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Posted: 6/12/2011 12:17:08 PM EDT
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I know there is a difference between 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington and that there is a difference between 7.62 NATO and .308 Winchester.
Is there any differences in the cases the military used in the M2 cartridge and what the civilian market uses for their 30-06 loadings. I have 14 different headstamps, seperated, most are LC, WCC, TW and PS(this being the Korean M2 cartridge) there are also KA, SL, DEN and others. (I do have the link to the headstamp codes) I want to reload to military specs for my M1, 1917 Enfield (love this rifle) and my 1903 Springfield. (I have no civilian 30-06 rifles) |
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I have not seen a difference.
Resize them, trim them to the same length and weigh a few of each headstamp and see for yourself. If the weigh the same while the outside dimensions and length are the same then the case walls are of similar thickness so internal volumes should be similar. I pretty much mix mine up. |
| I have noticed in comparing military cases (LC and PS) vs R-P and FC that the military cases are 10 to 20 grains heavier. Not dramatic in case volume, but still slight. If you are loading max, this could be an issue. I generally load 5 to 10% less than max velocity for my M1 and 03A3, so I mix all my headstamps together. |
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It is not worth it to mix headstamps. Take the largest # of head stamps and use them and keep separate for each gun. If you do not have at least 50 of each headstamp and same year headstamp, do not bother. Get some commercial brass and move on.
Keep track of their history. You can not expect to much accuracy from mixed headstamps in cases larger then the 223. Scrap the excess brass, as it serves no viable purpose. |
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The quickest way to discover any difference is to weigh the resized, unprimed and trimmed cases and seperate them by weight. I have found them to be all over the map. Some Lake City brass has been lighter than commercial brands.
The heaviest brass should get lighter powder chages. It's fine to mix brass for practice not so much for pure accuracy. Middle of the road powder charges are the way to go. BTW - .223/5.56mm Lake City military brass has the lightest weight and highest capacity on average of any in that caliber. .308/7.62mm Lake City is much heavier than it's commercial counterparts. |
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