Is there ANY benefit to using 221 brass?
 

I've not opened the bags yet and have 500 new pieces of Rem 221 fireball brass that I was planning on converting to whisper cases with a redding die set. The more I read, the fewer people I see using or making reference to 221 fireball brass in their whisper projects. I've even read the JD Jones' pre made brass is of 223 headstamp.

Ultimate question to you guys who have been doing this for awhile... Is there ANY reason for me to start with the 221 fireball case when making brass for my 300?? Is it more consistant? more reliable? more durable? more cooler :smile: because they say 221?

Help set me straight.

Jim

221 fire ball
 

the problem is that rem makes the 221 fire ball there brass i very thin in the necks you can do it but you will split the necks 20% of the time try it yu wont be happy i can sell you 300 whisper brass cheaper then you paid for the 221 fireball Ranger dave

221 fireball brass
 

Ranger Dave is right on about the price and splitting cases. You can reduce the numbers of split cases but you have to lube the inside of the case neck and expand the neck in two steps:

step 1 takes the 221 FIreball brass from ~0.224 to ~0.277
step 2 takes the brass from ~0.277 to ~0.308

The biggest problem with making 300-221 Fireball brass from 221 Fireball is that the neck are not always very concentric with the case body. Check the discussion here:

http://www.ar15barrels.com/forming.shtml

So you basically fire form the case the first time you shoot the brass. Needless to say you will not likely get very accurate results with first time fire brass made this way.

320pf

Well maybe I can tag on to this one. I have a bunch of whisper brass (maybe 500rds) made from .221. I have a bunch of .223 brass that I will use to make more. Can I mix whisper brass made from .223 and .221?


.

I would check for capacity issues before I assumed they had the same volume.

By ALL MEANS, send me a pm with your price, how you want paid, where to send payment, etc. I sent you a pm 1 week ago.

Thanks,

Jim

Dave, the check is in the mail. :smile:

Jim

Better yet - just post here. :wink:

last I checked new 221 brass was about $15 per 100 more than new 223 brass and once fired 223 is even cheaper. 223 brass can be made longer as well.

Nick

My 2 cents. I have formed two hundred cases from new 221 cases using Redding dies. By sizing them to .27 and then .30, I've have not split any cases. The thinner neck so far has not been a issue in by M1S upper. In fact the thinner neck is showing slightly less pressure with same loads made with .223 brass.
Agreed, it is more expensive.