• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Lake city brass

rubar01

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 22, 2010
205
0
57
Luling, Louisiana
Is these a difference in capacity between LC and any other brass. I'm loading some 5.56 with varget and at 26.7g and it seems to be right at the shoulder. Should I worry or is this ok?

John
 
Re: Lake city brass

LC has a thicker web just like Lapua and a few others. Download LC by about 10% to start from what you would shoot in standard Win/etc. brass and work your way up to your optimum load just like any other.
 
Re: Lake city brass

High Binder,
Thanks for the information. This is what I have done. Using Varget I get case capasityat 75.3. I stopped my reloads at 75.0.
Would you consider the 75g a safe load to try?
Thanks, for your help.

John
 
Re: Lake city brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cajunshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">High Binder,
Thanks for the information. This is what I have done. Using Varget I get case capasityat 75.3. I stopped my reloads at 75.0.
Would you consider the 75g a safe load to try?
Thanks, for your help.

John </div></div>

if you can get 75 gr of varget in a .223 case you have some mad skills - you must mean 25 gr

what bullet? with 55gr yes - with 80 gr hell no

shoot them working up the line - if you get blown primer/ stuck case or other nasties, do not keep going
 
Re: Lake city brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cajunshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">High Binder,
Thanks for the information. This is what I have done. Using Varget I get case capasityat 75.3. I stopped my reloads at 75.0.
Would you consider the 75g a safe load to try?
Thanks, for your help.

John </div></div>

No prob. and I agree with what George said above. That being said, and assuming 45-60gr bullets, I'd load up a test batch starting as low as 20-21gr and working your way up to 24.0-24.5 in .5gr increments. Take 'em to the range and start with the lowest and gradually work your way up looking for pressure signs and stop at the first sign. I suspect you'll find that you'll see better groups in the lower charges anyway.
 
Re: Lake city brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">556 LC brass is actually lighter than most commercial cases. 26 varget with a 50-55 grain bullet @ 2.2" is about the max I'd do, 24-24.5 with a 75-77 @ 2.245". </div></div>

Perhaps you're thinking about the non-NATO Federal brass that's made at the same plant? All NATO brass regardless of the maker has a thicker web which means lower case capacity, i.e higher pressures.
 
Re: Lake city brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BCP</div><div class="ubbcode-body">556 LC brass is actually lighter than most commercial cases. 26 varget with a 50-55 grain bullet @ 2.2" is about the max I'd do, 24-24.5 with a 75-77 @ 2.245". </div></div>

Perhaps you're thinking about the non-NATO Federal brass that's made at the same plant? All NATO brass regardless of the maker has a thicker web which means lower case capacity, i.e higher pressures. </div></div>

Not only does it have a thicker web, but the brass is thicker throughout.

To the OP ... why are you loading them so high?!? Max load is rarely the best accuracy load! If you aren't getting the groups you are looking for on published MAX .... start over! Chances are ... you missed the 'sweet spot'.


Also, not to sound too harsh, but reality is a bitch! If you don't know how to look for pressure signs ... go back and start reloading with 'Reloading 101'! Ninety-nine percent of the time a compressed load will result in high pressure signs. I've seen compressed loads using 5.56 brass blow the primer out of the pocket, and blow the pocket out of spec by .200"! Just because it's stronger brass doesn't make it 'abuse proof'. If anything ... it will be less likely to give when put under extreme stress. Why do you think you see so many 'once fired' 5.56 brass with the sides and necks split?

Don't get me wrong ... it's excellent brass and can be reloaded 5x over standard commercial brass. However, if you are constantly stressing it with extreme loadings you won't be left with anything other than 'scrap brass' after the first firing.
 
Re: Lake city brass

No, I'm not. LC 556 brass is not drastically thicker than commercial brass. I have cut them apart, weighed them, measured how much powder they can hold vs rem, pmc, win, fc. LC 556 is on the lighter/higher capacity side.

762nato brass is the one that is thicker than most commercial 308 brands. I've weighed lots of those too.

As for the OP using 26+ grains of varget in a 223 case...compressed varget in 223 isn't uncommon (25.3 varget + 69 grainer for example you will hear kernels crunch) but if it worries you try a faster burning powder there are many good choices out there.
 
Re: Lake city brass

There is a fair amount of misinformation in this thread on LC 556 brass.

I am with BCP, I have found that LC 556 brass has slightly more capacity than other brands of brass. The exception was South African PMP brass which was significantly heavier and had less capacity.

I did my own measurements with case capacity on various years LC, FC, WIN, WCC and Hornady brass and I was within .2-.3 grains of what was posted in this chart:
casecapacitiesresized.jpg

Here is another good link that discusses case capacity (scroll down to the Case Weight vs. Capacity chart):
http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html

7.62 LC brass on the other hand does have less case capacity than other commercial offerings that I have checked it against.

To the OP, where did you get your load data from and what bullet are you using? You need to download 10% from the max published load and work your way up in .2 or .3 gr increments while looking for pressure signs. If you are not familiar with the ladder testing method, you should do some reading on it as I have found it is a good method to find out where my best accuracy node(s) are when working on new loads.
 
Re: Lake city brass

BCP and 50APIT are correct here; LC 5.56 cases tend to fall pretty much in line with most commercial cases in this caliber. The 7.62x51 and if you run across any, old USGI 30-06 brass is significantly heavier that their civilian counterparts, and dose require a slight reduction in charge weights.

As for compressed charges producing pressure problems, that depends entirely on what you're compressing. Run some 4831SC in a 223/5.56 and you'll wind up compressing it severely, and still have a load that delivers ridiculously mild pressures. And no, that's not a load recommendation, just pointing out that it's the powder itself that will determine load density and resultant pressure.
 
Re: Lake city brass

Thanks to all! I got my information from the 3 different reloading manuals( Lyman, Serria, and Nosler). Some had a lower beginning charge and others had a higher max charge. Wanted to ask the question before I got myself into trouble. I started at the lowest beginning charge and increased with 3 grains up to 3 grains below max charge. I working up 6 rounds at each charge and trying (55 / 63 / 69). Again thanks for the help.