Ditto all above...with exceptions.
I chamfer 223 cases before FLS. After that, and removing Mil brass primer pocket crimps, owing to the fact that I put the effort into them, I am a "Spent Brass Hound" at my range. I have set and locked down the Progressive Press dies and observe bullet seating and crimping on every bullet produced. For jacketed bullets with cannelure, as in Midsouth's 55 grain Varmint Nightmare, if any round is noted to exceed the visual inspection upon departing the crimp stage, i.e. crimp above groove, that bullet is pulled for firing in the Handi-rifle and not the AR. So far, case "growth" and culling to the Handi- has been insignificant.
Recommendations:
1.) Used cases are always cheaper than new - and a lot of times by a factor of 4 cheaper than new.
2.) Purchase a lot more than "just enough" cases for your shooting regime. This will significantly reduce the mean-time-to-failure* of a case.
3.) Always use the "old stock" of cases, sized, primed (maybe too), and awaiting reloading, before recycling into the "just fired" stock.
4.) Clean the brass before resizing or priming.
5.) Used Mil brass can be modified for reloading. You just have to work at it more, making those cases "special" and not to be left at the range for others.
*Failure is measured in case length "growth" as well as split necks. I have never had a case head separation. That puts me in the category of "when" it will happen versus it will "never" happen.
