FC vs LC brass

[fguffey]

Where might one find new/virgin LC mil-spec brass available commercially? Never heard of such a thing, but intrigued...

I was in north central Ohio visiting Pat at Pats reloading. He had LC Match cases that were pull down, I made a few phone calls to check if reloaders in my area were interested. No one was interested so I purchased 2,000 cases. When I returned home they wanted to see the cases, and then? They were interested, Pat made me a deal so I ordered another 3.000. This was a few years ago.

When I finish a rifle I take it to the range with 12 different loads of 10 cases each. I use different bullets, powders or different amounts of powder with different weight of bullets. I do not see the difference others claim they get when using different cases. I use new cases, once fired cases, military cases fired once and pull down cases and then there are the different brands of cases. The groups move but none of them open up nor do I see flyers.

F. Guffey

 

[riflewoman]

I think Federal buys some 223 brass from lake city. The dots on the case head indicate the station the brass was made on the SCAMP machines at Lake City. So it is really Lake City brass.

Th US Army Loads their 5.56 match ammo (as does Black Hills for the Mk262) on primed Lake City cases. For 600 yards they segregate into 1 grain increments and deburring is about all the prep work they do.

 

[hikfromstik]

I think Federal buys some 223 brass from lake city. The dots on the case head indicate the station the brass was made on the SCAMP machines at Lake City. So it is really Lake City brass.

Th US Army Loads their 5.56 match ammo (as does Black Hills for the Mk262) on primed Lake City cases. For 600 yards they segregate into 1 grain increments and deburring is about all the prep work they do.

I had my suspensions about the dots on the rim being LC made brass . Thanks

 

[hogpatrol]

Pat's Reloading has new LC brass and LC pulldown brass. Also carries primed LC brass.

http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Brass

In my opinion, the best .223 brass is IMI and LC & FC is machine gun brass.

Aside from that, IIRC, LC and FC are made in the same plant, just different headstamps.

 

[Tesoro]

Where might one find new/virgin LC mil-spec brass available commercially? Never heard of such a thing, but intrigued...

I got a bag of it from john brassman.com he lives in my town

 

[joshb]

the two most common range pickups in my area. have a ton of each. before i bother processing, which have you found to be better? (FC is with the dots on the headstamp)

I have thousands of each and use both in my 308s and 223s. It makes pretty good "shooting ammo". By shooting ammo, I mean that I'll load 500 rounds and meet a few friends at the range for an afternoon of fun shooting. It won't kill me if I lose a few, either. I can get some fairly respectable groups out of it if I load it right. I wouldn't expect to place well if I used it in a competition, tho. I have some Lapua brass for my good guns. I like the Federal better than the Lake City for some inane reason. Just me, but if you decide to toss one or the other, I'll pay the postage to toss it my way. Just pm me your address. Josh

 

[joshb]

Pat's Reloading has new LC brass and LC pulldown brass. Also carries primed LC brass.

http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Brass

In my opinion, the best .223 brass is IMI and LC & FC is machine gun brass.

Aside from that, IIRC, LC and FC are made in the same plant, just different headstamps.

Dale: Do you think IMI is better than Lapua?

 

[Tesoro]

Machine gun brass is only that when fired out of one. IMI is the best no argument there. The Israelis have more reason than most to make great arms and ammo!

 

[hogpatrol]

Dale: Do you think IMI is better than Lapua?

Josh, that's a when did you stop beating your wife question. For me it is. I use it in ARs and one bolt rifle. Full disclosure, I do use R-P range brass for shooting steel.

 

[joshb]

Well, stupid me but I've never had any IMI brass to look at! The Israelis can make some pretty nice stuff. Just asking.

 

[hogpatrol]

Well, stupid me but I've never had any IMI brass to look at! The Israelis can make some pretty nice stuff. Just asking.

Widener's carries new IMI .308 match brass. The 5.56 is very hard to find. I have about 500 rounds of the crimped type but if you can get the new uncrimped version, you've hit the lottery. There was a load on gunbroker a few years ago and I bought 200 rounds to try. I should have bought a thousand.

https://www.wideners.com/reloading-supplies/brass-casings/308-win-762x51mm-brass-casings

 

[riflewoman]

I have some IMI brass in 308. It was nothing special, IMO.

 

[Tesoro]

I prefer IMI brass for my bolt

 

[chop house]

well, riflewoman got me started down this trail... and look where it led:

from Orbital ATK, the contractor operating LCAAP since 2000:

"... In addition to manufacturing ammunition for the DoD, Orbital ATK’s Lake City facility also produces high-quality ammunition for commercial customers, ..."

"... All Lake City ammunition, whether for military or commercial use, is manufactured in the same facility, utilizing the same processes and quality-control standards. Orbital ATK partners with several commercial companies to provide cartridges and components for their ammunition needs. As a leader in aerospace and defense technologies, Orbital ATK and the Lake City facility maintain the critical skills, personnel, and technical manufacturing capabilities essential to successfully deliver high quality, small-caliber ammunition from development to production.

Our commercial partners include:

• Federal Cartridge – We are excited to continue our longest standing and largest relationship with Federal Cartridge, supplying AE .223, XM855 Green Tip and XM193 5.56x45mm cartridges for the commercial market.
• Hornady – The combination of Hornady projectiles with the famous Lake City brass allows the shooting public access to a wider offering of bullet weights and types including FMJ, Spire Point and Boat-tail Hollow Point in both .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm cartridges ranging from 55gr to 75gr.
• Fiocchi USA – Lake City will be providing .223 Remington cartridge cases manufactured with the famous Lake City brass to Fiocchi USA for cartridge assembly and packaging at its facility located in Ozark, Missouri. ..."

i shoot alot of the fiocchi .223. i have identified 3 distinct types of brass... the largest difference being between the 'shooting dynamics' line and the 'extrema' line. i have repeatedly seen the difference on paper, with the extrema being better. the headstamps on one have G.F.L. and on the other GFL. Then there is a variation with smaller font.

so, i guess i unwittingly asked somewhat of a trick question. kinda like asking which powder do you find more temperature sensitive: W760 or H414?

 

[243winxb]

FC is with the dots on the headstamp)

Same as LC.
Scamp markings
Some US GI cartridge cases are run on SCAMP (Small Caliber Ammunition Modernization Program) lines. This is HIGH speed cartridge case making equipment. Several lines of SCAMP machinery may be used to run cases thru out the year, or on the same lot/year of ammo. Those dots identify which SCAMP line

 

[nicholst55]

I've already got a metric butt-load of 1x fired mixed military brass; don't need any more. Not interested in pull-down. I wasn't quite accurate above in that I'd never heard of 'new' LC 5.56 brass... just never seen any place that actually had it in stock... ever.

I bought some from Midway (I think) a few years ago.