223 Brass

[Zonkers]

I have been saving my 223 brass and wondering if I’m wasting time bringing it home to maybe reload in the future. Currently no reloading equipment but interested in purchasing. The ammo brands that I typically shoot are PMC Bronze, Scorpio and Fiocchi Target Max. I shoot a bolt action for training, target and varmit hunting. Are these brass casings not worth keeping and reloading for what I’m using it for?

 

[DShortt]

I have been saving my 223 brass and wondering if I’m wasting time bringing it home to maybe reload in the future. Currently no reloading equipment but interested in purchasing. The ammo brands that I typically shoot are PMC Bronze, Scorpio and Fiocchi Target Max. I shoot a bolt action for training, target and varmit hunting. Are these brass casings not worth keeping and reloading for what I’m using it for?

If you're interested in very tiny, repeatable groups, probably not.

If you're just plinking and/or shooting off hand in volume, you'll probably not notice much.

I'd still separate by headstamp at minimum no matter what you plan to use it for.

I have some mixed brass I load at well under maximum for a couple of ARs. I don't expect to recover the brass so it doesn't matter too much. Just as an example.

 

[Dave Berg]

In my opinion your brass is well worth keeping. You can load your own ammo that should be significantly more accurate than over the counter stuff and cost less per round to make than it does to buy it. I started hand loading over fifty years ago just to try to save a few bucks and the improvement in accuracy got me hooked. The brands you mention admittedly aren't Lapua quality brass but all in all pretty good stuff. It's a great exercise to learn what makes a specific rifle more accurate - the rifle itself, the loaded round or (and it always comes down to this) the shooter. Some guys hand load because they enjoy it. Personally I find it mind numbingly tedious since it requires 100% of you attention but the end result was worth it.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Bring it home, you never know what the future holds . If you’re happy with the accuracy you have now with factory ammo it should be easy to duplicate by reloading with that brass if you decide to in the future.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Like MR. Berg says above, your brass is well worth saving. Since the brass was just shot in your own bolt rifle it should reload easy, some range brass can be stretched nearly ten thousandths out of a machine gun and you sure don’t want that.

 

[topclass2017]

And if nothing else, the brass has recycle value....

 

[Zonkers]

This is good to know and now wish I would of kept the brands separate, unless this doesn’t matter?

I’m not sure if RCBS already had their big rebate deal but probably should be checking for end-of-year sales on reloading equipment.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

For target, varmints separate brass by brand. Training,plinking mixing won't be an issue with middle of the charge weight loads checking sizing/finished rds thru an ammo checker.

 

[Jeff Porter]

And if nothing else, the brass has recycle value....

This. I do reload, a lot and had a several five gallon buckets of spit case necks, loose primer pockets etc brass saved up over the years. Local scrap yard was paying about $2.50 a pound. I had 150 pounds. Nice little payday for being a pack rat.

If you have a lot of brass and can get a good price, use the money to get reloading equipment or buy new quality components for your rifle.

 

[JB10]

From my experience i have taken mix headstamp brass and loaded to a safe load and gotten a few different rifles to shoot under 1/2 inch at 100 yards repeatability. For a varmint/ preditor rifle im good with that. Since its mixed brass i do not try and push it at max load since brass thickness between brands will be different. I just look for accuracy with the load.

 

[Heavy Metal 1]

Keep it because while now it is plentiful I have lived through famines when it was rare as hen's teeth and costly when found. Lean times may never come or they could just be right around the next corner, you just never know.

 

[KMW 1954]

Loading 223 for a number of years and the only brass I keep are PMC and Norma.

 

[DHD]

Like other's, I will tell you what I do. I do not mix headstamps and try to stay within same lots. I have/had access to drums of once fired 223 brass and helped my self to a 5 gallon bucket years ago. I can be choosy because I have so much and I also do not load "blasting" ammo.

If you have a good supply of one particular headstamp, then I might consider working with those. If you have 20 of this and 20 of that, I would just give it away to someone who wants to poke holes in the air.

 

[charlie b]

All depends. If you need the money you can always sell it for scrap. Until you decide to reload just keep it all in one bucket, no need to sort yet.

Reloading is an easy decision. .223 (and 9mm) ammo is fairly inexpensive to start with. If you are happy with the accuracy, then just keep buying it. It takes a long time to recoup the cost of reloading gear, even the less expensive stuff.

If you want better accuracy, and another hobby, then reloading is not a bad way to go.

A bit of advice....once you start it can become addicting. It leads one down a path that is not for the feint of heart. The reason many call it a 'rabbit hole' is the resulting mental condition it causes. Much like drug addition it creeps up on you. First you reload a bit, feel good about saving a bit of money and getting nice small groups, or shoot P dogs at longer ranges. So you start buying better brass and bullets (the ones that come in little blue and yellow boxes). Then you find your rifle could be better so you get a new barrel. Now you need a new bench rest or tripod. Then you need a better scale, then a new press. Now you need a new rifle. Then better dies. Then custom bullets. You start dreaming of what new loads you will try, or which twist rate you will use for the next new barrel. You have rows of powder jugs on the shelf and cases of bullets. You start weighing primers and measuring runout. You talk to yourself in public as you think about your dismal day at the range after one bullet messed up a 0.1" group or you missed that Pdog at 800yd. By now most of your family and friends will consider placing you under medical care.

But, be confident that the people in this forum will be with you every step of the way. Even when the folks in white lab coats are taking you away we'll suggest a new cartridge for you that will give you that 1" group at 1000yd.

Merry Christmas and hope you are still sane by this time next year

 

[Dgd6mm]

Yesterday I watched a man pick up around 500 pieces of .308 once fired brass that 2 others guys were shooting. On the ground was quite a bit of PMC .223 brass left laying.

 

[WV Hitman]

I've picked up a lot of brass over the years at the range- once fired. I don't separate the brands, just load them with 40 gr. or 50 gr. BTs in my Contender handgun. My records show I've killed 1694 groundhogs/rockchuck with these mixed cases out to 400 yds. It still shoots 3/8" with this "junk" cases. I'm happy.

 

[argrendel]

Right now, Blue Collar Reloading has Lapua 69 grain loaded ammo on sale. $88 per 50 rounds. You might find some mighty fine shooting with brass well worth saving.
I used to buy the cheapest used brass I could find. That all sits in a bucket. Too many issues. Now when I need brass, I look for processed brass with a single manufacturer, for my 9mms and Ar-15s, and buy Lapua for my bolts.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

My vote is save it. If nothing else sell it, use it, it sell for scrap.

I use PMC and LC for hog hunting. Leave it on the ground after firing it for hunting purposes. Maybe someone in the far off future will find it and see it as finding an improved arrowhead

 

[Doom]

You can certainly use this brass. For hunting, varminting, plinking it will do fine. Is it worth the effort? That's for you to decide. I will add this. Segregate the brass by brand. Then when you reload it, sort it by weight within the brands into 50 round lots. This will tend to keep the case volumes more consistent than no sorting and should aid consistency. Weight isn't as good a measure of volume as directly measuring it but for this purpose will do fine.

 

[Oso]

While you are contemplating whether or not to take up reloading, buy a HomeDepot 5gal bucket and lid. Drop your spent cases into it. It will hold approximately 6k cases so you have plenty of time to ponder this decision. In the meantime if you’re bored you can knock out the spent primers with a hammer and decapping rod ($5).

If you decide that reloading isn’t for you then you can easily find a fellow shooter to gift the brass. They will be grateful OR you can do a DIY project with it.

I have collected a few buckets of “scrap” brass that I find unworthy. Less desirable headstamps, unusual calibers, damaged cases, etc. This hoard of scrap metal is ear tagged for DIY and is waiting for me to make a mini furnace to melt it down into paper weights.