Sorting LC brass

[37Lincoln1]

Got all that before, good information, but what about staked primer pockets like this one? That's what we are asking about here right now. . .

 

[Shynloco]

If the crimp in the LC brass is not a round crimp, but rather has four stakes in the base of the case around the primer, do not reuse that brass.. it was staked because the factory deemed it only safe enough to use once.. the primer was staked in order to ensure that the primer would stay in.. it was staked because the plant deemed the case head too soft to support a regular crimp to keep the primer in.

I have heard or read that the 4 indents are just a new way to crimp the primer. I find it hard to believe that they would even use suspect brass for original loadings. Perhaps if this was a lawyer free society, mabey. Am very interested in where you got this information. I have several hundred of those cartridges.

Tom

Tom,
I support you in your explanation. I read about that new style of crimp LC uses about a year (perhaps longer) ago and THINK it was on either the LC webpage or that of a major distributor of LC brass that details the process they use to make their brass and loads. Personally, I haven't used LC brass in about 3 or 4 yrs when I moved over to Lapua for more consistent brass and better accuracy. Having said that, LC brass was some of the best brass I used before that, both in an AR platform as well as a Bolt Gun. I found it lasts longer and performs better overall, but still not as good as Lapua if you are looking for competition or best accuracy grade materials. And even back then, I found that measuring the brass and separating it into groups (by weight)provided better overall accuracy and performance, hence a better score.

 

[bigedp51]

Got all that before, good information, but what about staked primer pockets like this one? That's what we are asking about here right now. . .

The photo shows a 5.56 cartridge case made at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, with the NATO symbol on its base. This means the brass meets mil-spec hardness requirements.

I have two cases of this ammunition and have not had any problems with the brass.

Remember this, you have many manufactures making AR15 rifles and many companies making and selling barrels. You also have many people building their own AR15 rifles. Headspace, chamber and throat dimensions, the buffer and gas system have an effect on blown/popped primers. (over gassing)

The "ONLY" confirmed problem with Federal cartridge cases and blown/popped primers are from the center case in the photo I posted with the thinner web area at the flash hole.

I read about the new staking method early last year used at LC, but I have not read about this causing any problems. The problem was with Federal cartridge cases civilian made American Eagle brand and not anything from Lake City.

NOTE: Anytime you buy once fired LC brass you take a chance it was fired in a M249 SAW machine gun with a "LARGER CHAMBER" and the base of the case "might" have enlarged and stretched making the primer pockets oversize. And also the chance of warped banana shaped cases and increased bullet run out.

My Hornady manual lists Winchester cases used with their service rifle loads, and the Sierra manual lists Federal cases. This load data appears to be loaded to .223 pressure levels and not the higher military pressure levels.

Also the OP didn't ask about crimps, he asked about sorting his brass by headstamp.

There is a difference between AR15 practice blasting ammo and reloading match grade ammo for a A2 HBAR used in competition. :

 

[37Lincoln1]

Thanks for the explanation biged! Sometimes I'm a bit dense. . .