winchester crimped 223 ?

rebs · December 19, 2012, 09:39 AM

Is the Winchester crimped 223 rounds made to any mil=spec ?
Are they any better or worse for reloading than the Lake City brass ?

PA-Joe · December 20, 2012, 05:10 PM

All manufacturers crimp their brass. You shouldn't have any problems with it.

rebs · December 20, 2012, 08:39 PM

My mistake for not saying I meant crimped primers

medalguy · December 20, 2012, 11:01 PM

I think LC is the most consistent brass out there. Winchester is OK but it's not LC. It's made to SAAMI specs, not milspec.

**Unclenick** · December 21, 2012, 01:42 PM

If brass is made to mil spec, by definition it will have the military style initial and year of manufacture code stamped into the head.

rebs · December 21, 2012, 01:55 PM

Thank you. Why does Winchester 223 brass without the symbol or year date have a crimped primer ?

**Unclenick** · December 21, 2012, 02:10 PM

Several folks have commented on finding factory ammo with crimped primers more recently. The reason the military started crimping them is the loose chambers in some machine guns coupled with increased pressure due to barrel heat would cause primer pockets to expand come loose from time to time and fall out of the case and into the mechanism. That would jam the gun. So, possibly the maker is figuring they'll be fired in a loose chambered semi-auto or one that heats up and raises pressure and they want to prevent that from popping the primers out.

I suppose it might also be that the new lot of brass is on the soft side and had the problem of primers pockets getting loose, so they decided to crimp it. If that's the issue you'll find out soon enough because it won't last many load cycles.

December 19, 2012, 09:39 AM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	winchester crimped 223 ? Is the Winchester crimped 223 rounds made to any mil=spec ? Are they any better or worse for reloading than the Lake City brass ?

December 21, 2012, 01:42 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	If brass is made to mil spec, by definition it will have the military style initial and year of manufacture code stamped into the head. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; December 21, 2012 at 01:54 PM.

December 21, 2012, 02:10 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Several folks have commented on finding factory ammo with crimped primers more recently. The reason the military started crimping them is the loose chambers in some machine guns coupled with increased pressure due to barrel heat would cause primer pockets to expand come loose from time to time and fall out of the case and into the mechanism. That would jam the gun. So, possibly the maker is figuring they'll be fired in a loose chambered semi-auto or one that heats up and raises pressure and they want to prevent that from popping the primers out. I suppose it might also be that the new lot of brass is on the soft side and had the problem of primers pockets getting loose, so they decided to crimp it. If that's the issue you'll find out soon enough because it won't last many load cycles. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

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December 20, 2012, 05:10 PM	#2
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	All manufacturers crimp their brass. You shouldn't have any problems with it.

December 20, 2012, 08:39 PM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	My mistake for not saying I meant crimped primers

December 20, 2012, 11:01 PM	#4
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	I think LC is the most consistent brass out there. Winchester is OK but it's not LC. It's made to SAAMI specs, not milspec.

December 21, 2012, 01:55 PM	#6
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Thank you. Why does Winchester 223 brass without the symbol or year date have a crimped primer ?