5.56 Nato Lake City 09 with 1 to 4 dots ?

[relodr36]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum,so if this request is out of line,I apologise.
  I have a question about the headstamps on Lake City 09 brass.
   Some have LC 09 with the Nato symbol and others have that plus one to four  1/32" diameter dots punched in the case head.
   What is the significance of these punched dots?
  Does it signify the cartridge case batch?
  Does it signify the type of load - armor piercing,tracer,etc.?
  I have not seen this on other Lake City cartridge cases.
  Thanks!

[relodr36]

 A fellow on Arfcom provided the answer:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=470119&page=1

[DocAV]

SCAMP machinery production.  Organisation of dots indicates which station of the machine (up to 24) the case was drawn and bunted  and filled on... read up on SCAMP ( Small Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Program  details. Machinery devised by Gulf+Western in the late 60s-thru 80s, now used widely in US type factories for dedicated mass production of 7,62 Nato, and 5,56 x45 Nato ammo.

Basically a continuous production "machine" which takes raw materials at one end, and by an interlocked series of Rotary presses, spits out finished ammo at the other end.

Takes usually 6-8 weeks to tool up, but then can produce for weeks at a time.... even missing shutdown time by  a few minutes can result in thousands of extra rounds produced.

All processes computer controlled, and system uses a minimum of "Workers" in White coats and "Clean Rooms"

Regards,
Doc AV