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Posted: 10/31/2014 10:59:31 AM EDT
| I was sorting range brass by headstamp today( 223 vs 5.56)came across some federal with dates and some wc (Winchester) would these be 5.56 or 223, all my guns are 5.56 so its a matter of how I would load these in a pressure sense or how would I tell, by case volume or weight of cartridge sorry its a lousy description,thanks bill |
| Resizing dies for 223 and 556 are same (the distinction is more about an indication of initially loaded round pressure) ....both will resize-reload-and run in your 5.56 rifle - YES it's all about what charge/bullet you reload them with in your rifle .. .......internal capacities can vary a little .....aside from that, they are relatively the same..........I'd sort/test/load by headstamp personally, but many don't |
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still doesn't tell me are dated federal, 5.56 cases or 223? oh...sorry .... can't say for sure....but my guess would be they were most likely loaded the first time with a 5.56 charge ......it's been so long since I bought any store bought .223 federals I don't know if they make any distinction on their headstamp beyond date in either case or instance. either way...the brass will work just fine for reloads in either a .223 or a 5.56 rifle Are the primers crimped or nato stamp? Am sure someone else will jump on and answer Edit --- and if it's range brass, it's worth mentioning that it isn't safe to assume it's only been fired once anyway without further inspection. |
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Their is no 5.56 and .223 cases.
5.56 cases ARE .223 cases, and .223 cases ARE 5.56 cases. The only difference between the two is the charge, as mentioned. Brass volume will depend on the manufacturer. Regardless of whether it is Federal, Lake City, or Winchester each will be a little different, for that fact, each lot of brass will vary slightly. If the brass has a date stamped on it, it was likely XM193 or M855. This only means it was loaded with a 55gr or 62gr, mild steel penetrator, bullet; respectively. |
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.223 brass usually doesn't have a crimped in primer. You'll have to remove the crimp on 5.56mm brass unless the brass you scavenged was already reloaded so the previous owner did you the favor.
Oddball cases, usually foreign made, can cause issues in 5.56mm/.223 brass. Watch out for FNN headstamps, those cases weigh over 100 grains empty and unprimed. Most USA manufactured brass weighs between 92 and 96 grains empty and unprimed and isn't a problem to mix them unless you're running HOT loads. Accuracy loads should use identical brass. Winchester commercial cases will say "Winchester" on the headstamp. I consider them the best brass available, followed closely by Lake City. Winchester cases loaded for 5.56mm GI ammo will have WCC on the headstamp. Dated headstamps almost always are 5.56mm for military or ammo designated for surplus sale to the civilian/law enforcement market. Commercial cases are never dated in my experience. |
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I was sorting range brass by headstamp today( 223 vs 5.56)came across some federal with dates and some wc (Winchester) would these be 5.56 or 223, all my guns are 5.56 so its a matter of how I would load these in a pressure sense or how would I tell, by case volume or weight of cartridge sorry its a lousy description,thanks bill They're both. You're running them through the same die right? You can sort them by headstamp but what does it matter if they were sold as .223 or 5.56? |
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Look. Most military cases DO NOT have .223 Rem. on the case head. They just have a manufacturer code (like FC) and a date code (like 08).
Most comertial ammo is marked .223 Rem. I have in my possession comertial cases marked .223 Rem. from both Remington and Federal that have military type crimped primers. Overall though, once the crimp is removed there is only minor differences between any of it. There are a couple exceptions but they are well noted and involve 1 or 2 certain manufactures neither of which is FC, WCC or Rem. Motor |
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Their is no 5.56 and .223 cases. 5.56 cases ARE .223 cases, and .223 cases ARE 5.56 cases. The only difference between the two is the charge, as mentioned. Brass volume will depend on the manufacturer. Regardless of whether it is Federal, Lake City, or Winchester each will be a little different, for that fact, each lot of brass will vary slightly. If the brass has a date stamped on it, it was likely XM193 or M855. This only means it was loaded with a 55gr or 62gr, mild steel penetrator, bullet; respectively. The RG boxer primed i have IIRC is marked 5.56, one of the few if any. I'll open a box of SA and see how that brass is marked, if needed. LC weighs in @ approx 90.x grains the RG tops 102.x grains |
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The RG boxer primed i have IIRC is marked 5.56, one of the few if any. I'll open a box of SA and see how that brass is marked, if needed. LC weighs in @ approx 90.x grains the RG tops 102.x grains Quoted:
Quoted:
Their is no 5.56 and .223 cases. 5.56 cases ARE .223 cases, and .223 cases ARE 5.56 cases. The only difference between the two is the charge, as mentioned. Brass volume will depend on the manufacturer. Regardless of whether it is Federal, Lake City, or Winchester each will be a little different, for that fact, each lot of brass will vary slightly. If the brass has a date stamped on it, it was likely XM193 or M855. This only means it was loaded with a 55gr or 62gr, mild steel penetrator, bullet; respectively. The RG boxer primed i have IIRC is marked 5.56, one of the few if any. I'll open a box of SA and see how that brass is marked, if needed. LC weighs in @ approx 90.x grains the RG tops 102.x grains Plenty of brass is marked 5.56. That doesn't mean the brass is any thicker, other than some few exceptions. 7.62x51 military brass is thicker than .308 commercial brass, this misconception is often brought over into .223 arena, but the general rule is that 5.56 brass has the same volume as .223 brass. The myth 5.56 has thicker walls needs to die. |
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Quoted:
Look. Most military cases DO NOT have .223 Rem. on the case head. They just have a manufacturer code (like FC) and a date code (like 08). Most comertial ammo is marked .223 Rem. I have in my possession comertial cases marked .223 Rem. from both Remington and Federal that have military type crimped primers. Overall though, once the crimp is removed there is only minor differences between any of it. There are a couple exceptions but they are well noted and involve 1 or 2 certain manufactures neither of which is FC, WCC or Rem. Motor thanks this was what I was looking for,my bad for the way I phrased the question thanks |
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