Remanufactured vs New Ammo: What the Labels Mean

Remanufactured ammunition is built on previously fired brass cases that a commercial manufacturer cleans, inspects, resizes and loads with a new primer, new powder and a new bullet. Factory new ammunition uses a newly made case as well. Handloads are rounds a shooter assembles at home. At Heisenberg Ammo, exactly one product we stock is remanufactured: BVAC remanufactured Lake City M855 5.56 (LC556M855-500). It is labeled that way on the product page. Everything else we list is factory new.

Three kinds of ammunition

Type	Case	Who loads it
Factory new	Newly made case	The ammunition manufacturer, on production lines
Remanufactured	Previously fired brass, cleaned, inspected and resized	A commercial loader, on industrial equipment
Handloads	Usually the shooter's own fired brass	An individual, at home, in small batches

In all three, the primer, powder and bullet are new components. The difference is the case and who puts the round together. "Reman" and "reloaded" both appear on boxes. When a company sells it, read either word as remanufactured: the case has been fired before.

What the remanufacturing process looks like

A commercial remanufacturer collects fired brass, sorts it by caliber, and inspects it for damage. The cases are cleaned and resized back to specification, Then the cases are primed, charged with powder and seated with a bullet on industrial loading machines, and the finished rounds are checked for dimensions before packing. Quality depends on the maker, which is why it matters who loaded the round.

Our one remanufactured SKU

The BVAC remanufactured Lake City M855 5.56 62 grain FMJ is loaded on once-fired Lake City brass with a 62 grain SS109/M855-type steel-penetrator bullet. BVAC is Bitterroot Valley Ammunition and Components, an ammunition maker in Stevensville, Montana. We sell it in 500-round packs that ship at 15.0 pounds. The name, the product page and this guide all say remanufactured, so there is no mystery about what is in the box.

The rest of our 5.56 is factory new: MKE SS109 battle packs and Federal American Eagle XM855. Compare them in 5.56x45mm NATO.

How to choose between reman and new

• Range practice and drills: remanufactured ammo from a known maker is common for high-volume practice.
• Carry, duty and hunting: use factory new ammunition you have tested in your own gun.
• Classes: read the course listing. Some schools ban reloads or remanufactured ammo, and many ban M855 regardless of who made it.
• Warranty: some firearm makers warn against reloaded or remanufactured ammunition in the owner's manual. Check yours before you shoot it.
• Reloading: if you reload, remember that a reman case has already been fired at least once more than a new case.

Range-day checks for any ammo

Look over each round before it goes in the magazine. Set aside anything with a dented case, a split neck, green corrosion or a bullet that is visibly crooked or set back. If a round fails to fire or you hear an unusually quiet shot, stop and check the bore before you fire again. These checks are good practice with factory new ammunition too.

Storage in Arizona

Reman or new, ammunition keeps longest stored cool and dry. In Phoenix, that means inside the house in sealed packaging or an ammo can, not in a parked car or uninsulated garage through the summer. See how long ammo lasts in storage.

Buying, shipping and pickup

You must be 21 or older to order. Orders ship UPS Ground from Phoenix within 2 business days, with shipping charged by weight, never free. Check where we ship. Phoenix-area buyers can call 480-623-4515 and pick up Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with ID.

Remanufactured ammo questions

Is remanufactured ammo the same as reloaded ammo?

When a company sells it, yes: both mean the round was built on a previously fired case with new primer, powder and bullet. "Handloads" usually means rounds a person loaded at home, which we do not sell.

Which Heisenberg Ammo products are remanufactured?

One: BVAC remanufactured Lake City M855 5.56 62 grain FMJ (LC556M855-500). Every other ammunition product we list is factory new.

Is remanufactured ammo safe to shoot?

From an established commercial maker, it is widely used for practice. Follow your firearm maker's guidance on reloaded ammunition, inspect rounds before loading, and stop if anything feels or sounds wrong.

Why is remanufactured ammo labeled differently?

Because the case has been fired before, buyers deserve to know. Some ranges, classes and firearm warranties treat it differently from factory new, so we put "remanufactured" in the product name.

More answers in our ammo FAQ and 5.56 NATO guide.