Bulk *NEW* LC 5.56 brass

[dolek]

Idaho, I Don't blame you one bit.

Dale boy, do search on the Lake city Plant and the explosion. This search will get you started.

Federal is the sub contractor for Lake City at this time.

I lost pockets in one firing going from new 223 to 223 AI, old once fired lake city would take a dozen firings.

Ok,thanks for info...will take a look.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

I bought a bunch of new LC 18 headstamp brass from Grafs a while back to shoot in my AR. Not having to deal with crimps is phenomenal. I have not noticed any difference in hardness from older LC, but my loads are not super hot (~57Kpsi according to QL).

 

[AckleymanII]

I run hot loads in 223 AI, normally use IMI brass from years ago or Lapua. LC used to be as hard as IMI and Lapua, new stuff is not. Another 223 Rem 700 hunting load that I use is pretty hot with 12t barrels, benchmark with 55's(cci450) at 3450, out of a 24" barrel. Primer pockets are lost in one firing.

 

[JSH]

What I found was as what I thought. They have been working with Federal for at least 10 years. So it is nothing new.

 

[Uncle Ed]

I run hot loads in 223 AI, normally use IMI brass from years ago or Lapua. LC used to be as hard as IMI and Lapua, new stuff is not. Another 223 Rem 700 hunting load that I use is pretty hot with 12t barrels, benchmark with 55's(cci450) at 3450, out of a 24" barrel. Primer pockets are lost in one firing.

Military Lake City brass is harder than Lapua and commercial .223 brass. This is a requirement since the 1968 Congressional hearings on the M16 jamming problem.

How Hard is Your Brass? 5.56 and .223 Rem Base Hardness Tests
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...r-brass-5-56-and-223-rem-base-hardness-tests/

Below in the lower left corner is the hardness gradient chart, also the flash hole web is thicker and adds strength to the base and extends primer pocket life.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

My observations are aligned with Uncle Ed's information. I have found LC brass, including the LC 18 headstamped brass, to be harder than my Lapua 223 brass.

When I seat primers in my Lapua brass, the rim is scored by the shell holder. Very annoying since after loading several times it makes it difficult to use shell holders that do not have some 'slop'. I do not see any scoring on LC brass.

 

[dolek]

Military Lake City brass is harder than Lapua and commercial .223 brass. This is a requirement since the 1968 Congressional hearings on the M16 jamming problem.

How Hard is Your Brass? 5.56 and .223 Rem Base Hardness Tests
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...r-brass-5-56-and-223-rem-base-hardness-tests/

Below in the lower left corner is the hardness gradient chart, also the flash hole web is thicker and adds strength to the base and extends primer pocket life.

Great info,I was wondering about the softness claim...I thought maybe I missed something because I have always had what I thought was hard brass with nice pockets...even after reaming the crimp out.

 

[TAJ45]

Sure hope it be as hard as the Mil-Spec criteria sez it's s'posed to be. I bought two batches this year. :-]]

I think I'll do some internal QC checks with my depth mike for total base thickness and thickness from bottom of primer pocket to case internal base. Hope they are robust measurements.

 

[Radar]

The only reason you will ever see NEW LC brass for sale is because it did not meet specs and could not be used by them. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Webster]

Lake City contracted Fed to make the brass since the plant blew up.

Find some old Lake city 5.56 brass, check the difference in the current stamps.

The plant didn't really blow up. About 40 buildings on site. The explosion was at a primer related building. One person killed 3 injured and refused treatment. The building reopened one week later.

 

[AckleymanII]

Sub contracted lots maybe softer....you have been warned.

 

[dolek]

The only reason you will ever see NEW LC brass for sale is because it did not meet specs and could not be used by them. Just something to keep in mind.

Proof to your claim ?

 

[searcher]

This LC unfired brass surfaces now and then. I've bought thousands of pieces over the years, mostly from Midsouth when they get it. I don't know about the claims of being "seconds", but that is plausible. Regardless, I have found no discernible flaws in what I have ordered and have worn out many thousands of pieces. The life span has been a bit better than once-fired mil-surplus, likely giving to not having been fired in another chamber first. I think it is great stuff.

 

[Uncle Ed]

Sure hope it be as hard as the Mil-Spec criteria sez it's s'posed to be. I bought two batches this year. :-]]

I think I'll do some internal QC checks with my depth mike for total base thickness and thickness from bottom of primer pocket to case internal base. Hope they are robust measurements.

Cut a two inch steel rod that easily fits inside the case neck. Then drill one end of the rod and make the end cup shaped to fit over any burs in the flash hole. Then go to town with your vernier caliper and don't spare the rod.

It is the thin flash hole webs pictured below that make primer pockets short lived and not worth reloading.

 

[Radar]

Proof to your claim ?

Nope....what do you want a official document from Federal Cartridge or Lake City? Just passing on what I have been told by my brother. He passed away last Oct. but did spend a lot of years in the ammo industry and did talk about the Federal/Lake City dealings.

 

[JSH]

The only reason you will ever see NEW LC brass for sale is because it did not meet specs and could not be used by them. Just something to keep in mind.

I know several that have worked there and one that retired from there. No idea where you came up with that.
I don’t know if they still do or not, employees were able to by stuff once or twice a year.
You don’t take stuff home from there. It is government property. They made examples out of a couple of clowns that were selling brass for scrap. I beli e they reside in the Leavenworth motel now.

 

[Radar]

This LC unfired brass surfaces now and then. I've bought thousands of pieces over the years, mostly from Midsouth when they get it. I don't know about the claims of being "seconds", but that is plausible. Regardless, I have found no discernible flaws in what I have ordered and have worn out many thousands of pieces. The life span has been a bit better than once-fired mil-surplus, likely giving to not having been fired in another chamber first. I think it is great stuff.

They would not sell it if it was not safe but it mostly likely did not pass mil spec inspections for some reason is all.

 

[Uncle Ed]

Proof to your claim ?

Many people claim the Lake City ammunition sold by Federal failed some type of quality check at Lake City.

So how else does Federal sell 5.56 ammunition with a LC headstamp when its against the law for the govenment to sell newly made ammunition to civilians. It must be past its shelf life, defective or fail quality checks. Normally the ammunition is de-milled and sold as scrap, "BUT" since ATK runs Lake City and also owns Federal somehow the LC cases end up at Federal.

This is why I buy once fired military Lake City brass fired at military ranges. Meaning this ammunition past all quality checks and was fired by the military and then the brass was sold as scrap brass.

How many of you ever saw ammunition like below with Remington or Winchester on the box with Lake City cases inside.

 

[TAJ45]

You read my mind Ed, working around the burr. Without a lathe, easiest, nor a mill, only slightly more challenging to set up to center drill, I'll be doing a Dremel. The under equipped man's center drill. :-]

 

[Radar]

I know several that have worked there and one that retired from there. No idea where you came up with that.
I don’t know if they still do or not, employees were able to by stuff once or twice a year.
You don’t take stuff home from there. It is government property. They made examples out of a couple of clowns that were selling brass for scrap. I beli e they reside in the Leavenworth motel now.

Well...he is dead now but someday I'll tell him he was a liar and didn't know any thing about his job.