Opinions on IVI Brass

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Xippper

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Just curious as to what people's experiences have been with IVI brass - in general and where possible with IVI .223 / 5.56 brass specifically.

If it makes any difference, I am shooting a bolt action rifle (not an AR) and am interested in accuracy.


D
 
Works great for me, been using it exclusively in my AR. Just make sure to remove the crimp in the primer pocket and I tend to avoid federal primers because I crushed too many even after removing the crimp, they are just too soft.
 
If you're interested in accuracy, IVI brass may not be a great way to go for a couple of reasons:

1. IVI brass was produced to military specs - it's rugged, with deep primer crimp and thick walls/neck.

2. Thick necks = relatively inconsistent neck tension in my experience, which translates to velocity variation due to inconsistent bullet release, so velocity ES/SD is larger, degrading accuracy.

3. In another caliber I reload for, pressure in IVI brass is 10% higher than in other brass - so load development could need to be redone and you have to start very low and work up. I chalk this up to thicker web and case walls resulting in lower internal case volume.

4. The thick primer crimp means more time spent on the primer pocket, which could be better spent elsewhere to improve accuracy. Jerry at Mystic suggests neck turning for .223.

If your budget permits, try to pick up 100 new or 1F Lapua cases for your bolt gun. You will be amazed at the accuracy difference (at least I was). With shoulder bump / neck resizing of fi reformed brass (plus 1 neck anneal every 2-3 firings), you can get lots of firings out of Lapua brass.

Hope this helps.
 
I use for my ar they go boom but I cant say for bolt gun accuracy. Right now I do not shoot match 223.
Maybe I should as its much cheaper than 308, oh, well.

If you size, trim, and then weight, and pick 100 that weight the same, you will probably have a reasonably similar lot of cases.

Or just buy 100 lapua cases
 
Firearms Enthusiast is spot-on and yes, we have used IVI brass for AR15 reloads - tough! Wouldn't use for target or varmint bolt rifle.

Best regards,

Peter
 
I use IVI brass for my SA 20 for accuracy loads. Very tough brass here is my load ,

25.3 grs of Varget
Sierra SMK 69 gr
CCI BR primer

For me it produces 1 MOA at 300m , I don't neck turn at all but I use a Type S Redding die with decapper removed so crimp is not needed. Also I anneal the cases every second firing.
 
I use IVI all the time in my .223 rem varmint bolt gun. The brass is cheap in bulk and it stands up to the abuse AR's dish out. As mentioned you need to get rid of the primer pocket crimp, I do this with a Dillon primer pocket swager. I also recommend deburring the inside flash hole.

If you use this brass in a .223 make sure to build up the load and check for pressure signs. I am able to achieve sub MOA 5 shot 100 yard groups with bulk bullets of various brands and weights reloaded on a Dillon progressive press. The same rifle will achieve sub 1/2 MOA with Lapua brass and match bullets and powder individually weighed.

I think IVI is good brass at a great price.

Hope this helps.
 
When I do my bulk processing for sale. I find that IVI is usually one of the most consistent. The actually quality of the brass is superior to most commercial, consistency is more than enough for 98% of shooters. Just remember it is 5.56mm brass so the case volume might be slightly reduced so do your load workup and away you go. You should have fairly long brass life, and the primer pockets should stay tight. When I swage the IVI that I sell it is enough to remove the crimp but the pocket is still snug. I use a straight rod that doesn't bevel the pocket mouth.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...emington-5-56mm-Brass-Processed-Ready-to-Load
 
I found 48 once fired Nato stamped IVI brass along with one misfired round at the range. It was loaded with a 75 gr BT bullet IIRC. Once I started prepping the brass, the first thing I noticed was how consistent and close the weights are. I'm on my 9th firing using a Kimber Montana and 25.5gr varget with 68 gr BTHP. It seems to hold 1 moa or less out to 550 yds, I anneal often and the primer pockets are still tight. Good value for the amount I paid for them, free:)
 
I cannot speak for the 223 brass, but have a fair quantity of 303 British, IVI brass.
Headstamps indicate 1997 and 2001 manufacture.
In this chambering, it is pretty decent stuff, but just a bit heavier than WW or R-P brass.
I am using it in my 303 Ross, and a P14, and have FF some to 303 Epps for another rifle.
So far it is holding up well, and produces great groups. Dave.
 
mod7rem said:
I found 48 once fired Nato stamped IVI brass along with one misfired round at the range. It was loaded with a 75 gr BT bullet IIRC. Once I started prepping the brass, the first thing I noticed was how consistent and close the weights are. I'm on my 9th firing using a Kimber Montana and 25.5gr varget with 68 gr BTHP. It seems to hold 1 moa or less out to 550 yds, I anneal often and the primer pockets are still tight. Good value for the amount I paid for them, free:)
Click to expand...

Interesting find for the 70gr bullet, must be law enforcement left overs

The CAF 5.56 IVI is topped with a 62gr FMJ BT
 
I like them in 308 for my m1a it shows on the case head that they take the extraction better and they give me pretty good accuracy in my tikka ctr too ( but everything does with the ctr ) can't say I don't get better accuracy with other brass with the M1A but I think the reloads are safer with that thing
 
I've used a fair bit of IVI brass both military and commercial. In the military 223 cases I segregate the cases by manufacture. IVI has slightly different capacity than other cases but when segregated that is not an issue. Work up a load for the rifle you are going to shoot it in and you are good and it works just fine in a varmit bolt gun. Most of the commercial IVI brass that I have used was very poorly annealed at the factory and as such neck splits were quite common even on the first firing. I anneal 1-F IVI brass (any that didn't split) and after that it works just fine.
 
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