5.56 / .223 brass difference?

[Jamie]

Only thing to really worry about is the crimp ring around the primer pocket. If the brass has that crimp you will have to cut it out.

[earl39]

Only thing to really worry about is the crimp ring around the primer pocket. If the brass has that crimp you will have to cut it out.

cut it out or swage it out, the only other real difference is the headstamp. L C, W C C, and such are military and the commercial is stamped 223Rem. The newer true nato approved ammo will have the nato stamp on it, a + inside a o. You should try to keep it in lots with the same headstamp as there are differences between between lots of both military and commercial brass.

[bigedp51]

One of the changes made in 1967 to prevent jamming in the M16 rifle (case head separations) was to make mil-spec brass out of higher quality brass. This means you will not find a better or stronger .223 case for reloading than LC 5.56 brass.

After Winchester lost the contract to produce military ammunition at Lake City, Winchester sold off its brass manufacturing capabilities and now buys brass from the cheapest vendor to produce its Winchester cases.