223 headstamps

[XL105]

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[Robinhood]

The one on the left is Military 5.56, the other two are commercial 223. The only complaint I have with federal is primer pockets.

[XL105]

...

[XL105]

...,

[Robinhood]

The NATO cross and anything 5.56 stamped will be crimped or should be treated that way. Normally 223 is not expected to be handle the same conditions as the military stuff is designed to so those cases are not crimped. I would measure all of my cases for head space consistency. I like the LC 5.56 and the Winchester 223 when I get once fired stuff.

[Scott Evans]

The 'NT' stamp on various brand brass is the 'non-toxic' training round purchased on a gov't contract. Essentially the same as NATO brass.

Military rounds will be crimped primer, its in the ammo specs that need to be met.

[JW]

I have noticed that the different brands will not size the same
Check to make sure they chamber before loading
I solved this by separating by head stamp and adjusting FL die for each batch
Jack

[Scott Evans]

Throw any SAW brass away, its stressed. Look for big gnarly extractor/ ejector marks on the head and waaaaay oversized bodies.

[Texas10]

http://cartridgecollectors.org (http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes#P)

[darkker]

I disagree with the cases being different. I called the domestics a few years back, and the cases are built identical, only vary in stamps depending upon who ordered.
I agree that the SAW chambers being what they are, can be hard on cases. Federal cases, particularly from the GMM can be dangerously soft in the head region. A Softer case will obturate more quickly and generally provide better accuracy. But at the cost of lifespan.

[Robinhood]

I know they can weigh different.

[darkker]

Indeed they can, and have a few different metalurgical formulas to achieve the end goal. Need to know the volumes and the SD for variation accross a lot in however many machines they run. Otherwise the weight isn't tied directly to the capacity.

[Dan Fletcher]

The only 223 headstamp in your list that I have never found crimped is RP. In my experience all LC, PSD, and FC with date code have been crimped. I have found a few PMC that were crimped, but most were not. FC 223 REM was about 50/50 crimped/not crimped. All of this 223 brass I have worked with has been range pick-ups within the last five years. Of course I encountered many other headstamps that were obviously military that were also crimped. I also found a couple cases that had Berdan primers.