5.56 bulk question

stilty

stilty

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So I picked up some bulk 5.56 today. And upon going through it, I noticed that about 20% of the ammo had marks, or impressions, around the primer.

I guess this is a total Noob question, but what are those markings? Is it just a factory thing? In the pic, its the case on the right. The four indents around the primer. The only thing I know about the other markings is that it is NATO, made in Lake City in 2014.

Does this affect reloading? I don't reload now, but I keep all my casings just in case I want to in the future.

Thanks!
bulknato.jpg
 
It does affect reloading, both those primers are crimped, one with a circle crimp and one with a 4 notch crimp, they have to be removed before you can re prime the cases or you'll run into some difficulty
 
Great example of two crimp types! When reloading you'll require handling the brass one more time and using a separate primer pocket swaging tool or one that can be used in your press.

CH4D and RCBS make fine on-the-press tooling for a reasonable expense. I use the RCBS system but wish I bought the CH4D. Dillon has a popular off press tool and RCBS has a similar tool.
 
Yep you need to swage the primer pockets before priming. Just ask me how I know? I ended up going with the RCBS version for 45$ from whole sale sports.
 
I have the RCBS pocket swager, and the brass on the left was a pain. I ran 600 or 700 though the process, only to find that it didn't fully remove the crimp. I would try and seat a primer on the Dillon, and it would crush, or not fully seat. The other way I did it was to use the pocket tool that is an accessory on the RCBS case prep center. Its a little better. What seemed to work best is when I placed the primer pocket into the case neck debur, this removed the little ring very fast, but I wouldn't recommend it as it puts a bevel on the primer pocket.
A friend of mine picket up an ammo can of 62gr green tips for ($257? for 420 Rnds) shipped from Irunguns.

I often think about just buying bulk as the case prep on .223 is very time consuming. If I looked at it like my job, and figured my time to the cost of the brass prep, I would be paying much more than I think I do per round.

1) set up single stage press and resize the brass
2) set up single stage press with pocket swage tool
3) trim
4)chamfer,debur
5) take over the Dillon press to reload.
** I always tumble first, and sometimes anneal; I also may run the brass through the ultra sonic cleaner

I haven't found a better or faster way to do this using a 550B.
 
I've had decent luck with prepping 5.56 crimped primer pockets with a Lyman primer pocket reamer that cuts vs. reforms the pocket. I chuck it in a lathe and touch each case to it. It cuts a pretty big bevel (still works fine...just looks big) around the rim of the pocket if you bottom out the tool in the pocket so I do it more by feel and just clean up the crimp until it feels even. Might work in a hand drill too...but my hand drill weighs a ton so not very comfy to hold while doing a lot of cases.
 
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