Least expensive possible setup for .223-->300BLK conversion?
I've read articles on one end of the spectrum that say you need a case neck annealing setup, and to hire a PhD-holding engineer to sort your headstamps for you to get only the perfect neck thickness. I've also read articles that say you can just cut the brass with a rusty hacksaw and run it through the sizing die. Presumably the truth is somewhere in the middle.
My question is, will a pipe cutter do the trick, then running through a sizing die, and finally trim/chamfer/deburr? Or do I really need to be worried about neck thickness and annealing?
My goal for 300 BLK is honestly just to have some fun with a 10.5" AR pistol and a suppressor, so my ammo will virtually all be subs, probably using the Lee 309 230gr mold. I'd like it to be accurate enough to be fun out to 100 yards, but not planning on hunting or doing any "serious" target shooting with it.
Least expensive possible setup for .223-->300BLK conversion?
Yes, you do have to worry about neck thickness. Sorting by headstamp is all that’s required for this. I’m setup to convert brass but I stopped. Starline makes it and it’s not worth the time to make it myself anymore. When I was making it used the mini HF cutoff saw, deburred, sized, trimmed to length, deburred and annealed. Annealing is a step that can be omitted but your brass will last longer and neck tension will be consistent if you do.