LC 1962 MATCH Brass

[Cosine26]

Lake City MATCH Brass
There are differences (at least in 1962 brass) between LC Ball cases and LC Match cases. The following info was cited from an article entitled “National Match Ammunition ‘, by E. H. Harrison (NRA Staff) from the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine of August 1962.
“Regular cartridge case production at Lake City is by the ‘3-draw’ process, though the plant could return to the older ‘4-draws’ or even go over to only 2-draws. MATCH cases up to the present (i.e. 1962) have been produced by the 4-draw process. Change to the standard 3-draw process is planned. Though service cases are excellent, MATCH cases are made with extra care especially as to concentricity. The heads of MATCH cases are also bumped and the primer pocket given a preliminary forming by a pocketing operation. These special operations give extra hardness and strength to the head of the case, and incidentally make it an especially good case for reloading.”
There is no difference between cases marked MATCH and NM other than the case head marking.
It should be remembered that Frankfort Arsenal in 1957 fabricated MATCH cases using the 2-draw process and it proved unsatisfactory. While the loaded ammo was satisfactory, the cases did not lend themselves to reloading. The primer pockets became enlarged and would not hold primers or held them very loosely. It was subsequently advised not to re-load FA57 MATCH cases.
I hope this information provides some factual data for those who were not around during the 50’s and 60’s when the army supported match shooting and the NRA and the DCM were cooperating closely. M72 (30-06) NM ammunition was not produced after 1966 due to the fact that the service teams were using the M14 in 7.62 caliber (M118 MATCH ammo) . The M72 furnished at the 1967 matches were left over from 1966. After 1967 the army stopped support of the National Matches and the quality and quantity of MATCH ammo and bullets suffered. I have seen 7.62 M118 ammo dated as late as 1971 but have no experience with M72 dated later than 62/63 and M118 later than 68.

Information

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