RE-size 223 or convert to 300 blk, need advise

[orisolo]

Hi Guys,

I have thousands of 223/5.56 that are heavily bent in the neck.
I normally sell the brass but feel it will be wrong to sell it when its bent like that.

I'm facing 2 option:
1. full case re-size (I have the dies)
2. convert the brass to 300blk. (I will need to purchase the die set)

I watched and read on the 300 conversion and i think it should be easy for me. Im not sure what would have more demand 223 or 300 blk resized/deprimed SS tumbled.

I would like to hear community thought about the favorite or "more needed" of the two.

Thank you for spending the time.

[rg1]

Just me maybe but I won't buy sized .223 brass. I'd rather do it myself. 300 Blackout is rapidly growing in popularity and some may not wish to go to the trouble sawing off the necks and reforming .223 brass for the 300 Blk. Not all .223 brass is good for making Blackout cases. Some have too thick bodies and case walls are too thick. Loaded cases shouldn't have necks larger than .334" and some exceed that with bullets seated. I've only used LC, Win, Fed, and some PMC and they don't exceed the .334" neck diameter. 300 BLK dies are expensive and if I were going to form and sell Blackout brass I'd also check them all in a good case gauge. You'll also need a saw and many use the cheap Micro Chop saw. Making Blackout brass from.223 brass with damaged necks is a good way to save the brass. Easier just to sell the brass as is and I don't know if you'll get "paid" for all your work? Might ask this question on the 300 Blackouttalk Forum also. Check out their "classified section" and reloading section. Another option would be to just saw them off and sell them unsized for Blackout loaders. The .300 Blk brass grows approximately .010" when they are ran thru the resize die so don't cut them too long. You'll notice in the classified section of the blackout forum that there seems to be a big demand for 300 BLK brass.

[orisolo]

RG1 thank you for the reply.

I'm not worried so much from the work involved.
I think i can streamline the work to make it super effective so it will go fast.

If i scrap this cases i will get like 1.5-2 cents ea.
If i "fix them" i can get probably 15-25 cents judging from the prices on GB.

I like to put my work in the more profitable of the two and the faster to sell.
I do sell the 223 cleaned and tumbled but with time i get a lot of them that are not in good shape for selling. These ones should go to the scrap or get upgraded to a more attractive case.

I didnt know that not all 223/5.56 are fit for conversion. I do need to discuss it more and do more reading before jumping to into something new.

I like challenges, and i like selling my stuff in a small competition market.
I owned a jewelry factory in the past so metal casting forging polishing etc.. is not a stranger to me.

It is more about deciding on going "safe" with the 223 or taking a (educated) "risk" with the 300blk.

[orisolo]

I'm even considering annealing the cases and already running planes in my mind on how to semi-automate the process's.
(I'm eyeballing the kids Chu Chu electric train and trying to think how this could work )

[Palmetto-Pride]

I resize .223/5.56 brass to 300blk while its not hard it is a little tedious to me and I probably wouldn't do it if I didn't personally shoot the 300 BLK. My steps are clean and tumble the brass, cut the necks off, chamor and debur, resize brass, trim to proper length, chamor and debur again.

Reloading dies are no more expensive than any other caliber and there are plenty out there from what I can tell. I use Hornady and haven't had a problem.

[orisolo]

I saw on youtube a guy who made a nice simple jig for the cutting.
Looks so easy with the jig (probably very boring), just push anew case pull down the disc. i would think you can do probably 600-800 an hour if you don't get tired.

Would you consider buying preped 300blk if it was available for a reasonable price? Maybe even annealed. really ready to load.

[Palmetto-Pride]

Me I probably would have before I got into reloading, but now that I am set up to do it I will probably just continue to make my own, but there is a market for it from what I can tell.

[orisolo]

Thank you for the info.
Ill wait for more info and make decision.

[SVO]

Have you considered selling the brass as is at a lesser price due to the damage and let the buyer deal with the problems?

[orisolo]

Yes, I did.
But i think i can get more if I put the time.
I'm not scared from work. Just wonder where it will be best "invested"
Thanks for the reply

[Sport45]

I'm confused.

I normally sell the brass but feel it will be wrong to sell it when its bent like that.

You think it's wrong to sell someone brass with a bent neck, but have no problem selling the same brass after you've "fixed" it?

[oldpapps]

I don't sell brass, but I do make (re-form is a better way of saying it) .300 AAC Blackout. Being cheap, I hang on to everything and when I determined I was going to try the .300s, I dug in my trash brass box for suitable brass.

After checking each over and giving each of them the OK, I process them.

This is what some look like pre cut-off. After being processed, these and several more were/have been loaded several times. Screwed up necks and case mouths are prime material for the conversion.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1367124911

Load with care,

OSOK

[Sport45]

Makes sense.