Reloading is a great thing that can save you money on the shooting sports by driving down the per unit cost of your ammo. The other thing about it is that it can help you get around the ammo shortages some of us are still facing.
With that said, you have to know what you’re doing. If not, you won’t get the right performance out of your ammo, and it can even damage the firearm. Therefore it pays to know what to look for.
On that note, here are a few things to look for in your American Eagle .223 casings – if they show any of the following signs, it’s time to discard them.
When They’re Cracked
This doesn’t just go for American Eagle .223. If you have any brass case that’s cracked, it should be discarded.
Cracks are weak points in the casing which are a precursor to casing failure. If the casing fails, it can damage the firearm. That’s something to avoid.
While you might be able to get away with resizing and trimming, cracks are a hard stop. If you have a cracked case, get rid of it.
When the Neck or Shoulder Is Deformed
Deformations to the neck or shoulder of the casing are another big concern. This is why visual inspections of the casings are so important.
If there is a bulge or a deformation of some sort to the neck or shoulder of the casing, that is a precursor to a crack or an outright failure.
It’s another thing you should look for when sifting through your fired casings. Like cracks, if you have a bulge or some other anomaly, just toss that casing.
When Any Part of the Case Is Dented
We get it, casings get stepped on at the range sometime. That’s something you should avoid if you can, but life happens.
However, when it does happen, it’s time to retire that casing. Any dent in the casing will change the cartridge’s internal dimensions and that will change chamber pressure – and precise chamber pressure is critical not only to consistency, but performance and safety.
Anyway, even if a casing didn’t get stepped on, if there’s a casing with a dent, toss that one too. (Another tip: get a brass catcher and use that at the range to keep your American Eagle .223 brass off the ground in the first place.)
When the Case Is Excessively Dirty
Cleaning cases is an important first step to reloading to begin with, and a little grease or fouling is just a part of the game.
But if you have a casing that is just in really bad shape, scratched up and very dirty, you might as well not even put in the time.
If the Case Shows Any Sign of Corrosion
Corrosion is a hard stop here. Brass often shows dark spots, pitting, and blue-green copper oxidation. All of these things weaken the case and can even change its dimensions.
Like cracks, corrosion and other oxidative damage to the casing is something you can’t reverse. Do not attempt to reload a casing that shows any signs of corrosion.
If You’re Just Not Sure
Last but not least, if you’re just not sure if a case is in good shape, pass onto the next one. Better safe than sorry.
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