Lake City Brass

W

William Suter

Well-known member
I know its decent brass but curious. A friend gave me 50 pieces of Lake City 308 Long Range brass. A little research says its only difference between LR and regular Lake City is the primer pocket. I also read that it is made by Winchester. So, is Lake City the same as Winchester? Are crimped primers the only difference in standard and LR? I have a bunch of Black Hills match brass and IIRC its also made by Winchester.
 
WINCHESTER TOOK OVER LC IN 2020
Not familiar w/the Long Range terminology. Assume it is same brass as MATCH headstamp. On the 30-06 ammo, Match brass was not crimped and the brass was not quite as hard as M2 ball. Not all that familiar with 5.56 but LC standard brass is quite good for reloading after removing the cripmp IME.
 
I think the Long Range is M118 is what I read. I came loaded with a 175 grain bullet. This brass just has LC and LR stamped on it. I know nothing about Lake City as until now I have never used it. I'll probably end up using Lapua. I hate working primer pockets even though I have the tools to do it.
 
The LC LR brass is good stuff, very consistent. Wt/ case volume is at opposite end of spectrum from Win. The LC LR seems to run about 178-180gr, the Win brass I have is in 155-158 gr range. I set the Win brass aside in case I get around to shooting the Garand at 1000 yd @ Perry.
 
Both 30-06 & 7.62 GI brass is a bit heavier than civilian brass. The M118 was called 7.62 Match back in the day, so the LR is just the new nomenclature. The 173 gr. bullet was standard M72 Match bullet in the 06 and 150 gr. in the M2 Ball. I don't know, but I'd imagine the M118 primers would not be crimped, at least that was the case with the M72. I shot nothing but GI brass in both 7.62 and 30-06 for 20 some years and qualified high master with it. I believe the M72 brass is a bit softer than M2, based on the fact it was dinged up a bit more in the gas guns, but other than that there didn't seem to be much difference. Never shot the M118 ammo, but used a lot of M118 brass and it performed as well as the older M72.
 
I love 5.56 LC brass. I bought around 1500 virgin cases close to a decade ago. I don’t think I’ve even touched the box of 1000 yet. I just put them aside for reserves since it’s always impossible get. Very few years it shows up in limited runs and sells out immediately and then people try to sell it for 900% or more, of what it actually sells for.
 
Bought 500 pcs of LC 308 (7.62 '07) once fired (machine gun stuff) yrs ago, all I use. Most is on 6-7th reload. I have to trim for 308W chamber but no big thing. If PP starts getting loose, just toss in recycle bin.
 
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