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Thread: forming 222 rem. brass

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    triggerhappy243's Avatar
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    forming 222 rem. brass

    is there a big market for 222 rem. brass, seeing their is worldwide shortages?

  2. #2
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    I haven't noticed any big demand for triple deuce brass. I tried to sell a couple of hundred reformed 223 brass a couple of months ago and had no takers.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    I seriously doubt there is a big market for 222. The 223 rem is much more popular. I would imagine that 222 brass is only made on seasonal runs.

    How many 222 rem rifles do you see at gun shops or gun shows?

    I have formed 222 from 223 with one pass in the sizing die and a trim. Necks were fine on my brass and did not need to be turned.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by stubshaft View Post
    I haven't noticed any big demand for triple deuce brass. I tried to sell a couple of hundred reformed 223 brass a couple of months ago and had no takers.
    did you form them yourself? and did you reload and test them?

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


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    I have an intermediate die that is made for forming 222 from 223 brass that works well. It is another step but I don’t have crushed shoulders.

  6. #6
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    I formed them myself and shot a couple of hundred out of one of my Contenders. It is a simple, one and done deal. Size, trim, load and shoot.
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    You might try a one time ad for 100 of them on Gunbroker and see how it goes.
    If they didn't sell, it's a caliber you shoot anyway, so it wouldn't be a loss.
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    I formed them myself.... It is a simple, one and done deal. Size, trim, load and shoot
    same here, except that you also have to remove the primer crimp!
    atr
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    Boolit Master pertnear's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BK7saum View Post
    .............I have formed 222 from 223 with one pass in the sizing die and a trim. Necks were fine on my brass and did not need to be turned.
    +1
    Same simple process for me except I anneal as a final step. They work fine fine in my rifles & I don't see any difference in accuracy versus original .222 cases.
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    With a decent 222 rifle, capable of bench rest accuracy, the last thing you may want to convert to 222 is military 223 brass, if commercial brass is available. Way more work than size and trim. Military brass is not intended to be reloaded, so tolerances in the military brass is broad, thus adds a few steps to get the good accuracy that the 222 is capable of.
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  11. #11
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    Rapier is correct, the .222 brass is readily available. I resized the .223 military brass more as a learning experience.
    atr
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  12. #12
    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
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    Having maybe 10,000 pcs of once fired Lake City brass, and making them into 222 and 221 brass, I have no issues making and shooting either. This brass makes great varmint ammo that in my older 722 re-barreled varmint rifles shoots well into 1/2 inch and better.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rapier View Post
    With a decent 222 rifle, capable of bench rest accuracy, the last thing you may want to convert to 222 is military 223 brass, if commercial brass is available. Way more work than size and trim. Military brass is not intended to be reloaded, so tolerances in the military brass is broad, thus adds a few steps to get the good accuracy that the 222 is capable of.
    LC 5.56 is some of the most consistent 5.56/.223 brass manufactured. Same for M852 and M118LR 7.62mm. That includes Lapua and Norma. The best runs of Lapua and Norma are outstanding but they have both put out some batches that were below their normal standards. I have yet to find or hear of substandard LC 5.56, M852 and M118LR. As a Military rifle team captain and coach I have issued as much as 45,000 rounds a year for service rifle competition. Almost every one of those 7.62 or 5.56 was later reloaded for 600 and 1,000 yard competitions.

    Not bad for broad tolerance brass not intended to be reloaded.
    Last edited by M-Tecs; 01-03-2023 at 03:59 PM.
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  14. #14
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    Back in the old days when 5.56 was just becoming available, I had a M722 Rem "duce". All it ever shot was formed cases from the early 5.56mm "prototype" ammo. Headstamped .223 REM-UMC. No crimp and was good brass. The M722 is gone but a M70 .222 is alive and well. I would still prefer the properly headstamped brass since it's available./beagle
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  15. #15
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    I doubt I'll ever shoot my .222 barrel out but if I did, would I really lose any performance Rebarreling to .223? Assuming .223 fits the magwell. Haven't checked but it's something I ponder time to time.

    If only I had a die to reform loaded .223 rounds I might shoot it more.

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BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
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