarters ranging from 110gr right up to 200gr - all in the same larger volume case than the military version.

tac

[Parabuteo]

there we go then, have some 5.56 brass simply marked 'LC' 5.56 with the nato mark that came with the rifle, not loaded it yet though as only 40 cases so probably not worth mucking about with.

On another note are you at Bisley next Sunday? I still have all that scrap .223 for your mate as Danny wasn't at the last meet either!

Yes mate, I will be. Lake City but will probably be the standard although I am not sure I would bother with 40. I have heard good things about LC in the past.

I would stick with brass you can easilly repeat if it loads well (which is why so many use GGG as well as it working well in most straight pull ARs second firing if not as factory loads).

[Elliott]

Here's a picture of the brass:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...psobiaebal.jpg

[223AI]

Yes mate, I will be. Lake City but will probably be the standard although I am not sure I would bother with 40. I have heard good things about LC in the past.

I would stick with brass you can easilly repeat if it loads well (which is why so many use GGG as well as it working well in most straight pull ARs second firing if not as factory loads).

My thoughts exactly, I don't know how many times it's been fired either, I'll chuck that in for your mate too.

I'm working on using GGG for my n140/69 gr SMK and TMKS loads for the above reason, have 250 to keep me going.

[223AI]

Here's a picture of the brass:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...psobiaebal.jpg

Have you got your crimp remover ready?

[Elliott]

Have you got your crimp remover ready?

FL resized them this morning and popped the primer out no problem. They look just like normal cases and flash holes but feel like they have a thicker wall. They came up really well when using my usual cleaning method too:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstx3e12r6.jpg

For comparison purposes I thought I'd weigh them against some once fired Norma brass

Norma:

- 92.0gn
- 92.7go
- 91.7go

Military Brass

- 99.7gns
- 100.0gns
- 100.5gns

Pretty consistent weights.. Now I know what they are like I think I'll buy 20 to batch test

Oh and for those who like brass porn here's a picture of the celaned Hornady brass from yesterday's ammo testing session:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnvt5zn0i.jpg

[larro]

FL resized them this morning and popped the primer out no problem. They look just like normal cases and flash holes but feel like they have a thicker wall. They came up really well when using my usual cleaning method too:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstx3e12r6.jpg

For comparison purposes I thought I'd weigh them against some once fired Norma brass

Norma:

- 92.0gn
- 92.7go
- 91.7go

Military Brass

- 99.7gns
- 100.0gns
- 100.5gns

Pretty consistent weights.. Now I know what they are like I think I'll buy 20 to batch test

Oh and for those who like brass porn here's a picture of the celaned Hornady brass from yesterday's ammo testing session:

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnvt5zn0i.jpg

Hello Elliott I purchased about 800 FC brass as like you I am new to reloading and only shoot paper so thought that I would try the brass as it was reasonably priced. The only bit that takes time is the removal of the crimp. You might find that it is only a nats widger to remove but your primer will just not push in. I have now fired about 500 now and they suit me and my Tikka. Hope it works for you. Darran.

[Elliott]

Hello Elliott I purchased about 800 FC brass as like you I am new to reloading and only shoot paper so thought that I would try the brass as it was reasonably priced. The only bit that takes time is the removal of the crimp. You might find that it is only a nats widger to remove but your primer will just not push in. I have now fired about 500 now and they suit me and my Tikka. Hope it works for you. Darran.

Thanks Darran, they do look like normal brass but I haven't tried priming one yet. I guess I'll find what you and others have mentioned although I was expecting to see some sort of crimp after popping out the primer.

If it's a lot of faffing it's not worth bothering with. I'll have a go tonight