By: Jack Boswell

Jack Boswell — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:50:50 +0000

I have used heaps of Federal brass. They are excellent. This method of removing the crimp seems to be a very good one. I have always used a Lee hand crimp remover in the chuck of an electric drill. It works a treat and I have done several thousands of cases in 223 and 308 and 30/06. I have found the Lee case trimmer to be far better than any other method too. I have lots of file trim dies, two “Forstar” case trimmers and lots of other gadgets but the Lee trimmer is the best in my book for trimming cases which some handloaders seam to neglect. We used to get fired cases from scrap metal dealers buying big drums at a time. The best way to get new brass is to use Federal Ammunition it is cheaper than buying the components including the cases. If you shop around the price is cheaper than buying the cases and the bullets! That means you get the powder and primers free and save time reloading.However if you use once fired brass purchased in Qld they usually are very cheap and many of them are not crimped. For the 223 they come in ADI, Winchester, Federal, PMC and some military brand which I do not recognize. The 308′s are mostly Winchester with some ADI. All of the brass is excellent but needs sorting out into piles of each brand. Weighing a small selection of the deprimed cases gives you a good idea of the capacity and if you need to make allowances for this when reloading. I have found it makes little difference unless your loads are hot.

Comments on: Reload Federal .223 and Other Staked (Crimped) Primer Pocketed Brass

By: Jack Boswell