Question for reloaders
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cat-mechanic
Member
Can't tell from that picture. How about a picture of the bottom of the cases?
storage_man
Member
Maybe maybe not. The long single scratches could be from a Dirty Die, or a Dirty chamber. There are some stretch marks on the right one (Which could indicate they were shot once and Re-sized ? But no real proof.
So some factory machines discolor and some don't?knockonit said:
I've bought plenty of .223 ammo (in factory packaging that's mighty pretty.)
I also have a gang of Federal green tip that are all discolored, so he can put that theory in his pipe and smoke it....
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As was said above, the discoloration is from the annealing process. It's more often the opposite - lack of discoloration is a result of tumbling after brass has been annealed, which would happen during the reloading process.
It used to be cheaper/easier to buy pull down 5.56 brass than it was to buy 1x and process it. Primers were still crimped and tar was still on the neck, so once loaded they were indistinguishable from factory LC when loaded with the right bullets.
It used to be cheaper/easier to buy pull down 5.56 brass than it was to buy 1x and process it. Primers were still crimped and tar was still on the neck, so once loaded they were indistinguishable from factory LC when loaded with the right bullets.
Harrier
Member
Military production will usually show the annealing discoloration because a) it shows that it was done and b) it costs $ to polish it off.
Often OEM commercially sold ammo (even mil production cases like shown) will be polished shiny, removing the discoloration from annealing. For some reason consumers think shiny=better.
The FC head-stamp (+ no NATO cross) indicates it is a federal commercial run, the dot impressions indicate cases were probably loaded on mil equipment at LC plant (the dots indicate which machine). Commercial ammo don't usually have those dots.
IMO, It's hard to tell without a magnifier but the absence of other marks, nicks, indents, scrapes etc on the head/rim (which would occur upon firing) indicate the FC is also a factory round.
Often OEM commercially sold ammo (even mil production cases like shown) will be polished shiny, removing the discoloration from annealing. For some reason consumers think shiny=better.
The FC head-stamp (+ no NATO cross) indicates it is a federal commercial run, the dot impressions indicate cases were probably loaded on mil equipment at LC plant (the dots indicate which machine). Commercial ammo don't usually have those dots.
IMO, It's hard to tell without a magnifier but the absence of other marks, nicks, indents, scrapes etc on the head/rim (which would occur upon firing) indicate the FC is also a factory round.
Harrier said:
I just learned something new. Thanks!
Since the one on the left has (or at least had) a crimped primer, but no longer has the annealing discoloration, I'd guess that one is a reload. Also, it appears to have a pretty sizable ejection ding in the shoulder. Total speculation, but that's my guess.
Harrier
Member
It's hard to tell from the blurry pictures... (or is it my eyes)...
The crease in the shoulder could happen in many ways depending on how it was packed - if it was loose it easily could have been caused by another round... even if on strippers. Not so much if in sleeves.
The ring crimp is a little hard to see and assess - it could be off center and still be new (looks like it) but if the area around 7pm is beveled then it is reloaded and someone chamfered the pocket (which should be evident all the way around- but it doesn't appear so). Lighting can hide this in pics- so look carefully and even use a magnifier (if your over 60)
Also there is what might be a slight dog-ear-shaped mark around the machine-dot at 2am - could be a shadow but if it is an impression in the metal, likely from the ejector pin and would also indicate fired reload...
Also look inside the rim from the front- the extractor will leave a small indent mark - all of these signs assume firing in an AR - if a bolt was used then ejector/extracting signs may be different and much less visible, but some metal disturbance should still be evident...IMO
The crease in the shoulder could happen in many ways depending on how it was packed - if it was loose it easily could have been caused by another round... even if on strippers. Not so much if in sleeves.
The ring crimp is a little hard to see and assess - it could be off center and still be new (looks like it) but if the area around 7pm is beveled then it is reloaded and someone chamfered the pocket (which should be evident all the way around- but it doesn't appear so). Lighting can hide this in pics- so look carefully and even use a magnifier (if your over 60)
Also there is what might be a slight dog-ear-shaped mark around the machine-dot at 2am - could be a shadow but if it is an impression in the metal, likely from the ejector pin and would also indicate fired reload...
Also look inside the rim from the front- the extractor will leave a small indent mark - all of these signs assume firing in an AR - if a bolt was used then ejector/extracting signs may be different and much less visible, but some metal disturbance should still be evident...IMO
