Reduced loads in .223 Remington better for brass?

[wwillson]

I am going to start reloading .223 Remington soon and would like to make my brass last as long as possible. I have been told that if you back off the charge a couple grains from the max, the case stretch will be much less than it would be with a max pressure load. With less stretch the cases will not need to be trimmed nearly as much and will last longer. Is this true? How many times can I expect to be able to reload the brass?

Thanks,

Wayne

[Arkie_Lefty]

If you're planning to load for the Mini 14, you should stay close to beginning loads in most manuals.

You gotta be $h!ttin' us to begin with, Right? The world's cheapest once fired brass, and you're sweating how many times it'll load?

Bob

[wwillson]

Bob,

I'm reloading for the AR-15 in this thread. Not really sweating, just frugal and curious.

Wayne

[JSharp]

.223 brass is so cheap and I have so much of it I'm not sure I've loaded any of mine more than a couple of times. For my AR's I just grab more out the "once or twice fired" bags I have around.

To your point, if the case gets dented from ejection the brass may start to split sooner than later. Light loads won't help that.

[Arkie_Lefty]

http://www.scharch.com/products.php?cat=9

Looks like bargain to me.

Bob

[woodsoup]

Wayne, you know you're supposed to start low and work up. You might never find that Nirvana load, like mine, worrying about brass life. (24 gr Tac under 62 gr fmj w/c Privy projectile w/ wolf srm primers in any brass 2.245 COAL) You didn't get that from me. Shot out of a S&W 15OR carbine and a Tikka T3 Hunter bolt .

Nah, don't worry about brass life, your fun time is too short.

[JSharp]

http://www.scharch.com/products.php?cat=9

Looks like bargain to me.

Bob

I purchased .223 brass from Scharch some years back. It was good quality, almost all LC headstamp. That's what I run in my AR's.

[wwillson]

http://www.scharch.com/products.php?cat=9

Looks like bargain to me.

Bob

Bob,

That's much cheaper than what I've been able to find. At that price, I guess I really don't have to worry that much about how long the brass lasts!

Thanks,

Wayne

[Arkie_Lefty]

Another great place to buy brass and components! These guys are in Searcy AR. I think they have an "in" with the Remington ammo plant in Loneoak AR. Most of what they sell is 1 fired Remington test ammo.

http://www.bluestarbrass.com/catalog/ofrbrass.htm

The REAL kicker here is, company is run by "PAT GARRETT"!!! Pat's also the sheriff of White County AR.

Bob

[JSharp]

Here's one more place though they don't have a big selection of .223 right now -

http://www.brassworldeshop.com/

I purchased from them before and been happy.

[wwillson]

Here's one more place though they don't have a big selection of .223 right now -

http://www.brassworldeshop.com/

I purchased from them before and been happy.

Thanks!