Forget ammo...who has .308 LC Brass ??

win308 · January 08, 2007, 21:25

Not only is good ammo impossible to find, it seems .308 LC brass is vanishing. Anyone have a source for USGI - 7.62 NATO brass....preferably unfired, disassembled componets?

jerrymrc · January 08, 2007, 21:32

Pat's still has it. $119K

win308 · January 12, 2007, 12:17

I called Pat's reloading and ordered 1000 pieces of LC brass...... with shipping and all costs, it came to $130.00. This was demilled brass from loaded ammo, so the cases have not been stretched out in a huge MG chamber, which shortens case life.

The cases were indeed, unfired, but the primers had been fired and then deprimed. There are 3 years in my box of 1000...LC 64, LC 66 and LC 67.....but mostly 64 and 67. The 64 and 66 brass was from machinegun ammo..you can faintly see the marks the links made. An hour in the tumbler and the marks were gone and the brass looked like new.

The LC 67 had no link marks, making me think it was boxed / clipped ammo for M-14s. All in all, nice brass for reloading.

I spoke with PAT when I ordered and he said the orders are poring in. He will be out of brass by the end of January, ....if supplies even last that long.

Craig B · January 12, 2007, 12:48

He's out

win308 · January 12, 2007, 18:10

I just ordered mine Monday 1-8-07 and he thought he would be out by the last of this month....maybe sooner. Looks like the orders kept coming in and he is out a lot sooner.

rcnpthfndr · January 12, 2007, 20:38

i was shooting RC and LC 67 linked ammo in iraq last year.

RacerRTR · January 12, 2007, 22:10

Just got 1k from Scharch.com, they have once fired, cleaned and trimmed for $116.00. Haven't loaded any yet but looks pretty dam good.

instr8 · January 13, 2007, 19:25

Quote:

Originally posted by RacerRTR
Just got 1k from Scharch.com, they have once fired, cleaned and trimmed for $116.00. Haven't loaded any yet but looks pretty dam good.

Check those for head seperation. All the LC04 in my scharch brass was close to seperating. Just a HU.

Ohio FAL · January 13, 2007, 19:34

I have reloaded alot of machinegun fired brass with no problems. Problem is most people don't use a headspace gauge to set their resizing die and resize more then what is needed. I suspect this is what has happened here.
Sam

**moses** · January 14, 2007, 19:22

I've heard a few people say this about only sizing enough to pass the case cage

but it seems to me there is only about .008 or so difference in max to minimum and I really do not see how .008 can really shorten or lengthen case life

win308 · January 14, 2007, 20:36

**moses** · January 15, 2007, 18:31

I do understand all of this but my point is when you put a case in a case gauge there is so little difference between the not sized enough and sized to maximum according to the case gauge I do not see how it could matter?

I do neck size for my bolt guns and of course this does extend case life.

USSR · January 15, 2007, 20:28

Quote:

A machine gun has to function under all conditions, so chambers are usually at the maximum size, rather than cut to minimum specks.

In addition to this, most USGI M80 ball ammo is headspaced .005 under spec. Makes for a VERY short case life when fired in a generous machinegun chamber.

Don

lawdog1 · January 23, 2007, 19:29

Back to the subject. Anyone know where Lake City demilled or once-fired can be had? Pat's is out and it sounds like Scharch has some issues. Don't tell me ebay either, those idiots are paying up to .25 a case!

shootist87122 · January 23, 2007, 19:55

You can get factory new Grafs .308 brass for $.16/ea or so. It weights a couple grains less than some Fed brass I have and significantly less than my '91 Aussie. It seems to be good brass - I don't have more than two firings in any of it yet, but some of the 7.5x55 brass from the same maker is on it's 7th load (and is probably close to the end of it's life).

I'm using the Grafs for the Ishapore (only) at this time. That rifle headspaces to ~1.634". I use a FL Redding sizer die that is set to just kiss the ram. In effect I am matching my fire formed brass to correct the moderately loose HS on the Ishy. The resized brass measures +.002" just in front of the web than some set to fit in the chamber check guage. It will feed fine in a FAL set to 1.633", but will not feed in a new build in progress I just headspaced to 1.630".

I plan to use the Graf's brass for the Ishy since it may not feed in everything else (I only bought 500 pieces). The Aussie brass will be FL resized so I don't have to worry about what it goes in.

lawdog1 · January 28, 2007, 23:53

Anyone know where I can get Lake City brass and NOT pay loaded ammo price? Pat's is out and River Valley doesn't answer e-mail or phone calls.

kycrawler · January 29, 2007, 01:05

gibrass.com showed it instock last time i checked

FALic · January 29, 2007, 02:01

My gun club in San Diego lets the Navy SEALs and others use the range, part of the deal is that the club keeps all the brass, cans, etc. Once fired LC brass is not a problem, I've been able to get a .30 cal can full of 7.62 brass for around $20 in the past.

I guess I could make some phone calls, see what they have.

tommygun2000 · January 30, 2007, 11:12

Quote:

Originally posted by kycrawler
gibrass.com showed it instock last time i checked

Gibrass is out..... he probably hadn't updated his page yet.

I got the very last of what he had in the mail yesterday and it didn't even complete my small order.
Should have ordered a day or two earlier.....oh well.

Its in the tumbler now getting ready to be sorted and inspected. Its dirty stuff and the case mouths are dented in a bit...typical machinegun brass......but six hours in the tumbler with walnut and a bit of polish and it comes out bright and clean.

The quest is on to find more.......someone's got to be sitting on a pile of this stuff somewhere.....lets find it and get it reloaded.

FALic · January 31, 2007, 00:37

Yes, my gun club in San Diegohas LC brass available - complements of the local SEAL teams, the Coast Guard, and any other organization that can't get range time from the USMC.

We're trying to figure out what a fair price would be. Any ideas? All proceeds go to the club which is all volunteer and is the only place in town w/ a 300 yard range

Azrial · January 31, 2007, 00:54

I had no idea that LC brass had become so valuable! I have a 5 gallon bucket full of LC NM. Now I wish I had more. I assume that the NM is worth more? Just curious, I do not want to sell it.

win308 · January 31, 2007, 11:14

FALic

I got some of the last .308 brass from Pat's reloading....1000 rd of LC for $113. This was UNFIRED brass from demilled ammo. I would say fired brass that is mixed headstamps would be worth less.....maybe 7 cents each.

Just a suggestion.

January 08, 2007, 21:25	#1
win308 Registered FALaholic #: 10585 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 437	Forget ammo...who has .308 LC Brass ?? Not only is good ammo impossible to find, it seems .308 LC brass is vanishing. Anyone have a source for USGI - 7.62 NATO brass....preferably unfired, disassembled componets?

January 08, 2007, 21:32	#2
jerrymrc Registered FALaholic #: 2331 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: colorado springs Posts: 4,878	Pat's still has it. $119K __________________ Owner of the worlds lightest Fal. 5.8lbs. :)

January 12, 2007, 12:48	#4
Craig B Registered FALaholic #: 24516 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1	Gone He's out

January 12, 2007, 20:38	#6
rcnpthfndr Registered FALaholic #: 12905 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: 17013 Posts: 1,161	i was shooting RC and LC 67 linked ammo in iraq last year. __________________ http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member437.png Barrett Armorer

January 13, 2007, 19:34	#9
Ohio FAL Registered FALaholic #: 19263 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 46	I have reloaded alot of machinegun fired brass with no problems. Problem is most people don't use a headspace gauge to set their resizing die and resize more then what is needed. I suspect this is what has happened here. Sam __________________ Speed's Fine But Accuracy Is Final!

January 12, 2007, 12:17	#3
win308 Registered FALaholic #: 10585 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 437	I called Pat's reloading and ordered 1000 pieces of LC brass...... with shipping and all costs, it came to $130.00. This was demilled brass from loaded ammo, so the cases have not been stretched out in a huge MG chamber, which shortens case life. The cases were indeed, unfired, but the primers had been fired and then deprimed. There are 3 years in my box of 1000...LC 64, LC 66 and LC 67.....but mostly 64 and 67. The 64 and 66 brass was from machinegun ammo..you can faintly see the marks the links made. An hour in the tumbler and the marks were gone and the brass looked like new. The LC 67 had no link marks, making me think it was boxed / clipped ammo for M-14s. All in all, nice brass for reloading. I spoke with PAT when I ordered and he said the orders are poring in. He will be out of brass by the end of January, ....if supplies even last that long.

January 12, 2007, 18:10	#5
win308 Registered FALaholic #: 10585 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 437	I just ordered mine Monday 1-8-07 and he thought he would be out by the last of this month....maybe sooner. Looks like the orders kept coming in and he is out a lot sooner.

January 12, 2007, 22:10	#7
RacerRTR Registered FALaholic #: 17171 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 741	Just got 1k from Scharch.com, they have once fired, cleaned and trimmed for $116.00. Haven't loaded any yet but looks pretty dam good.

January 14, 2007, 19:22	#10
moses One of the original 400 Contributor FALaholic #: 392 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: charlotte nc usa Posts: 5,493	I've heard a few people say this about only sizing enough to pass the case cage but it seems to me there is only about .008 or so difference in max to minimum and I really do not see how .008 can really shorten or lengthen case life

January 14, 2007, 20:36	#11
win308 Registered FALaholic #: 10585 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 437	Last edited by win308; January 30, 2007 at 11:35.

January 15, 2007, 18:31	#12
moses One of the original 400 Contributor FALaholic #: 392 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: charlotte nc usa Posts: 5,493	I do understand all of this but my point is when you put a case in a case gauge there is so little difference between the not sized enough and sized to maximum according to the case gauge I do not see how it could matter? I do neck size for my bolt guns and of course this does extend case life.

January 23, 2007, 19:29	#14
lawdog1 Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 20736 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 175	Back to the subject. Anyone know where Lake City demilled or once-fired can be had? Pat's is out and it sounds like Scharch has some issues. Don't tell me ebay either, those idiots are paying up to .25 a case! __________________ "Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." - General Macarthur

January 23, 2007, 19:55	#15
shootist87122 Registered FALaholic #: 7202 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NM Posts: 5,127	You can get factory new Grafs .308 brass for $.16/ea or so. It weights a couple grains less than some Fed brass I have and significantly less than my '91 Aussie. It seems to be good brass - I don't have more than two firings in any of it yet, but some of the 7.5x55 brass from the same maker is on it's 7th load (and is probably close to the end of it's life). I'm using the Grafs for the Ishapore (only) at this time. That rifle headspaces to ~1.634". I use a FL Redding sizer die that is set to just kiss the ram. In effect I am matching my fire formed brass to correct the moderately loose HS on the Ishy. The resized brass measures +.002" just in front of the web than some set to fit in the chamber check guage. It will feed fine in a FAL set to 1.633", but will not feed in a new build in progress I just headspaced to 1.630". I plan to use the Graf's brass for the Ishy since it may not feed in everything else (I only bought 500 pieces). The Aussie brass will be FL resized so I don't have to worry about what it goes in. __________________ "So in the Libyan Fable it is told, That once an eagle, stricken with a dart, said, when he saw the fashion of the shaft, it is by our own feathers, not others hands, are we now smitten." -Aeschylus

January 28, 2007, 23:53	#16
lawdog1 Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 20736 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 175	Anyone know where I can get Lake City brass and NOT pay loaded ammo price? Pat's is out and River Valley doesn't answer e-mail or phone calls. __________________ "Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." - General Macarthur

January 29, 2007, 01:05	#17
kycrawler Registered FALaholic #: 19787 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Crawfordsville IN Posts: 1,274	gibrass.com showed it instock last time i checked

January 29, 2007, 02:01	#18
FALic Registered FALaholic #: 3119 Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 190	My gun club in San Diego lets the Navy SEALs and others use the range, part of the deal is that the club keeps all the brass, cans, etc. Once fired LC brass is not a problem, I've been able to get a .30 cal can full of 7.62 brass for around $20 in the past. I guess I could make some phone calls, see what they have. __________________ Run with the pack or piss with the puppies - it's your choice.

January 31, 2007, 00:37	#20
FALic Registered FALaholic #: 3119 Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 190	Yes, my gun club in San Diegohas LC brass available - complements of the local SEAL teams, the Coast Guard, and any other organization that can't get range time from the USMC. We're trying to figure out what a fair price would be. Any ideas? All proceeds go to the club which is all volunteer and is the only place in town w/ a 300 yard range __________________ Run with the pack or piss with the puppies - it's your choice.

January 31, 2007, 00:54	#21
Azrial Registered FALaholic #: 21440 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA! Posts: 4,198	I had no idea that LC brass had become so valuable! I have a 5 gallon bucket full of LC NM. Now I wish I had more. I assume that the NM is worth more? Just curious, I do not want to sell it. __________________ A Police Officer shows just how much he cares everyday, even if it is the last thing he ever does.

January 31, 2007, 11:14	#22
win308 Registered FALaholic #: 10585 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 437	FALic I got some of the last .308 brass from Pat's reloading....1000 rd of LC for $113. This was UNFIRED brass from demilled ammo. I would say fired brass that is mixed headstamps would be worth less.....maybe 7 cents each. Just a suggestion.

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