Having a hard time differentiating: .223 vs 5.56 cases

[Miles.A]

Ok, this is a very rookie question. Just started reloading about 4 months ago. I've been doing great with .45acp but now I'm interested in loading .223. I have tons of once fired mixed .223 and 5.56 brass. My question is,
How do I spot the difference between the two without depriming the cases? I know it's a matter of the 5.56 having a crimped primer pocket, but I seriously can't tell. I thought maybe it's my eyes, but I've asked my wife (who reloads with me) if she can spot the difference but she can't either.

[maxx03]

Most 5.56 brass will have a circle with a cross on the head stamp.

[Miles.A]

Most 5.56 brass will have a circle with a cross on the head stamp.

Haha wow
Really?! It's that simple?! Thanks Maxx. Any idea though how to tell if the headstamps aren't marked?

[baih777]

223 is usually stamped 223 REM.

All should have a headstamp. At least a few letters.

You will also find 223 REM with crimped primer pockets.

[Miles.A]

They are the same. The wall thickness is the difference. Thicker in 5.56. Load em up to .223 specs and call it good.

I kmow 5.56 cases would work with .223 loads but Sorry I should have elaborated, from my understanding, I would need to swage the 5.56 before loading the primer correct?

[Miles.A]

223 is usually stamped 223 REM.

All should have a headstamp. At least a few letters.

You will also find 223 REM with crimped primer pockets.

Did not know some .223 rem had crimped primer pockets. So I would need to swage these as well correct?

[Frozenguy]

Google the head stamp.

[baih777]

Did not know some .223 rem had crimped primer pockets. So I would need to swage these as well correct?

yes

[JagerDog]

Should see a ring "coined" into the head surrounding the primer on crimped primer brass.

You'll sure find 'em when you try to prime them.

[9mmepiphany]

The easiest thing to do is just to swage them all...that is what I did. A lot of .223 brass has crimped primer pockets

Just sort by headstamp and set your swage tool for each case/primer pocket thickness

[Richbutnotwealthy]

Haha wow
Really?! It's that simple?! Thanks Maxx. Any idea though how to tell if the headstamps aren't marked?

Yes, that's the NATO spec logo, thus 5.56 originally.
It doesn't really matter, overall, unless you are reloading for precision rifle fire, or wanting greater consistency in point of impact. But the differences are far less than the naturally occurring variances in your powder charge, if you are using a progressive press. Unless you are individually weighing each powder charge, it isn't worth differentiating your brass.

And too, if you are after that level of precision, you should be sorting your brass into batches by headstamp, at the very least. Same brand or weight of brass should lead to same interior volume, with measured charges, should give you the same velocity.
Same goes for measuring your bullet weights. Having a batch of loaded ammo where all the components are the same weights will give you the greatest consistency, the smallest group size and the least excuses.

[Miles.A]

Not going for tight precision with these loads. Just recycling target loads.

I sort of figured I'd just swage them all just to be sure

[the86d]

Alternatively, I was reaming crimped brass (.223 and 5.56) before purchasing a swagger...
never tried max loads, so it wasn't an issue for me to load them the same.