new 223 brass or once fired?

[rebs]

If you buy new LC 5.56 brass and shoot it, it is now once fired brass, right? Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

 

[GLShooter]

You know what chamber it was fired in. Machine gun fired stuff us no bueno for some work.

 

[jepp2]

Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

When I was accumulating some LC brass I would buy Federal XM193 loaded ammo. If I fired it when the temperature was above 40 degrees, the brass would show signs of excess pressure. Same result with military sourced once fire brass. One buy I lost about 1/3 due to loose primer pockets. With new brass you have control over every firing.

 

[urbanrifleman]

If you buy new LC 5.56 brass and shoot it, it is now once fired brass, right? Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

I have pushing this lake city Frontier. 223/556 on customers with the Hornady match bullet. Shoot it once and you have LC brass with no crimp.

 

[jelenko]

You know what chamber it was fired in. Machine gun fired stuff us no bueno for some work.

+ a bunch!

In addition, the 'once fired brass' doesn't say how many times it's been fired.

After getting a few lots of once fired brass that had splits, case separations and primer pockets too loose within the first or second time I reloaded them, I've decided to just buy new.

 

[Twdmar]

If you buy new LC 5.56 brass and shoot it, it is now once fired brass, right? Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

If you can find new LC brass, buy it. It's good stuff. Unless you own a SAW, your brass will still be in better shape than the stuff you may get that's once fired.
GI ammunition is loaded extremely hot, especially the new 855a1. When it's fired in a generously sized chamber, it's often not that great for reloading.

 

[joshb]

It depends on what your purpose is. Are you loading for accuracy, plinking or the revolution? (Changed from the Zombie Apocalypse)

 

[K22]

If you buy new LC 5.56 brass and shoot it, it is now once fired brass, right? Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

Cases fired out of semi auto, depending on the rifle and extractor, will sometimes damage the rims of the cases. While most of the time the cases are still useable for reloading, sometimes the functional life of the case, i.e., ability to extract reliably, can be compromised.

For plinking and general range shooting, the aforementioned potential problem is not an issue. However, for hunting, the extraction issue could exhibit itself at an inopportune time. Therefore, for my hunting reloads, I prefer to start with new virgin cases. Since I get anywhere from 15 to 18 reloads per case, the cost is amortized quite effectively.

 

[ebb]

Josh, social work is the term used with the end of the world as we know it group.

 

[vonb]

If you buy once fired, check it in your chamber after sizing. Nothing worse than getting in the field and finding out it doesn't chamber after sizing.

 

[gpoldblue]

If you buy new LC 5.56 brass and shoot it, it is now once fired brass, right? Is there a reason for buying new brass instead of once fired?

What you said is true,BUT,now it is more/less fire formed to YOUR chamber and hasn't been work hardened in God knows who's chamber/how many times. Yes....if you can,start with new brass.

 

[Bill K]

I guess the answer would be, because you found and want some new brass to start with.
I will buy new brass, sometimes, but also pick up and use a lot of once fired brass, when I find it. Just flat saves money and is sitting there waiting to be plucked.

 

[dantiff2]

If you are contemplating once fired brass, it makes me believe that you want a large volume of brass.. Otherwise, just buy new, commercial as you need it. My advice to the first suggestion is to buy as much as you can afford ; ) Since 2020's election, once fired military brass has been getting harder and harder to acquire. The new administration shut down the repurposing of military base brass to civilians. Some shops have closed up because of this and some the stuff that's still on the market is NOT true once fired. You can tell they've been reloaded because of crimps are removed and there's evidence of a chamfer/debur. It's also tainted with commercial headstamps so you get even less than you paid for. Plus, the price has skyrocketed : (
Dan

 

[rebs]

Thank you guys for the replies, I appreciate it
With new LC hard to find, what brand of new 223 brass is recommended?

 

[NETim]

If you are contemplating once fired brass, it makes me believe that you want a large volume of brass.. Otherwise, just buy new, commercial as you need it. My advice to the first suggestion is to buy as much as you can afford ; ) Since 2020's election, once fired military brass has been getting harder and harder to acquire. The new administration shut down the repurposing of military base brass to civilians. Some shops have closed up because of this and some the stuff that's still on the market is NOT true once fired. You can tell they've been reloaded because of crimps are removed and there's evidence of a chamfer/debur. It's also tainted with commercial headstamps so you get even less than you paid for. Plus, the price has skyrocketed : (
Dan

If that policy doesn't indicate a certain disdain for the American people, I don't know what does.

 

[David Milisock]

When I was accumulating some LC brass I would buy Federal XM193 loaded ammo. If I fired it when the temperature was above 40 degrees, the brass would show signs of excess pressure. Same result with military sourced once fire brass. On buy I lost about 1/3 due to loose primer pockets. With new brass you have control over every firing.XM193 is 5.56

XM193 is 5.56 were you shooting it in a 223 chamber?

 

[jepp2]

XM193 is 5.56 were you shooting it in a 223 chamber?

Nope. 5.56 AR chamber

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have picked up brass(1200+) after a carbine classes at my membership only range. Have not had any problems, deprime, wash, size(RCBS standard FL), cut pockets and chamfer(drill press). I have used it in 2 AR and 3 bolt guns. Mostly for prairie dog, so it shoots good, very comparable to new brass.

 

[dantiff2]

XM193 is 5.56 were you shooting it in a 223 chamber?

I believe some of that military stuff is really pushing the boundary's due to pressure. I've picked up LC brass off the ground (at my local range) that still has the primer crimp in place, indicating it was never reloaded that showed an extreme protrusion into the ejector hole (ejector swipe) and darn near had the case rim ripped off where the extractor claw is. The only other thing I can think of would be someone using it in an AR pistol configuration with super short gas system. That still would not account for the head swipe pressures.

 

[dantiff2]

I have picked up brass(1200+) after a carbine classes at my membership only range. Have not had any problems, deprime, wash, size(RCBS standard FL), cut pockets and chamfer(drill press). I have used it in 2 AR and 3 bolt guns. Mostly for prairie dog, so it shoots good, very comparable to new brass.

I've had the same result as you. I have thousands of once fired that I've lost count on total number of loads, still going strong after the first initial prep. Anneal every cycle and only discard when the primer pockets start to feel to lose. At that point, I set them aside for the "you know what". ; ) Even then, I still like to add new to the mix when I can find it in stock.