Annealing AR brass (.223)

[gohring3006]

While I religiously anneal my larger cartridges, I have never bothered to anneal my 223 brass that is exclusively shot in my AR. With my 200/300 yard egg shoot,competition load; 25gr Varget, 69gr SMK's, Lapua brass, BR4's, I have gotten as many as 10 reloads. I use a FL std base RCBS X Dye which eliminates the need to trim the brass. While the brass does accumulate some small dents, I experience no failures to feed or accuracy issues. The heavy 24" DPMS Vatmint upper generates .25-.4 MOA accuracy with this load throughout the 10 cycles on the brass. Although the cost is higher, there is definitely a difference in case life with the Lapua brass. I get 3-5 loadings out of the others I have tried.

This is one to consider also, if I can get ten reloads with Lapua that might be better and cheaper in the long run. If I bought 500 lapua I wonder if I did anneal if I would get even more than ten reloads..

 

[Greyfox]

This is one to consider also, if I can get ten reloads with Lapua that might be better and cheaper in the long run. If I bought 500 lapua I wonder if I did anneal if I would get even more than ten reloads..

I think that it is possible, but it may depend the pressure dynamics and chamber of your particular rifle/load. I think you would also have to keep an eye on the tightness of the primer pockets as well. For me, reloading AR ammo varies with the type of shooting I do. At one end of the spectum, for high volume rattle battle type events and playing around I don't reload and just buy cheap bulk ammo. I just give that brass away. At the other exteme, for precision long range target and hunting, I use the best high end components in large lots and very exacting reloading techniques. While the number of reloads is a nice benefit, I find that consistency in performance is my primary requirement and I'll pay more for that. Contrary to many opinions, I have found the AR platform capable of superb accuracy within the limits of the 223 round.

 

[Corey Schwanz]

Bolt gun .223 I'd consider higher quality brass and annealing. For an AR, lake city and the like will do just fine. I usually lose brass at 3gun matches long before its time to anneal anyway.

 

[greyman]

Like I said a bolt gun is different. Then I would not have a problem spending more for brass. With an AR you have to FL resize anyway, I see it as counterproductive to spend more money on say Lapua brass and work the **** out of it. when range brass is free, so initial cost for brass is nothing. clean, size, trim, load, shoot, repeat 3 or 4 times and call it good and pickup more. Even with my AR I am getting .447 groups at 100yds good enough for the dogs I shoot.

 

[gohring3006]

I think that it is possible, but it may depend the pressure dynamics and chamber of your particular rifle/load. I think you would also have to keep an eye on the tightness of the primer pockets as well. For me, reloading AR ammo varies with the type of shooting I do. At one end of the spectum, for high volume rattle battle type events and playing around I don't reload and just buy cheap bulk ammo. I just give that brass away. At the other exteme, for precision long range target and hunting, I use the best high end components in large lots and very exacting reloading techniques. While the number of reloads is a nice benefit, I find that consistency in performance is my primary requirement and I'll pay more for that. Contrary to many opinions, I have found the AR platform capable of superb accuracy within the limits of the 223 round.

I think I'm closer to your style of shooting, I usually only take my ten round mags to the range. I don't shoot rapid fire high volume, I like to shoot for precision. If I feel the need to shoot rapid I just pick up a couple hundred American Eagle and spray away. I can't reload my favorite bullet powder combo cheaper than what I can pick the American Eagles for. Plus I got all that time on my single stage press, just to rapid fire it away in a matter of minutes.