Help me select new .223 load components

boltgun71 · August 8, 2007, 06:49 PM

I'm getting ready to order brass and primers for loading match ammo for my AR. I've narrowed the brass down to Remington or Winchester, Lapua and the others is too expensive for my taste, especially since I'm ordering 500 cases. For primers I will go with either CCI Small Rifle Benchrest (BR4) or Remington Small Rifle Benchrest 7 1/2. What would you choose and why for brass and primers? I will do a seperate thread on bullets in the near future. I want to go ahead and order my brass now before prices go up in September.

mc223 · August 8, 2007, 07:18 PM

Unless you have a secret source for Rem 7-1/2 primers, there aren't many around.
I use CCI BR-4s because they are available and they light V-V powders well. Actually I also use a lot of CCI 450 and CCI #41 for V-V powders and heavy bullets.
Uniformity of Win brass tends to be a bit better within a given lot than Rem IMHO.
I mostly use sorted LC brass within a given year of mfg. There is quite a lot of once fired brass out in the world generally cheaper than the brands.

Trapper L · August 8, 2007, 08:36 PM

Primer availablity is subject to your area. I just picked up 1000 Rem 7 1/2 BR primers at a Sportsmans Warehouse in San Antonio last week. They had quite a few. There may be none in your area but look anyway. I find for the 223 case the Remmys are a tad better than the others. I would use the Remington brass over the current Winchester production. If you can find some OLD Winchester once fired brass, it's pretty good stuff. Another to look for is Military Match brass from Lake City. I have a bunch from 1981 that is great brass. This will give some idea about cost and availabilty.
http://www.brassmanbrass.com/inventory-001.html

Sevens · August 8, 2007, 10:04 PM

The user reviews on Midway that I've seen (recently I've looked at 8x57 brass) has been heavily skewed in favor of Winchester over Remington. But for .223, I've had terrific success with military brass because there's SO MUCH of it, it's very easy/cheap to get.

fourrobert13 · August 9, 2007, 01:41 AM

I like the Winchester brass. I have not used your primer choices that you have above because I am shooting 1/2" groups or smaller with regular Winchester small rifle primers, H335, & Hornady 68gr HPBT match bullets out of my DPMS 1 in 9 SS bull barrel

Thesenator · August 9, 2007, 03:56 AM

Lake City 03 once fired brass

Pulled down WC844 ball powder

MilSpec 162gr SS109 bullets from Widener's

Winchester primers

View Poll Results: What brass and primers would you choose for .223?
Remington brass	5	27.78%
Winchester brass	13	72.22%
CCI Small Rifle Benchrest (BR4) primers	7	38.89%
Remington Small Rifle Benchrest 7 1/2 primers	9	50.00%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll

August 8, 2007, 06:49 PM	#1
boltgun71 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 547	Help me select new .223 load components I'm getting ready to order brass and primers for loading match ammo for my AR. I've narrowed the brass down to Remington or Winchester, Lapua and the others is too expensive for my taste, especially since I'm ordering 500 cases. For primers I will go with either CCI Small Rifle Benchrest (BR4) or Remington Small Rifle Benchrest 7 1/2. What would you choose and why for brass and primers? I will do a seperate thread on bullets in the near future. I want to go ahead and order my brass now before prices go up in September.

August 8, 2007, 07:18 PM	#2
mc223 Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2007 Location: n/w Wisconsin Posts: 365	Unless you have a secret source for Rem 7-1/2 primers, there aren't many around. I use CCI BR-4s because they are available and they light V-V powders well. Actually I also use a lot of CCI 450 and CCI #41 for V-V powders and heavy bullets. Uniformity of Win brass tends to be a bit better within a given lot than Rem IMHO. I mostly use sorted LC brass within a given year of mfg. There is quite a lot of once fired brass out in the world generally cheaper than the brands.

August 8, 2007, 08:36 PM	#3
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	Primer availablity is subject to your area. I just picked up 1000 Rem 7 1/2 BR primers at a Sportsmans Warehouse in San Antonio last week. They had quite a few. There may be none in your area but look anyway. I find for the 223 case the Remmys are a tad better than the others. I would use the Remington brass over the current Winchester production. If you can find some OLD Winchester once fired brass, it's pretty good stuff. Another to look for is Military Match brass from Lake City. I have a bunch from 1981 that is great brass. This will give some idea about cost and availabilty. http://www.brassmanbrass.com/inventory-001.html

August 8, 2007, 10:04 PM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	The user reviews on Midway that I've seen (recently I've looked at 8x57 brass) has been heavily skewed in favor of Winchester over Remington. But for .223, I've had terrific success with military brass because there's SO MUCH of it, it's very easy/cheap to get. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

August 9, 2007, 01:41 AM	#5
fourrobert13 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 336	I like the Winchester brass. I have not used your primer choices that you have above because I am shooting 1/2" groups or smaller with regular Winchester small rifle primers, H335, & Hornady 68gr HPBT match bullets out of my DPMS 1 in 9 SS bull barrel

August 9, 2007, 03:56 AM	#6
Thesenator Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Posts: 126	Lake City 03 once fired brass Pulled down WC844 ball powder MilSpec 162gr SS109 bullets from Widener's Winchester primers