Tips for buying .223 or 5.56 brass

RileyMartin · October 25, 2020, 09:54 AM

Hi,

My .223 and 5.56 brass is reaching the end of it's life and it's time to buy brass. So far I've been reloading the brass from my commercial ammunition that I've saved after firing. I don't want to buy loaded ammunition any longer, and and then reuse the fired brass, so I was hoping I could get some tips when buying brass so I don't have buyers remorse.

Thanks,

Riley

ocharry · October 25, 2020, 10:17 AM

star line makes good stuff as well as hornady and remington and some others that could be more pricey

i have used all of these and had good luck and service from them,,,i do kinda prefer the star line

hope you can find some,,,good hunting

ocharry

Marco Califo · October 25, 2020, 10:30 AM

I suggest you are not likely to find any until after the election. Lake City (U.S.G.I) is generally very good. Try GIBrass.com. http://www.gibrass.com Out right now, but check daily.
Starline is excellent, both 223 and 556, two different products, but, out of stock:
https://www.starlinebrass.com/556x45mm-brass/

RileyMartin · October 25, 2020, 10:45 AM

I saw in an ammo & reloading supply search engine there is once fired brass, mixed manufacture, available right now as low as .10/case with no guarantee.

I also saw once fired cases, mixed manufacture, cleaned and with a 100% guarantee for 0.15/case as well as all Lake City manufacture, tumbled and polished but no guranatee for 0.15/case.

I have all the equipment for cleaning and processing so I don't mind that if it'll save me money.

I don't have any experience with buying once fired brass so I'm not sure of the quality you actually get compared to the savings vs. new brass and the difference in longevity/number of reloads for each.

Marco Califo · October 25, 2020, 11:06 AM

If you buy once fired LC from a reliable source it will be once fired if the primers are crimped in. You can pay extra for crimp removal, getting good quality homogenous brass. LC lasts very well. Cheaper mixed range pickup will not ever be homogenous. You sort it to remove steel, berdan primed, culls, etc. Case capacity is generally very close. You need to decide what best meets your needs, and is available.

Sarge · October 25, 2020, 11:41 AM

My best advice is, whatever you choose, to stick with one head stamp.

Marco Califo · October 25, 2020, 11:58 AM

When GIBrass.com is in stock, it is 1000 for $100. Plus $25 to process primer pockets (effectively the first time). So you are looking at $0.125 per for excellent quality. He wont be out of stock for very long, as he buys military lots and processes them.

308Loader · October 25, 2020, 04:33 PM

check your local ranges, most will sells it for scrap prices. I get for it for $1.50 to $2.50 a LB. Will need to clean, sort/inspect and remove some crimps. cant beet the price.

Twinsig · October 25, 2020, 06:54 PM

Get on Starline's email notification system. Took about 2 mos, 1000 for $200-ish.
Usreloading, same thing, email notification.. 1x range i bought was "ready" to load..for $125-ish/1000.

BJung · October 25, 2020, 08:56 PM

Check local ranges. If you can't find a source, I'll ask a friend of mines who owns one here in CA if he'll sell you brass. I was there yesterday and 5.56 brass was all over the place.

kmw1954 · October 26, 2020, 01:11 AM

If you do not mind dirty mixed headstamp range brass I can fix you up for the cost of postage. This is all crimped primers. Just send a PM.

Nathan · October 26, 2020, 09:56 AM

AR or bolt gun?

RileyMartin · October 26, 2020, 11:41 AM

Semi auto AR.

Nathan · October 26, 2020, 03:29 PM

LC brass from a source that can get you 1-2 head stamps in 1000. Then full prep. Sort by head stamp, swage pp’s, trim pp burr, anneal, FL Size, trim, chamfer & deburr....then load them up!

ms6852 · October 27, 2020, 05:41 AM

I would still save the brass because you can trim it for 300 blackout and loaded a few more times.

Bfglowkey · October 27, 2020, 01:42 PM

For an AR, if its a general Self Defense and practice/target then really the mixed headstamp stuff you will get in bulk/deals will be more then sufficent. ARs are rough on brass it seems to me so feeding your AR lapua could get pricey. If you are all about precision and built your AR as such then Starline is a very reputable mid tier in cost and offers great consistency. Peterson is a step above but they seem to be a bit behind recently due to demand. Lake City is just solid stuff.

Smokescreens · October 28, 2020, 07:24 PM

i have a lot of .223 brass. i sell processed brass and have about 30,000 cases

T. O'Heir · October 29, 2020, 01:34 PM

"...reaching the end of it's life..." Why do you say that? You annealed it at all?
"...loaded ammunition..." Gets expensive in a hurry. Mind you, reloading isn't about saving money. You probably will not, but you will be using ammo that is tailored for your rifle.
The issue is current availability. Both Midway and Graf's show nearly everything as out of stock. Midway lists over priced Lapua brass at $62.99 per 100 though.

RileyMartin · October 29, 2020, 07:15 PM

Some cases starting to shows signs of case head separation.

I haven’t started annealing my brass. I’m not sure to what extent it extends brass life and how many more reloads you get vs. not annealing.

Average Joe · October 29, 2020, 07:34 PM

Stick with LC brass, it seems to last a little longer.

rc · October 30, 2020, 12:47 AM

Sometimes lake city comes available as new surplus but it's spotty on availability.

rebs · October 30, 2020, 10:59 AM

where would i find new LC brass ?

Marco Califo · October 30, 2020, 07:25 PM

I have only seen it around the time Alliant was winding down their contract to operate LC. Some was sold under Federals brand. midsouthshooterssupply.com had some in bulk bags. Glad I bought while I could. May not ever see it again.

rebs · November 23, 2020, 10:42 AM

you just have to careful with buying once fired LC that is processed. I bought some fro a guy on another gun site and some of the case mouths split the first time I fired them. It was not a hot load by any means.

Smokescreens · November 23, 2020, 11:50 AM

annealing would drastically help that from happening. but for plinking its not worth the hassle imo.

October 25, 2020, 09:54 AM	#1
RileyMartin Member Join Date: June 9, 2016 Posts: 50	Tips for buying .223 or 5.56 brass Hi, My .223 and 5.56 brass is reaching the end of it's life and it's time to buy brass. So far I've been reloading the brass from my commercial ammunition that I've saved after firing. I don't want to buy loaded ammunition any longer, and and then reuse the fired brass, so I was hoping I could get some tips when buying brass so I don't have buyers remorse. Thanks, Riley

October 25, 2020, 10:17 AM	#2
ocharry Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2006 Posts: 685	star line makes good stuff as well as hornady and remington and some others that could be more pricey i have used all of these and had good luck and service from them,,,i do kinda prefer the star line hope you can find some,,,good hunting ocharry __________________ The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury. Therefore what he must be taught to fear is his victim." - Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC

October 25, 2020, 10:30 AM	#3
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	I suggest you are not likely to find any until after the election. Lake City (U.S.G.I) is generally very good. Try GIBrass.com. http://www.gibrass.com Out right now, but check daily. Starline is excellent, both 223 and 556, two different products, but, out of stock: https://www.starlinebrass.com/556x45mm-brass/ __________________ ............

October 25, 2020, 11:06 AM	#5
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	If you buy once fired LC from a reliable source it will be once fired if the primers are crimped in. You can pay extra for crimp removal, getting good quality homogenous brass. LC lasts very well. Cheaper mixed range pickup will not ever be homogenous. You sort it to remove steel, berdan primed, culls, etc. Case capacity is generally very close. You need to decide what best meets your needs, and is available. __________________ ............

October 25, 2020, 11:41 AM	#6
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	My best advice is, whatever you choose, to stick with one head stamp. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

October 25, 2020, 10:45 AM	#4
RileyMartin Member Join Date: June 9, 2016 Posts: 50	I saw in an ammo & reloading supply search engine there is once fired brass, mixed manufacture, available right now as low as .10/case with no guarantee. I also saw once fired cases, mixed manufacture, cleaned and with a 100% guarantee for 0.15/case as well as all Lake City manufacture, tumbled and polished but no guranatee for 0.15/case. I have all the equipment for cleaning and processing so I don't mind that if it'll save me money. I don't have any experience with buying once fired brass so I'm not sure of the quality you actually get compared to the savings vs. new brass and the difference in longevity/number of reloads for each.

October 25, 2020, 11:58 AM	#7
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	When GIBrass.com is in stock, it is 1000 for $100. Plus $25 to process primer pockets (effectively the first time). So you are looking at $0.125 per for excellent quality. He wont be out of stock for very long, as he buys military lots and processes them. __________________ ............

October 25, 2020, 04:33 PM	#8
308Loader Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 639	check your local ranges, most will sells it for scrap prices. I get for it for $1.50 to $2.50 a LB. Will need to clean, sort/inspect and remove some crimps. cant beet the price. __________________ Just a dude with stuff.

October 25, 2020, 06:54 PM	#9
Twinsig Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: East Alabama Posts: 235	Get on Starline's email notification system. Took about 2 mos, 1000 for $200-ish. Usreloading, same thing, email notification.. 1x range i bought was "ready" to load..for $125-ish/1000. __________________ I also have Fire Extinguishers, hope I never need those either.

October 25, 2020, 08:56 PM	#10
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Check local ranges. If you can't find a source, I'll ask a friend of mines who owns one here in CA if he'll sell you brass. I was there yesterday and 5.56 brass was all over the place.

October 26, 2020, 01:11 AM	#11
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	If you do not mind dirty mixed headstamp range brass I can fix you up for the cost of postage. This is all crimped primers. Just send a PM.

October 26, 2020, 09:56 AM	#12
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,327	AR or bolt gun?

October 26, 2020, 11:41 AM	#13
RileyMartin Member Join Date: June 9, 2016 Posts: 50	Semi auto AR.

October 26, 2020, 03:29 PM	#14
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,327	LC brass from a source that can get you 1-2 head stamps in 1000. Then full prep. Sort by head stamp, swage pp’s, trim pp burr, anneal, FL Size, trim, chamfer & deburr....then load them up!

October 27, 2020, 05:41 AM	#15
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I would still save the brass because you can trim it for 300 blackout and loaded a few more times. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

October 27, 2020, 01:42 PM	#16
Bfglowkey Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2018 Posts: 302	For an AR, if its a general Self Defense and practice/target then really the mixed headstamp stuff you will get in bulk/deals will be more then sufficent. ARs are rough on brass it seems to me so feeding your AR lapua could get pricey. If you are all about precision and built your AR as such then Starline is a very reputable mid tier in cost and offers great consistency. Peterson is a step above but they seem to be a bit behind recently due to demand. Lake City is just solid stuff.

October 28, 2020, 07:24 PM	#17
Smokescreens Member Join Date: August 7, 2017 Location: Harrison township, Michigan Posts: 48	i have a lot of .223 brass. i sell processed brass and have about 30,000 cases

October 29, 2020, 01:34 PM	#18
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...reaching the end of it's life..." Why do you say that? You annealed it at all? "...loaded ammunition..." Gets expensive in a hurry. Mind you, reloading isn't about saving money. You probably will not, but you will be using ammo that is tailored for your rifle. The issue is current availability. Both Midway and Graf's show nearly everything as out of stock. Midway lists over priced Lapua brass at $62.99 per 100 though. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

October 29, 2020, 07:34 PM	#20
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,325	Stick with LC brass, it seems to last a little longer.

October 30, 2020, 12:47 AM	#21
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,765	Sometimes lake city comes available as new surplus but it's spotty on availability.

October 30, 2020, 10:59 AM	#22
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	where would i find new LC brass ?

October 30, 2020, 07:25 PM	#23
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	I have only seen it around the time Alliant was winding down their contract to operate LC. Some was sold under Federals brand. midsouthshooterssupply.com had some in bulk bags. Glad I bought while I could. May not ever see it again. __________________ ............

November 23, 2020, 10:42 AM	#24
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	you just have to careful with buying once fired LC that is processed. I bought some fro a guy on another gun site and some of the case mouths split the first time I fired them. It was not a hot load by any means.

November 23, 2020, 11:50 AM	#25
Smokescreens Member Join Date: August 7, 2017 Location: Harrison township, Michigan Posts: 48	annealing would drastically help that from happening. but for plinking its not worth the hassle imo.