Worth reloading?

[Caveman Jim]

Not challenging your wisdom, oh great slayer of the kokanee, but....When turning .223/5.56 brass into 300 blackout brass isn't it possible that the thickness of the neck walls will be greater than factory new 300 blackout brass due to necking down? Maybe it doesn't matter? Enough room in the chamber?

What DizzyJ said to boot.

Well that's why correct conversions are always checked for the specific "GO" headspace brass and not the "NO GO" headspace brass....
Some stuff on the inteweb IS true...

 

[Otter]

If you buy the tools to measure how much you bump the shoulder back each time, and only bump .002 thousands, you can get a lot of reloads out of brass. I have lots of .223 brass with 20 plus reloads, and some 6mmBR and 220 Russian with 40 reloads. Lapua brass might help with it lasting so long, but the key is to not over work the bass.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

while some people are paying gougers $400-500 for 1000 .223 ive had 1000s of rounds of it reloaded for years now. yes its worth reloading.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

What DizzyJ said to boot.

Well that's why correct conversions are always checked for the specific "GO" headspace brass and not the "NO GO" headspace brass....
Some stuff on the inteweb IS true...

im glad someone does. i dont own a single go/no go gauge.

 

[saxon]

One thing I have heard about converting .223/5.56 brass to 300blk is that part of the case body becomes the neck of the reformed brass, and that some brands of brass have wall thicknesses that can cause function or bullet tension issues. I have seen a chart online with common once fired brass case wall thicknesses, with recommendations.

I do not know if this is really an issue as I have always used once fired Lake City brass only, without any issues for about 2k rounds, supers and subs.

for taking 223 and converting to 300 blackout


Factory Blackout brass

Gemtech (factory 300 BLK) - 0.011"
PNW Arms - 0.011"
RP - 0.010"

Converted brass

Good:
ADI - 0.012"
Aguila - 0.012"
A USA - 0.012"
FC - 0.013/0.014" [Note 1]
GFL - 0.012" (Fiocchi) Some GFL may have different thickness
HB - 0.013"
Hornady (223 headstamp) - 0.011"
Hornady (nickel 223) - 0.012"
IK03 - 0.012" [Note 4]
IMI - 0.012" [Note 4] Listed on both lists, but seems like more often good than bad.
IVI - 0.013"
IVI ('85) - 0.012" (runs great)
LC - 0.011"
LC (converted blank) - 0.012"
M193 - 0.011/0.012"
Norinco 223 - 0.010"
NOSLER - 0.012"
PERFECTA 223 rem. - 0.012"
PMC - modern "bronze" and "X-tac" are good, older PMC with small letters may have problems
PS - 0.011/0.012"
PSD - 0.011"
RA - 0.013"
RA ('69) - 0.012"
RP .223 - 0.011"
SSA - 0.012"
TAA - 0.013-0.014" [Note 4]
Tula - 0.0115"
TW 67 - 0.012"
TZZ - 0.012"
WCC - 0.010/0.011" (Some less common WCC headstamps run thicker, but the majority are good to go)
Winchester - 0.011"
WIN NT - 0.011"
WMA - 0.011" (Winchester Military, equivalent to WCC)


Thick neck wall, bad without neck turning:

AB 556 - .015" to .016"
ATI - 0.015" [Note 3]
CBC - 0.014/0.015"
CJ6 - 0.015"
CJ 8 - .014"
DNL - 0.016"
FNM - 0.016" [Note 3]
FRONTIER - 0.015"
GECO - 0.015/0.016"
Hot Shot - 0.014" [Note 3]
HRTRS ( Herters?) - 0.017"
ICC - Reported as bad
IK03 - 0.015" [Note 4]
IMI - 0.015" [Note 4]
IVI - 0.015"
KFA .223 REM - 0.015"-0.019"
L2A2 - Reported as bad
MKE13 - Anecdotally reported as troublesome
MPA - 0.015"
Norma - 0.015"
NPA - [Note 3]
PMC (old headstamp) - 0.015"
PMP - 0.015"
PPU - 0.014/0.015" [Note 3]
RAM 223 - .014"
RORG - 0.015"
RWS - 0.014-0.015"
S&B - 0.015/0.017"
SADU - 0.014/0.015"
TAA - 0.013-0.014" [Note 4]
T - 0.015
SADU 5.56 - 0.014-0.015"
Wolf Brass .223 - 0.014"

 

[osprey]

Wow only six reloads out of a piece of brass.

My oldest son was shooting alot of 45acp. He quit counting after the 52nd reload on his cases.
You can not read the head stamp on them anymore.

I reload for around 15 different cartridges currently and have probably loaded for another 15 at one time or another. I load from subsonic to pushing some to the limits. The 6 times for a piece of brass is an educated guess based on all those different cartridges fired through many types of weapons. As always ymmv.

 

[Alexx1401]

I have not worked my loading outfit in a couple years now. Basically too lazy to bother when I can buy but, I have the stuff to roll all the calibers I care about. While these panic shortages do not bother me as I keep a supply you never know if it will get really bad one time. The know how, tools, and parts to roll should be on hand by all who like to shoot. It will be "worth it" if it gets to where there is just no ammo to buy. The cost to set up to be able to roll can be very little. Good insurance to have

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

i dont like reloading PPU brass for .223/5.56 or .308/7.62

 

[DizzyJ]

im glad someone does. i dont own a single go/no go gauge.

You do. It's called your chamber.

 

[Caveman Jim]

im glad someone does. i dont own a single go/no go gauge.

I don't ether, I was meaning the correct brass cases from a list of acceptable cases for conversion. I do own a case gauge for every caliber I load for though...

 

[Red98422]

Also to note for high pressure cartridges the primer pocket can be the failure point within 5 round, especially with cases that have cut the crimp out excessively. This is just what I have observed from converted 300blk cartridges

 

[tac]

Yup. I'M not to be trusted, and you can take THAT to the bank.

The definition of 'tautology', methinks.

 

[Camelfilter]

i dont like reloading PPU brass for .223/5.56 or .308/7.62

Whats odd about PPU that you don't like to use there brass.

Curious, have "a bunch" of PPU. Haven't started rifle reloading yet tho...

 

[David Sherman]

Have you tri to buy 223 Ammo lately?
Prices are up, availablity is down.
I keep stocked up on bullets, lead, powder and primers to guarantee my ammunition supply.

 

[tac]

Whats odd about PPU that you don't like to use there brass.

Curious, have "a bunch" of PPU. Haven't started rifle reloading yet tho...

PPU brass is among the best there is. I reload 7.5x55, 7x57, and 6.5x55 with their brass, and have found it to be VERY good indeed. My 7.5x55 are coming up to their fifth reloading, and I make 750 rounds at a time.

Brass to stay away from - in MY experience - comes from Sellier & Bellot [S&B] and Winchester. The former's 7x57 and 6.5x55 cracks at the second loading, no matter if you've annealed it or not. latter's .45-70 Govt brass is total S***e.

 

[P7M13]

I've read online that reloading 5.56 is not a great option, due to the pressure deforming the brass. Is this true? Can it be reshaped to load 300 aac reliably? What other rifle rounds are worth saving / reloading in terms of the number of reloads one can use the brass for?

Would this be an article written by someone named "The Real Gunsmith"?

I'd be looking for something else to do to fill my days until it's over.

Seems you have a very fulfilling life, sir.

 

[tac]

Ah, right. I may just have mentioned my trains before, y'know......anyhow, I'm glad you found them. Do you approve?

 

[Pops1911]

Any thing is worth reloading in this day and age of ammo shortages. I reload both 223 and 300blk..

I fully agree. I just started reloading 9mm because. Shot great BTW.

 

[WillametteWill]

All brass lives matter lol.... As far other chamberings worth saving brass for? All of them

Gem right there.

okay, seems like that was bad advice. Save brass in buckets seems to be sound advice.

That's why I come here, sage advice from the elders!

i dont like reloading PPU brass for .223/5.56 or .308/7.62

Found something strange with PPU brass. My tumbling media sticks to it like crazy. Had a bunch of different range brass and noticed many were still covered in media, all PPU. It fell off all the other brands like normal. Just an observation.

 

[tac]

Gem right there. That's why I come here, sage advice from the elders! Found something strange with PPU brass. My tumbling media sticks to it like crazy. Had a bunch of different range brass and noticed many were still covered in media, all PPU. It fell off all the other brands like normal. Just an observation.

I'm tumbling a couple of hundred PPU 7.5 brass as I write this. No sticking here,