Military vs. Commercial Cases

[JackEllis]

According to one reference I tried, I suppose I'm an amateur.

I have some cases with WCC headstamps and the NATO symbol. Can't tell whether they're .308 or 7.61x51. Same for some .223/5.56 that has the NATO symbol but no caliber on the headstamp.

Is it safe to assume that any brass with the NATO symbol meets the military spec (7.62 or 5.56)?

[elk hunter]

Without a pic it's hard to say but probably military stuff so 7.62X51, they should have a date on the head to. You might see WCC 68 or some such thing.

[jarhead714]

According to one reference I tried, I suppose I'm an amateur.

I have some cases with WCC headstamps and the NATO symbol. Can't tell whether they're .308 or 7.61x51. Same for some .223/5.56 that has the NATO symbol but no caliber on the headstamp.

Is it safe to assume that any brass with the NATO symbol meets the military spec (7.62 or 5.56)?

No expert here, but I should think that if it has the NATO cross it is metric with the thicker case walls.

[JackEllis]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I've found an answer in this thread. If the caliber isn't shown but there's a manufacturer and a year, it's 7.62x51. Civilian brass has the caliber on the headstamp.

[robert101]

If you are reloading consider backing off the load by about 10% on the NATO cases as the thicker walls tend to reduce powder capacity and therefore the pressure may be slightly higher when fired.