hi i plan to reload for my AR, its chambered in 5.56, & i bought some ammo to plink with, i plan to reload 223 for the AR since i can shoot both, is the a difference in value between 556 vs 223 brass? basically is 100 223 brass for 100 556 brass a fair deal?
would this be considered fair?
- Thread starter boombag13
- Start date
5.56 brass, like .223 brass, ranges from terrible to excellent depending on the manufacturer. Asking if it's fair to trade one unknown manufacturer for another isn't a question that can be reasonably answered.
I'd more-or-less agree with rl4930. Having to remove crimps from primer pockets is annoying and I'll just use all .223 headstamped brass if that's an option. I've never noticed any considerable difference in case life; especially since I lose about 7-10% of the cases every time I go out if I'm using a semi.
The major difference between .223 and 5.56 brass is the hardness of the case heads. 5.56 cases will usually have harder case heads that resist loose primer pockets and rim damage a little more. Some 5.56 stamped brass is actually thinner walled and lighter than some .223 stamped brass. Again, it depends on the manufacturer. Both will split when work hardened without annealing.
I'd more-or-less agree with rl4930. Having to remove crimps from primer pockets is annoying and I'll just use all .223 headstamped brass if that's an option. I've never noticed any considerable difference in case life; especially since I lose about 7-10% of the cases every time I go out if I'm using a semi.
The major difference between .223 and 5.56 brass is the hardness of the case heads. 5.56 cases will usually have harder case heads that resist loose primer pockets and rim damage a little more. Some 5.56 stamped brass is actually thinner walled and lighter than some .223 stamped brass. Again, it depends on the manufacturer. Both will split when work hardened without annealing.
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I prefer our American military 5.56 cases made at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant because it is very high quality brass and made harder in the base than any commercial .223 case.
It does require removing the primer crimp if you buy it as is, BUT I just bought 500 5.56 LC cases that were already deprimed, cleaned and the crimps removed.
Lake City cases have the most case capacity.
The Lake City cases have better uniformity than Remington and Winchester but not as uniform as Lapua. Meaning they are a much cheaper option than buying Lapua brass but require more prep work.
The base of the 5.56 case is made harder and is thicker at the flash hole web area.(making them Ford Truck Tough)
Below the center case is a Federal and the two outside cases are Lake City, and you can see the thicker web area on the Lake City cases.
Bottom line, I would rather buy Lake City cases for much less than Lapua and spend the time prepping these cases.
But I'm retired with nothing to do and all day to do it.
It does require removing the primer crimp if you buy it as is, BUT I just bought 500 5.56 LC cases that were already deprimed, cleaned and the crimps removed.
Lake City cases have the most case capacity.
The Lake City cases have better uniformity than Remington and Winchester but not as uniform as Lapua. Meaning they are a much cheaper option than buying Lapua brass but require more prep work.
The base of the 5.56 case is made harder and is thicker at the flash hole web area.(making them Ford Truck Tough)
Below the center case is a Federal and the two outside cases are Lake City, and you can see the thicker web area on the Lake City cases.
Bottom line, I would rather buy Lake City cases for much less than Lapua and spend the time prepping these cases.
But I'm retired with nothing to do and all day to do it.
