Help Identify Ammo

[jimbo74]

I have some ammo, not sure what it is. Can anyone help based off the headstamp?

It is either .223 or 5.56, but I don't want to blow up a .223 barrel, if it is 5.56

It is Federal someting20200114_135654.jpg

[Mayor McRifle]

It’s 5.56.

[Rogerbutthead]

Has anyone actually seen a gun damaged by firing a 5.56 in a 223 Rem marked weapon?

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/

Just wondering. I don't think I have been very careful about what I shoot out of what - in terms of 223/5.56 weapons.

[Mr.Caketown]

Has anyone actually seen a gun damaged by firing a 5.56 in a 223 Rem marked weapon?

.

I dont think the rifle itself will be damaged. I think the excess pressure would just blow out the casing or primer.

[CoopsDad]

I have a Remington 700 from the 1970's chambered in .223 and I have shot tons of 5.56 through it with zero issues. YMMV.

[Rogerbutthead]

The only thing I remember about firing/reloading for a Remington 700 PSS and a Remington 40X in 223 was that some Chinese 223 brass had loose primer pockets - so I just threw them out when I was reloading.

I don't recall any problems firing either 5.56 or 223 or even my reloads thru these weapons. AR15s required small base dies - such a pain, that I just didn't reload for my semi-autos, since factory 223/5.56 is/was cheap.

[smle-man]

Has anyone actually seen a gun damaged by firing a 5.56 in a 223 Rem marked weapon?

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/

Just wondering. I don't think I have been very careful about what I shoot out of what - in terms of 223/5.56 weapons.

The only issue I've experienced shooting 5.56 in a .223 bolt rifle was the harder primers wouldn't always fire on the first strike. Otherwise nada either way.

[Garand Hunter]

I have run both thru my Rock River upper match bbl on a Superior lower with no issues at all. Just like .308 win and 7.62X51 thru the same sporter and or military rifles. One thing though, no steel casings !

Psalm 1

[Pofoo]

Has anyone actually seen a gun damaged by firing a 5.56 in a 223 Rem marked weapon?

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/

Just wondering. I don't think I have been very careful about what I shoot out of what - in terms of 223/5.56 weapons.

Excellent question.
I asked a similar question in a thread about .308 and 7.62 Nato. Short answer, no, not 1. But a NASA "engineer" got all butt hurt because he was a "engineer" and "knew" that it would be catastrophic, so he spread a lot of fear, especially for newbies.

[jimbo74]

So for sure my stuff is 5.56mm?

How can you tell it is and not .223?

[pacrat]

So for sure my stuff is 5.56mm?

How can you tell it is and not .223?

The short and quick of the tell is the DATE stamp. Commercial 223 has none. Just as commercial pistol and other rifle calibers don't. Like 9mm and 308.

Mil-surp is dated.

The crimped primer is also a semi tell. But some commercial ammo is crimped. So not a definitive indicator.

[jimbo74]

So that is also a date stamp, what can you tell me about what it says?

A .223 wouldn't have numbers on it? Is it 55 gr? Or is that not something you can tell off this?

I know I bought this stuff commercially if that matters?

[pacrat]

So that is also a date stamp, what can you tell me about what it says?

A .223 wouldn't have numbers on it? Is it 55 gr? Or is that not something you can tell off this?

I know I bought this stuff commercially if that matters?

I'm not really up on headstamps to that extent. Yours was made by "FC" Federal Cartridge. It is a military contract ammo. Most likely in 1975. Maybe for a foreign country. Then sold off as "surplus".

Bullet weight and specialty type is generally designated by a colored "TIP" on the bullet.

Others much more knowledgeable than I, will likely be along to help you sort it out.

[SonofWWIIDI]

I didn’t really check for your particular cartridge, but this might be of some help.

https://www.cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes

And perhaps the wiki page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_headstamps

[Dave Hoback]

This is “The Big One” of headstamps. I don’t recognize it there, but may have missed it.

http://www.municion.org/ Go to “Fuego Central” and choose < 6mm.

Is this just ONE cartridge you have, or do you have a supply of it? It just one, I would chuck it. Old ammo that you wasn’t stored correctly could have moisture contamination, etc. I don’t think it will “blow up” any barrel, as long as the bullet is not set back far enough to increase pressure to dangerous levels.

If you have a sizable amount of this, and it was packaged correctly, with no discernible corrosion and oal is even among them, it should be fine.