223 brass, how to separate ?

[DLT]

I have kept all I could find of 223/556 brass I have fired out of numerous rifles mostly AR from here at my house. Several years worth. I am trying to sort them out. I’m putting frontier which I think is LC, FC which is federal I believe and LC brass together and tumble them. I notice the fc and LC has all kinds of head stamps on them dots and numbers. If they will size down and chamber I am going to use them in a 223 bolt gun. How is the best way to sort them ? Thanks

 

[mmcu]

Since you're using them in a bolt gun, I am assuming that you're looking for an accurate load.

I use LC brass exclusively for the following process. First, I sort by headstamp and year and then FLS, trim and prep the brass. As a final step, I weight sort into batches of +/- 1 grain.

This approach has worked well for me.

 

[jpx2rk]

I sort brass down by headstamp or brand and keep it separated that way, PMC, IMI, LC, FC, etc. I don't sort LC or FC down by year, just brand. Works for me but I just shoot varmints, not competition.

 

[DLT]

Thanks for the replies. Can anyone confirm that frontier is LC brass or Federal brass ?

 

[Just Say Moe]

Frontier is Hornady I believe.

 

[DLT]

Frontier is Hornady I believe.

Yes it’s loaded by hornady but i don’t think it’s hornady brass. I’ll do some digging also

 

[TheCZKid]

LC is Lake city, FC is Federal, Frontier is Hornady's version of less expensive ammo, so it's not polished and shows the annealing still.
Depending on how accurate you want your loads to be, will determine how much effort you could go to in sorting. I definitely would sort by brands of headstamp.

Lake City is well made, consistent, easy to find on the ground where people shoot, and probably the best option for inexpensive brass if you don't want to buy Lapua.

I also like LC brass for accuracy. Here's some info you could use in dealing with Lake City brass. First, the primer pockets typically have a crimp around the edge (a thin ring or 4 punched marks), as it's made for military spec ammo. You'll need to remove that crimp by either "swaging" it with something like a Dillon Super Swager or I think RCBS has one you put like a die in a press (and I'm sure there's more options), or trimming the outer rim with a tool to remove the pushed in metal. Once you swage the crimp, it's done for the life of the brass.

As to the markings: typically it has LC and two numbers, the numbers are the year made. So 18 is 2018, 09 is 2009, etc. There's some newer LC brass that says 223 on it, but most don't have a caliber stamped. They probably have a round dot with a + stamped into the center, that's a Nato stamp, showing it was military spec ammo.

 

[std7mag]

Frontier is Hornady brass.

If your looking for accuracy rounds in a bolt rifle, LC is a good start.
Bear in mind the primer pockets will be crimped!

You can either get a crimp remover (reamer) or a swager.

 

[TheCZKid]

Also, with LC brass, they typically are pretty consistent, and weigh pretty close to the same. But, if you want to try for "best" accuracy, then consistency is always the goal. So sort the LC into year stamps. Then you can also sort those by weight, it all depends on how far you want to go down the rabbit hole.

I normally prep by removing the primer then ultrasonic clean all the brass. Then I use my Dillon super swager and take out the crimp. Then, do what you normally do to load. My process includes FL sizing, primer pocket uniforming with K&M uniformer, and then I trim to length, chamfer & deburr the necks, and you're good to go! If iI do these in stages, I typically put in a little note with a batch of brass, indicating what I've done so far, and what need to be done still. I think I'll remember, but I don't!

 

[DLT]

Frontier is Hornady brass.

If your looking for accuracy rounds in a bolt rifle, LC is a good start.
Bear in mind the primer pockets will be crimped!

You can either get a crimp remover (reamer) or a swager.

I have a crimp remover. Or I think I have one I’ll post a pic and y’all can tell me. It’s been a long time

 

[jpx2rk]

I have a crimp remover. Or I think I have one I’ll post a pic and y’all can tell me. It’s been a long time

View attachment 1417404

Yes that is a crimp remover, just make sure it's a small primer sized one. They work, but are hard on the hands IMO, I use them for a few range pick up's I find, but the volume stuff goes thru a swage die, just easier overall IMO.

 

[DLT]

Yes that is a crimp remover, just make sure it's a small primer sized one. They work, but are hard on the hands IMO, I use them for a few range pick up's I find, but the volume stuff goes thru a swage die, just easier overall IMO.

I’m sure. Thanks. I do have the smaller one the good thing is I’m not in a hurry

 

[762plinker]

Also, with LC brass, they typically are pretty consistent, and weigh pretty close to the same.

NOT EVEN CLOSE
there have been posts on year by year weights.
i can only assume your version of accuracy and mine are not the same.

 

[762plinker]

take all the brass as is and sell at a metal recycler.
then buy a box or two of lapua 223 match brass, and sort them by weight.
try for 3 50 round groups, use the outliers for fouling early development.
if this is a savage std rifle, save your money( fclass are the exception)

 

[DLT]

take all the brass as is and sell at a metal recycler.
then buy a box or two of lapua 223 match brass, and sort them by weight.
try for 3 50 round groups, use the outliers for fouling early development.
if this is a savage std rifle, save your money( fclass are the exception)

Lol it is. It’s pretty accurate as it is just a little low on case capacity as I’m using starline brass. I can’t get anywhere near book before crunching the piss out of powder

 

[L.Sherm]

Obviously some have not shot much LC brass.
L.C 223 brass is pretty damn good.

 

[762plinker]

Obviously some have not shot much LC brass.
L.C 223 brass is pretty damn good.

for those with low standards. or large targets.
JUST as savage mag fed stock rifles are good, but not great
i do TARGET shooting as in SMALL GROUPS.
I USE TO BUY 223/556 BY THE LB IN 5 GALLON BUCKETS.
IT IS GREAT FOR ITS intended use...2moa ar15/m16 but it is not GROUP TARGET QUALITY AS IT COMES.

 

[762plinker]

Lol it is. It’s pretty accurate as it is just a little low on case capacity as I’m using starline brass. I can’t get anywhere near book before crunching the piss out of powder

savage makes some target rifles but their std across the counter aint one of them. i owned a ton of savages and sold all but one production rifle and 2 of the single shot target rifles.
you have not listed
twist
bbl length
bullet name and weight
powder
primer
group size at x distance
scope name and power

 

[TheCZKid]

NOT EVEN CLOSE
there have been posts on year by year weights.
i can only assume your version of accuracy and mine are not the same.

LC in a single year tends to be close, not necessarily from one year to the next. I did suggest sorting by year, and if you want it even more accurate, weight them. It really depends on if he's shooting benchrest matches or shooting varmints at 100 yards, etc.
There's a lot of variables in loading and shooting that affect how well a person shoots and measured accuracy, most are more important than having brass all weigh the same. YMMV

 

[SteveOak]

Who makes Hornady Frontier ammo?

Hornady teamed up with Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) to use its excess production capacity for production of Hornady's new line of Frontier-branded ammo.

Hornady brass or LC? Your guess is as good as mine. Probably better. LOL