Who makes FC 223 REM brass with two-digit Date Stamp?

[TheCZKid]

I've got some Federal brass, which is marked FC 22, 223 REM, so with a 2-digit date stamp. I'm curious if anyone knows if these are made by Lake City, as I normally use Lake City for consistency with my 223 loads. It's got the mil crimp like LC as well.

I know FC is for Federal, but is the ones with date stamp made by Federal, this was range pick-up so I don't know the original packaging for this ammo, thanks!

 

[Rocketvapor]

Use a pin to measure web thickness.
Should show what line was used.

 

[SSL]

As far as I can recall, FC with the two digit date was indeed made by Federal.

 

[TheCZKid]

Use a pin to measure web thickness.
Should show what line was used.

You figure if it was LC it would match other LC, and likely be thinner if it's commercial?

 

[Rocketvapor]

Thin Fed commercial made by Fed Vs thicker web of FED made by L.C. ?

Try some of each.
Pin down the neck, caliper.

 

[243winxb]

Headstamp Codes

 

[Kracken McGraw]

What I have date stamped like that is not near the quality of the LC Fed with the little dots stamped in the head.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Come to think of it too, the cases measured a little short in length.
The flash holes were catawampus too.

 

[Doom]

That brass is made by Federal. Winchester took over Lae City operations in October of 2020. Also there is a misconception about 5.56 Lake City brass and commercial 223 brass. The LC brass does not have thicker walls per se and less volume.

 

[Rocketvapor]

FC must have changed. Thickness of web to base was one and done (not safe for multiple reloads) for FC years ago.

 

[markm87]

I'd simply weigh it compared to LC brass. If it's significantly lighter, I'd load it once and then dump it into the scrap bucket.

 

[TheCZKid]

Thanks for all the responses! I was considering making more 20 Vartarg brass from it, as a winter project, but not if it's Federal.

All the rest of my 20VT I've made from Lake City, and I trust the quality and consistency of LC. It's way too many steps and trouble to make these if the brass is suspect!

Some of the variations I see in head-stamps are hard to get a good answer on, especially with online searches, as there's lots of self-proclaimed experts out there. And, since I don't normally buy loaded ammo, I don't have any reference point as to which box / markings on the original ammo the brass came from.

I just made a bunch of 20VT from brass marked "LC 223 REM" which is not a Nato stamping, but is from Lake City, and the weight is the same as other LC Nato brass, I'm still not sure how the original ammo for these were sold.

 

[Rick300]

I have made about 1400 20vt brass from new Starline. I'm very happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to do more

 

[SSchnd]

I have a batch of FC 223 Nato with the three dimples. I believe that to be the later good stuff from LC plant. I would never use the old FC223 stuff. Nor am I fan a RP223.

The three dimple head stamp Fed 223 was good for me and has a few firings on it. It is prepped and sitting in totes. Couple thousand IIRC.

 

[TheCZKid]

As I recently got a CZ 600 LUX in 223, I'm going to finally start using a bunch of Norma brass I've had prepped for a few years, just waiting for a bolt gun. I didn't want to use it for my AR platform rifles, but now have CZ, which I think is worthy of using my best brass. Norma is DEFINITELY different in various ways compared to LC, which has been my go-to so far. It's hard brass, and very precisely made. Not a good candidate for making 20VT, as it's just soooo hard to form.

I also have a lot of RP and Winchester brass, which is fully sized and prepped, but have not used. My new (to me) 20 Practical bolt rifle might be a good candidate for the Winchester, but already have a lot of LC sized for it, so still don't see a good argument for using the RP or WIN yet...