Subject line says it. Looking at a 223 build and no upper-end brass available anymore. What are people using these days?
What's the Go-To 223 Brass Now?
- Thread starter Rocketmandb
- Start date
Lapua should hit the market again soon, but with the pent up demand and backorders it may go very quickly.
Here's a post by someone at capstone regarding availability...
There's some talk in there about the last batch of Lapua 223 not being up to their past reputation for durability, but I can't confirm that myself.
I use Lapua in my 223 bolt guns but I've had very good luck with starline 5.56 in a few precision ARs.
Here's a post by someone at capstone regarding availability...
There's some talk in there about the last batch of Lapua 223 not being up to their past reputation for durability, but I can't confirm that myself.
I use Lapua in my 223 bolt guns but I've had very good luck with starline 5.56 in a few precision ARs.
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LC is always solid and plentiful
i also sell it, full processed, ready to roll if you want a bunch
i also sell it, full processed, ready to roll if you want a bunch
True, LC is usually a good option and was my go to for years, especially when you could easily buy it new. However, the last 2 batches of once fired LC I purchased all died a very early death from a very high rate of neck splits and body cracks running lengthwise between the case head and shoulder. I'm not sure if it was a production issue with that year head stamp or if it was something with the way they were stored or processed that ruined and embrittled the brass, but they certainly didn't live up to my previous older batches of once fired LC that were durable and went about 15 reloads before the primer pockets loosened up.
After having that splitting issue with the last two large batches of once fired prepped LC, I tried starline 5.56 instead and am quite happy with it.
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I use Starline 5.56mm Brass with complete satisfaction. It is currently in stock.
#3440 - 5.56x45mm Brass (Small Rifle primer)
Years ago Starline brass was much heavier than say LC brass by several grains, and care had to be taken when swapping known safe LC loads into Starline 5.56 brass. Recent batch's of Starline 5.56mm brass, in the last 2 years weigh darned close to recent LC brass weights which is a good thing when working up your loads.
#3440 - 5.56x45mm Brass (Small Rifle primer)
Years ago Starline brass was much heavier than say LC brass by several grains, and care had to be taken when swapping known safe LC loads into Starline 5.56 brass. Recent batch's of Starline 5.56mm brass, in the last 2 years weigh darned close to recent LC brass weights which is a good thing when working up your loads.
I bought 1000 Starline .223 cases when I started reloading .223 (for bolt rifle) several years ago. Still running it, couldn't ask for more wrt accuracy and longevity. I weighed 20 cases and weighed their H20 capacity - admirably consistent for budget brass.
I've never competed with my .223 so I saw no sense in buying top-shelf brass. But I've become so confident in its capability that I may switch from "Open" to Tactical" for this coming weekend's match...
I've never competed with my .223 so I saw no sense in buying top-shelf brass. But I've become so confident in its capability that I may switch from "Open" to Tactical" for this coming weekend's match...
Creedmoor Sports was sending out backordered Lapua 223 last week. So if you didn't get it then you are in for a long long wait.
I have been using Starline in my bolt guns. In my ARs they get whatever I pick up at the range.
I have been using Starline in my bolt guns. In my ARs they get whatever I pick up at the range.
If you can find RWS....
I run winchester for my gassers
and Hornady for bolt guns - yeah. But it works.
I save the Lapua and RWS I have on hand (about 800 of each) for when I mean business. Fortunately, I'm almost always in play mode these days
I run winchester for my gassers
and Hornady for bolt guns - yeah. But it works.
I save the Lapua and RWS I have on hand (about 800 of each) for when I mean business. Fortunately, I'm almost always in play mode these days
I’m about 300pcs into a batch of 600 starline I got for my trainer barrel. So I don’t have a long term opinion with resizing and annealing and how many firings I’ll get. But even if I only got hypothetically 3 firings I’d buy it again. Hell Im consider selling it as once fired and just buying new again only to save myself time. I chamfer it mandrel it and I’m ready to load.
Make fun of me all you want, I love my R-P brass.
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Starline still makes the heavy brass, it is head stamped 223 Rem. It holds about 1.5gr less powder.
Lapua when you can find it.
Starline 5.56 if you can't get Lapua.
Both have worked great for me in a custom bolt 223 Wylde.
Starline 5.56 if you can't get Lapua.
Both have worked great for me in a custom bolt 223 Wylde.
I have probably 15k pieces of LC dating anywhere from the 70s to current production. Its all been decrimped and primer flashholes cleaned up, but thats all Ive ever done to it other than annealing every firing. It has served my ARs very well and I really only use it for stuff like 69gr bullets and heavier. One large benefit Ive found with LC, that even over 40+ years of production, it is really amazingly consistent.
I do have a 500 piece bag of Starline 5.56 headstamped brass (supposedly harder in the base) that I purchased for an upcoming 223 bolt rifle project I have coming up. Is it better than Lapua? Probably not. The real question is can my rifle and more importantly me, tell the difference on the target.
I do have a 500 piece bag of Starline 5.56 headstamped brass (supposedly harder in the base) that I purchased for an upcoming 223 bolt rifle project I have coming up. Is it better than Lapua? Probably not. The real question is can my rifle and more importantly me, tell the difference on the target.
a
doesn’t matter what year stamp, all my LC runs great and chronos great, even mass loading on a S1050
absolutely
doesn’t matter what year stamp, all my LC runs great and chronos great, even mass loading on a S1050
RWS rocks. It’s what black hills used and they know a thing or two about it. Lapua rocks too but costs 5x the Rws.
I’ve been run starline for my current project, since I couldn’t find alpha or Peterson when I was ordering components a while back.
I could have sworn they did but after looking over the interwebs last night it appears they didn’t, it’s seems 223 “match” brass isn’t really a popular thing for the premier brass makers. I know lapua, norma, and starline all make it with a slight bias towards match performance but the other manufacturers seems to be like geared towards gas gunners
I used starline, LC and 150ish pieces of winchester brass. Still a greenhorn so can say much on which is better. Meet a veteran shooter and told me to try out FC brass the newer production. He won many competitions using it. Said it was better consistency over LC. This is what he explIned to me that day. So i picked out 200ish pieces with same HS and signs of annealing threw in container for a rainy day.
I have some FC with "dots" that seems to shoot interchangeably with LC Nato. I wouldn't say its better, but I'm not up to speed on the nuances.
Scamp marks I believe may have been made by LC but I could be wrong. Either way I will give it a good ole college try
I have 500 lapua brass from a couple years ago that died after 3-4 firings. Granted I was pushing 88s pretty hard.
I switched to starline and haven’t noticed a decrease in accuracy or consistency and the price is right. I only have 1 firing on the starline so far and also fire formed 1000 for my 223ai with great results.
Moving forward I’m planning on sticking with starline. Much cheaper and slightly more capacity than my lapua.
I switched to starline and haven’t noticed a decrease in accuracy or consistency and the price is right. I only have 1 firing on the starline so far and also fire formed 1000 for my 223ai with great results.
Moving forward I’m planning on sticking with starline. Much cheaper and slightly more capacity than my lapua.
In my RWS brass, I get a lot of DAG marked head stamps. Not sure if they are the same thing or not.
Came from the same bag. Maybe 10 per bag of hundred of the RWS brass.
Attachments
- RUAG International:
Is a Swiss multinational defense company that was the parent company of RUAG Ammotec.
- RUAG Ammotec:
Was the ammunition and components manufacturing arm of RUAG International, with brands like RWS, Rottweil, GECO, and Norma.
- Beretta Holding:
In August 2022, Beretta Holding acquired RUAG Ammotec, meaning that RUAG Ammotec is no longer part of RUAG International.
- RWS:
Is a brand of ammunition and components, formerly part of RUAG Ammotec, and now under the ownership of Beretta Holding.
So all you folks running various years of LC... Is a load that's good in one years run going to pretty much perform the same across various years?
I've tested this on a very limited scale and had no issues... Just thought I'd ask the folks who have done a lot more with it.
Mike
I've tested this on a very limited scale and had no issues... Just thought I'd ask the folks who have done a lot more with it.
Mike
All the Win brass I find at the public range have signs of overpressure. I tried to load a few but I could put the primers in with my fingers. The brass was not reloaded. I watched the guys take them out of the boxes and shoot them. All factory. but I do use the WRA 556 Win makes. That is the same as LC
How does the Norma match brass compare? I bought some of the 69 grain target ammo on special from Raven Rocks thinking it would be good brass for reloading. Would appreciate thoughts on this brass, thanks.
I can't speak for the 223 (since I'm the one who asked the question in the first place), but I'm not a fan of the Norma brass I've tried in the past. Not bad, just not good.
I did get in the Swiss brass - looks nice, but only the range will tell. And that's a bit out.
The Norma 223 brass sucks giant balsacs. It's super soft. The new LC from Midway is pretty decent. One option: buy Berger .223 ammo loaded with Lapua brass.
Everyone in this thread needs to write Alpha and Peterson asking "Where 223?"
Everyone in this thread needs to write Alpha and Peterson asking "Where 223?"
Does the Berger ammo still use Lapua brass or is it Berger stamped now? I’ve got some Berger 300 WM ammo with the 168 classic hunter and the head stamp is Berger.
I buy Starline 5.56mm brass direct from Starline for $255.50 per 1000, plus Free shipping. That's 26 cents each. I use those for my precision 18" barreled AR squirting 77 grain Nosler CC or SMK's
I buy 223 BRASS 1000 LC fully processed 1x fired, from a Gun Broker seller called mrfleetmaster for $142.50 (+$18.00 Shipping). That's 16 cents each. I use them for my range ammo for 62 Hornady FMJ, 62 grain Speer Gold Dot and 68 grain Hornady (w/Cann) reloads. I've bought 4000+ rounds from him with complete satisfaction.
Lapua when you can find it, is somewhere between $80. and $90. per hundred. Or 80 to 90 cents each, without shipping.
Is Lapua 3x better then Starline?? Is Lapua 5x better than once fired processed LC brass?
I guess if you loading for a bolt action; and recover all your brass; anneal faithfully; and are seriously competing with your .223 where little groups matter a bunch; then Lapua looks pretty damn good.
IMHO and YMMV
I buy 223 BRASS 1000 LC fully processed 1x fired, from a Gun Broker seller called mrfleetmaster for $142.50 (+$18.00 Shipping). That's 16 cents each. I use them for my range ammo for 62 Hornady FMJ, 62 grain Speer Gold Dot and 68 grain Hornady (w/Cann) reloads. I've bought 4000+ rounds from him with complete satisfaction.
Lapua when you can find it, is somewhere between $80. and $90. per hundred. Or 80 to 90 cents each, without shipping.
Is Lapua 3x better then Starline?? Is Lapua 5x better than once fired processed LC brass?
I guess if you loading for a bolt action; and recover all your brass; anneal faithfully; and are seriously competing with your .223 where little groups matter a bunch; then Lapua looks pretty damn good.
IMHO and YMMV
That's going to be up to the individual. But if a person wants to shoot 223 in brass that is commensurate to their other Alpha/ Lapua fed competition cartridges, then in the 223 world the answer is Lapua
That exactly the way I do it. I actually don’t load AR fodder, for my heavy bolt gun, I load and plan to use the Lapua I scored.
