First time using virgin brass

[Phylodog]

I've got 1K pieces of virgin LC 5.56 brass which is supposed to be delivered today. I haven't done any reloading in over a year and I've never used virgin brass before. Just curious what I should expect or what others do or don't do with new brass before loading it up.

Should I need to measure or trim the length?
Chamfer the inside or outside of the mouth?

I've read that the flash holes on Lapua brass are drilled rather than punched so they don't require deburring, I've heard this is also true with LC brass but don't have confirmation. Anyone know if this is the case or should I plan to deburr it as well?

TIA

 

[MD2Colo]

Re: First time using virgin brass

You won't need to run it through a full length re-size or de prime, so that's cool. Check headspace on rifle, trim if you need to. If not, cool. You might, depending on what chamber you have.

Primer pockets will probably need to be touched up with a uniformer, found that out the hard way... primers weren't seating all the way until I smartened up.

Ya, I would touch up the flash hole and chamfer the inside and outside of the cases. Prolly will make bullet seating a bit more fluid and consistent.

$.02


-edit
on the chamber thing- I would check headspace, but I think the 223 and 5.56 specs are the same externally. That being said, I know LC brass has more mass and likes to expand a bit more towards the bore. I would just make sure that you're inside the window on length and trim if you need to

and also, comparing a fired case from that rifle to your LC brass with a comparator might give you an idea as to how big your chamber is and give you an idea on length and HS

sorry for the run-on post, I'm just running through the process in my head, more things are popping up

 

[MD2Colo]

Re: First time using virgin brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MD2Colo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
and also, comparing a fired case from that rifle to your LC brass with a comparator might give you an idea as to how big your chamber is and give you an idea on length and HS
</div></div>

only REALLY helps to find out how much the case grew if your fired case is LC, though. But it will give an idea of how much headspace you have, since all cases should be sammi spec before firing, at least at the shoulder anyway.
Talkin about measuring HS between two cases with a comparator and measuring the overall case length with a diff tool or calipers. god, sorry I'm out of it

 

[Phylodog]

Re: First time using virgin brass

Much appreciated. Thanks to Boone I have 25 pieces of LC brass which were virgin when loaded and once fired through my rifle that I can use for comparison.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: First time using virgin brass

I might run it through an expander ball to round out the mouths.