223 rem brass life

[Kevin1990]

My final question for the 223 bolt build I have planned, is what is brass life like for Lapua and others? I used the search function, (probably improperly) and didn't find much. I know there are so many variables to this, but what kind of brass life are you getting? I don't plan on pushing it to max loads. When the Lapua 223 rem hits the shelves again, which I'm being told is in a month or two, I'm curious how many boxes I should get to burn the barrel out.

Thanks fellas

 

[memilanuk]

That largely depends on how stupid you get with the powder charges.

Run it like a .223, and you can expect reasonable case life, like any other cartridge.

Try running it like a 22 Creed / 22-250 'lite', and well, you can probably expect the cases not to last very long.

It always amazes me to see people bragging about slinging 75-80+ gn bullets @ 3000+ fps from a .223... and then see them complaining about their brass being crap, and the primer pockets not holding up. No kidding...

 

[Kevin1990]

That largely depends on how stupid you get with the powder charges.

Run it like a .223, and you can expect reasonable case life, like any other cartridge.

Try running it like a 22 Creed / 22-250 'lite', and well, you can probably expect the cases not to last very long.

It always amazes me to see people bragging about slinging 75-80+ gn bullets @ 3000+ fps from a .223... and then see them complaining about their brass being crap, and the primer pockets not holding up. No kidding...

Hahaha! I just read on a different forum someone only getting about 1-2 firings with a max charge and an 80 grainer. That's not RE-loading, that's just loading.

I'm hoping 8-10 reloads would be doable with a moderate charge of n140 or varget behind a 69smk or the like.

 

[William Vogel]

I have a converted 223AI that I know I resized the original 223 brass at least 6 times then rechambered it to AI and have again resized at least 6 times with Lapua brass. So that’s 12 sizings. I anneal every time and use bushing full length sizing dies. The original chamber was a match chamber with 1 1/2 degree leade. I shoot fairly high velocity but watch for pressure signs. Hoping new brass is released soon because it’s gotta be close to done.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Since you are not going to try magumizing it, your brass life will depend on your reloading. A die with too tight a neck will over size the neck then the expander ball will have to open it back up a lot creating a split neck after a few reloads. Over sizing(pushing shoulder back to much) will create a weak area on the case body which will blow out after a few reloads. Some brass is a little better than others. Most of my 223 brass is LC pickup. The cost is right! Works good. I use it for XTC out to 300, then switch to Win for 600. For PD's, XTC practice at 100, 200, and 300, not range pickup. I sort by headstamp and when I have enough of a given headstamp, I put it into the short range rotation as needed.

Frank

 

[jepp2]

I'm curious how many boxes I should get to burn the barrel out.

Significant factors in 223 brass life:
1. Pressure you load to
2. How much you setback your shoulder each sizing
3. Do you anneal

I shoot AR's a lot. I had "read" that folks toss their brass after 5 loadings. So I decided to run a brass life test. We know gas guns are hard on brass. I set the shoulder back more for my gas guns than my bolt guns, so I expected to potentially encounter incipient case head separations.

So I picked up 20 once fired LC brass at the range. Some already had loose primer pockets. I set the shoulder back a good 0.003" each sizing, annealed them every 5 firings. I found after 10 firings I didn't get any brass when I trimmed them. I checked the inside of the case with a paper clip after every firing. The shortest case life was 24 firings and the longest lasted 37 firings. NONE had any evidence of case head separation. Basically they all failed due to gouges in the case neck as they contacted the bolt locking lugs during ejection. As soon as I could see light through the gouge, I ended the test. Here is what the gouges looked like on the case necks.

 

[Cemetery21]

Here is what the gouges looked like on the case necks.

Debur those two lugs in the barrel extension and cure the gouges.
Nice report on case life Sir.

 

[jepp2]

Debur those two lugs in the barrel extension and cure the gouges.
Nice report on case life Sir.

Already part of my new barrel prep routine. Thanks!

 

[Seagull]

What are you using the 223 for and what weight projectiles ? My 223 is a daily use and abuse rifle 1-8 twist shoots anything from 5ts to 80s out of it . Will probably get 7500 out of a barrel and probably still only use 400 pieces of brass. Once new barrel goes in will still use the same 400 pieces of brass. Not using lapua brass as I dnt feel like.loosing brass out the windows of the Ute.

 

[Kevin1990]

What are you using the 223 for and what weight projectiles ? My 223 is a daily use and abuse rifle 1-8 twist shoots anything from 5ts to 80s out of it . Will probably get 7500 out of a barrel and probably still only use 400 pieces of brass. Once new barrel goes in will still use the same 400 pieces of brass. Not using lapua brass as I dnt feel like.loosing brass out the windows of the Ute.

Good to know, that seems like a healthy amount of brass life. I plan on using 69smk or 73 berger behind varget or N-140.

 

[Seagull]

Varget is 2208 to us in Australia . All my barrels that get put on my rifle have wylde chambers in them allowing me to load to mag length and also to single feed if using at the range . We shoot out to 900 yards here with 223s . But as I said mine is solely used as work rifle paddock duties these for feral animal control and game meat harvesting for petmeat Industry

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have gotten better life from Starline 556 in my ftr rifle.

 

[Kevin1990]

I have gotten better life from Starline 556 in my ftr rifle.

What's life looking like for either of them if you don't mind me asking?

 

[SKWERLZ]

My standard 75/77 load is 23.4 to 23.8( depending on barrel) for 2690 to 2720 fps with 8208 xbr and if I anneal I get 5-8 loads easy with LC brass in a gasser.
Usually I lose the brass before I lose the primer pockets.

 

[Walt Krafft]

After 4 loadings half of a 500 piece lot of Lapua was in the scrap bucket with oversize primer pockets. Have not lost a single Starline after 6 loadings. 24.0 N140 Berger 80.5 Wylde chamber. Bolt gun.

 

[DGP4]

I use a Lee swaging die on my .223 brass and it seems to prolong the primer pocket usefulness. I do not approach the maximum charge on my reloads, but I do load in the mid-range. For example, my load for 77 SMKs is 2,700 FPS. My brass lasts at least 10-12 reloads with mixed brass. Since I don't anneal, my brass usually dies because of split necks. I use mixed brass that is usually range pick-ups.

 

[ArtinNC]

Not shooting a gas gun but I have been shooting a 222 with the same 200 brass for 60 years and still shoot some of same Norma. About 3 years ago I went with Lapua brass that I like and Starline but have not shot the Starline yet . And been thru 3 barrels in that gun

 

[K22]

I shoot strictly bolt rifle and bullets ranging from 50 to 60 grains only in my 223's.

I full size with minimal (optimum) shoulder bump. I use only virgin cases, same brand and lot dedicated to a specific rifle. I do not anneal.

I get between 15 and 18 reloads. I carefully inspect each case each time I reload.

 

[Seagull]

Yes I use wma brass that has been used once in a semi auto at a local range by law enforcement. Bring them home by the box full sonic clean , full length resize ,trim to length and ream primer pockets as there as crimped pockets. If I loose a few out the windows I'm not to worried about it .

 

[JSH]

That largely depends on how stupid you get with the powder charges.

Run it like a .223, and you can expect reasonable case life, like any other cartridge.

Try running it like a 22 Creed / 22-250 'lite', and well, you can probably expect the cases not to last very long.

It always amazes me to see people bragging about slinging 75-80+ gn bullets @ 3000+ fps from a .223... and then see them complaining about their brass being crap, and the primer pockets not holding up. No kidding...

AND, there were NO pressure signs, ……………..