223 Brass

[Chris_in_Idaho]

I'm going to start hand loading for my Tikka 223. Instead of using my pile of mixed mfr 223/556 brass that's mostly been shot from various ARs, I'd like to start fresh and hopefully eliminate variables from the get go.

I'm looking at ADI Outback and also Norma Golden Target to buy a few hundred rounds that will only be shot through the T3X.

Does either one of these have better brass than the other?

Any others I should consider over these?

I would prefer to avoid crimped primer pockets, but it's not a deal breaker.

 

[KyleR1985]

.223 Lake City Processed Brass Standard Grade (250CT)

sagesreloadingsupply.com

I opted to buy 500 LC once fired processed from here.

So far, it has been great. Came out to .16 cents per for 500 after shipping. He’s out of stock but watch it.

 

[Schmo]

I buy new Starline. $26/100. It’s great brass for the money.

 

[Forrest.billy]

I'm going to start hand loading for my Tikka 223. Instead of using my pile of mixed mfr 223/556 brass that's mostly been shot from various ARs, I'd like to start fresh and hopefully eliminate variables from the get go.

I'm looking at ADI Outback and also Norma Golden Target to buy a few hundred rounds that will only be shot through the T3X.

Does either one of these have better brass than the other?

Any others I should consider over these?

I would prefer to avoid crimped primer pockets, but it's not a deal breaker.

I researched this when doing the same as you and the decision I came to was starline .556 brass. It’s pretty decent for the price and can be found for around $30/100. So far I have been happy with it after a little brass prep and my results were plenty good enough for my purpose.

 

[77TMK]

Just pick up or buy a lot of Lake City 5.56 NATO brass and there ya go. It's very consistent brass.

I just use a swage cutting tool in a corded drill and make a huge amount of brass pretty quickly. Use brasstools primer pocket gauge to adjust crimp removal and cull worn pockets.

 

[wind gypsy]

I've only shot the norma golden target ammo in 6 and 6.5 creedmoor. The 6 creedmoor norma brass has too thick of necks to want to re-use. 6.5 seems better in that regard. Both shoot good enough for practice ammo.

I've been an advocate of using ADI for this purpose for quite a while.

 

[Wyobohunter]

I'm going to start hand loading for my Tikka 223. Instead of using my pile of mixed mfr 223/556 brass that's mostly been shot from various ARs, I'd like to start fresh and hopefully eliminate variables from the get go.

I'm looking at ADI Outback and also Norma Golden Target to buy a few hundred rounds that will only be shot through the T3X.

Does either one of these have better brass than the other?

Any others I should consider over these?

I would prefer to avoid crimped primer pockets, but it's not a deal breaker.

Lapua brass is top notch, if you can find it. I bought a box of 30-06, best brass I’ve ever used.

Lapua 223 Rem Match Unprimed Rifle Brass LU4PH5003 for sale! - EuroOptic

Lapua 223 Rem Match Unprimed Rifle Brass LU4PH5003 for sale! Call (570) 368-3920

www.eurooptic.com

 

[wind gypsy]

Lapua brass is top notch, if you can find it. I bought a box of 30-06, best brass I’ve ever used.

Lapua 223 Rem Match Unprimed Rifle Brass LU4PH5003 for sale! - EuroOptic

Lapua 223 Rem Match Unprimed Rifle Brass LU4PH5003 for sale! Call (570) 368-3920

www.eurooptic.com

I've got some lapua 223 brass from when it was something like $56/100 but I don't think it has been available in a long time and its certainly less economical when you can buy loaded ammo for the same price. I dont know of many guys using 223 brass 20x times like they are with say 6 BR or 6.5x47 brass either so the draw is little less enticing.

 

[Schmo]

Exactly! And I also don’t really grasp buying factory ammo to get brass. Brass is cheap. I don’t want to have to fire it all before I can load it

 

[Wyobohunter]

I've got some lapua 223 brass from when it was something like $56/100 but I don't think it has been available in a long time and its certainly less economical when you can buy loaded ammo for the same price. I dont know of many guys using 223 brass 20x times like they are with say 6 BR or 6.5x47 brass either so the draw is little less enticing.

To each his/her own. If I were going to build a tack driver, and could get Lapua… I would.

 

[wind gypsy]

Exactly! And I also don’t really grasp buying factory ammo to get brass. Brass is cheap. I don’t want to have to fire it all before I can load it

A big driver of 223 to me is having that cheap factory ammo to shoot in the first place and spending time shooting rather than loading so "having to" fire it is the opposite of a burden.

 

[Schmo]

I guess it’d make a difference what your range setup is. A 100 yard range is a 30 minute drive for me. A long range is about 1.5 hours one way. If I could shoot on my property, then it’d be a little different

 

[BLJ]

I’ve used ADI brass in my Tikka and RAR’s with no issues.
Same process as @wind gypsy. I by a case of practice ammo then use the brass.

 

[Lemhi]

I generally buy Berger ammo when forced to buy factory and then reload the lapua brass. Might be the only way to get lapua 223 right now.

 

[emwhyr0hen]

Starline is great value. 223 has a tad more case capacity than the thicker wall 556 brass.

 

[Juan_ID]

I have been using starline for my 223 the past year or so, have some with 5 firings that is still tight. Seems direct is the cheapest since they don’t charge shipping or tax. I can’t say my groups were any better when shooting lapua.

 

[Patoka]

We run 3 T'S in 223. Use all types of fired brass including crimped. Dillon swager , annealing , Redding small base die and SSM cleaning. We head and neck shoot. Caveat. Stay away from S&B brass. 2C.

 

[swavescatter]

Loaded Lapua brass. Just bought 10 boxes for my 223 AI barrel:

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/berger-223-remington-77-grain-centerfire-rifle-ammo

Otherwise Starline is cheap and supposedly right up there in quality.

 

[xsn10s]

I have a bunch of LC brass but I'm debating leaving that for my AR's. I've been eyeing Starline brass for my 223 bolt rifle. Lapua has caught my attention too. A few hundred of premium .223 won't break the bank. It'll most likely last longer and will not require pp to be swagged or reamed so there's a cost and time savings there. The one benefit of cheaper brass is you won't be heartbroken if you lose some in the field.

 

[Lawnboi]

Lapua hasn’t been available for close to a year now. Idk where it’s all going, though I can assume.

Every other lapua case has been around in that time.