Methods for Testing Reloadability of Norma Primed Brass
Load Cartridges and Brass Preparation
For the first load, twenty one (21) new Norma Primed cases (SKU NOR121201893) were deprimed and then primed with CCI41 primers with a 21st Century Shooting hand press. AR-Comp powder (22.2 gr ± 0.02 gr) was dispensed with an AutoTrickler V4 system (Adam MacDonald, New Brunswick, Canada). 77gr Sierra MatchKing bullets were loaded with a Redding Competition Seater Die for 223 Remington with a Redding T-7 Turret press. Bullet seating gave a COAL of 2.255 inches and was assessed with a Hornady bullet comparator system and a Mitutoyo 500-196-30 (CD-6" ASX) digital caliper. The AR-15 test rifle had a White Oak Armament, 20 inch, 1:7 twist barrel with 223 Wylde chamber. The bullets were fired. Brass cases were collected.
Brass was deprimed with a Redding small depriming and decapping die, and fired brass was cleaned/polished for 1 to 4 hours in Frankford Arsenal treated corn cob media in vibratory cleaner. Brass was annealed with Annealing Made Perfect Mark II annealer using the setting provided by the analysis run. Full-length resizing was done following lubrication (Redding Imperial lubricant) with a RCBS SB XL full size die for 223 Remington. Cases were not trmmed after confirming acceptable length with a L.E. Wison gauge for the first 6 reloads.
The first reload was charged
with the same powder, primer and bullet as the initial load.
Reloads #2 through #8 involved similar depriming, cleaning, and annealing
steps. Cases were inspected for neck defects and loaded with CCI 41 primers noting tightness of primer pockets. H335 powder (25.8gr) was dispensed into cases with a Redding 3BR powder dispenser before a Hornady 55gr FMJ-BT bullet was loaded at 2.20" COAL. Necks were inspected for neck tears after bullet loading. Cartridges were fired before collection and inspection for neck defects.
After 6 reloads and firings, case length had grown to between 1.7725 and 1.7785 inches. The cases were trimmed, chamferred, and deburred to a length of 1.7570 to 1.7610 inches before priming, reloading and firing of reloads 7 and 8.
No case splits or loose primer pockets were found after 9 firings and 8 reloading cycles.