FC 223rem brass still no good?

Varminterror

Varminterror

New member
I have a 'sizable amount' of once fired FC headstamped 223 Rem brass laying around, basically just enough to think it might be worth loading/selling/keeping around, maybe somewhere around 400-500 pieces (didn't count it, but I have buckets that usually hold about 220-260 loose packed 223rem brass, and I have two full).

If the brass is worth a hoot, I also have 4 or 500 rounds of loaded ball ammo in the Federal 100 value pack bulk boxes that I've gotten for Christmas over a few years that I'd rather have loaded with V-maxes. So call it between 800 to 1000 pieces of 'once fired' FC brass, seems like an awful lot to go to waste.

I haven't ever used ANY federal brass for reloading, let alone in 223rem, but I seem to recall ~5-6yrs ago hearing/reading that the FC stamped federal and american eagle brass wasn't very whippy due to a think case web and thick case walls, if I recall correctly.

Have they remedied that issue? Was there ever really an issue to begin with? Are they "one and done," or are the FC headstamp brass decent?
 
I started reloading about a year ago and have only loaded my fc brass 3 times but I haven't had any trouble. I will buy it if others say it's crap
 
223 FC has been good brass for me. I actually prefer it over LC. I anneal every other reload and get spit necks after 4 loads of LC but the FC is still going strong. Lots of people say the FC primer pockets loosen up after a couple times loading but I have not experienced this.

I actually prefer FC in my 22-250 as well. Winchester sucks in it. I also have RP brass but wont get around to using that until my FC is garbage.
 

I get a bunch of different headstamps, as pickups, on the range I instruct at. FC brass is soft, and occasionally I toss a case with a loose primer pocket, but in general it is usable brass. I use everything, except LC and Win, for plinking or lost brass hunting loads, for my AR-15s(including FC brass). I keep the LC and Win brass for more precise shooting, in hunting and target, loads where the brass is recoverable. YMMV

Squeeze
 
I have two coffee cans of FC .223 brass that was given to me. A friend worked at an agency that has regular certification with firearms. He picked up the brass and gave it to me at the time son had just bought his first AR 15. Most primer pockets were loose. i was able to sort through and get enough to keep my son shooting. I am looking for a thicker primer to give me use from these cases. During the ammo and component shortage, I bought a carton of Tula LR primers because they were all that was on the shelf. The first thing I noticed was that the primers seemed tighter than the CCIs that I had been using. Currently I am seeking Tula SR primers too try in the FC cases.
 
About ten years ago when Iraqi Freedom was winding down and we were still building in Afghanistan, Federal sold a bunch of civilian rounds that were all crimped due to them not wanting to change the tooling between the military contract and the civilian market....I think this applied to both the Federal Bulk Packs that were 50gr HPs and the American Eagle FMJs..

It's a pain in the neck to deal with if you have a bunch, but the RCBS swager works well with it..

The only time I've ever experienced loose primer pockets in it, or any others, was when I was pushing the charge envelop and running some rounds that might be considered on the 'hot' side..Since I usually find a loss of accuracy as the speed goes up, it's not a normal problem...
 
Back
Top