.223 Raw/Dirty/Unprocessed Brass?

bjordan · March 7, 2025, 11:15 AM

I apologize in advance if I am posting this in the wrong place.

I do not have a range near me, so I can't go there and get range brass. However, has anyone recently done the leg work for a supplier unprocessed brass online at what they consider to be the best price? I have equipment to do my own cleaning and military brass is fine as I load .223 on an automated Dillon 1050 (built in primer pocket swage). I have done a google search and haven't come up with any good options and though someone may have already stumbled across the site for cheap(ish/est) nasty .223 brass.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

ballardw · March 7, 2025, 11:51 AM

"Best price" would come from a military surplus auction though it is hard to find brass in lots of less than 10,000's rounds. If you live near a military base it might be worth checking though. Maybe go in as a group buy with others in your area.

bjordan · March 7, 2025, 12:29 PM

That's a good idea, but I am also not near a military base, nor do I have friends near me that reload.

Military range brass is exactly what I would be interested in, but 10K rounds would be a bit excessive...

Erno86 · March 7, 2025, 12:46 PM

"DiamondKBrass"

https://www.diamondkbrass.com/.223-5.56.html

Or you can be a "brass hound" at your local gun range.

bjordan · March 7, 2025, 12:53 PM

Thanks. I am familiar with diamond K brass. I'm looking for a cheaper alternative and willing to clean my own brass. I also do not have a local range near me.

Dfariswheel · March 7, 2025, 09:43 PM

Back in the days of The Shotgun News there were ads selling once fired brass.

One main seller was in Kentucky near Fort Campbell and he sold once fired 5.56/223 from rifles or once fired from miniguns.
The mini gun brass was stretched and battered but at least mostly usable.
The rifle brass was great.

Just do an internet search for "once fired military brass bulk" or "government surplus once fired brass" and you'll get many ads selling bulk brass.

Pay attention to whether it's rifle fired, on whether it's been cleaned or polished, and on shipping cost.

**44 AMP** · March 8, 2025, 12:54 AM

when you go look for brass from military sources, you might find a very good price per case, but you may also find you'll have to buy a 55gallon drum of brass, which is quite a lot of .223 cases.

March 7, 2025, 11:15 AM	#1
bjordan Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2024 Posts: 5	.223 Raw/Dirty/Unprocessed Brass? I apologize in advance if I am posting this in the wrong place. I do not have a range near me, so I can't go there and get range brass. However, has anyone recently done the leg work for a supplier unprocessed brass online at what they consider to be the best price? I have equipment to do my own cleaning and military brass is fine as I load .223 on an automated Dillon 1050 (built in primer pocket swage). I have done a google search and haven't come up with any good options and though someone may have already stumbled across the site for cheap(ish/est) nasty .223 brass. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

March 7, 2025, 11:51 AM	#2
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,472	"Best price" would come from a military surplus auction though it is hard to find brass in lots of less than 10,000's rounds. If you live near a military base it might be worth checking though. Maybe go in as a group buy with others in your area. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

March 7, 2025, 12:46 PM	#4
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,779	"DiamondKBrass" https://www.diamondkbrass.com/.223-5.56.html Or you can be a "brass hound" at your local gun range. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell Last edited by Erno86; March 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM. Reason: added a few words

March 8, 2025, 12:54 AM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,438	when you go look for brass from military sources, you might find a very good price per case, but you may also find you'll have to buy a 55gallon drum of brass, which is quite a lot of .223 cases. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 7, 2025, 12:29 PM	#3
bjordan Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2024 Posts: 5	That's a good idea, but I am also not near a military base, nor do I have friends near me that reload. Military range brass is exactly what I would be interested in, but 10K rounds would be a bit excessive...

March 7, 2025, 12:53 PM	#5
bjordan Junior Member Join Date: February 19, 2024 Posts: 5	Thanks. I am familiar with diamond K brass. I'm looking for a cheaper alternative and willing to clean my own brass. I also do not have a local range near me.

March 7, 2025, 09:43 PM	#6
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,555	Back in the days of The Shotgun News there were ads selling once fired brass. One main seller was in Kentucky near Fort Campbell and he sold once fired 5.56/223 from rifles or once fired from miniguns. The mini gun brass was stretched and battered but at least mostly usable. The rifle brass was great. Just do an internet search for "once fired military brass bulk" or "government surplus once fired brass" and you'll get many ads selling bulk brass. Pay attention to whether it's rifle fired, on whether it's been cleaned or polished, and on shipping cost.