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  • SUBie123
    Junior Member
    • Aug 2020
    • 67

    223 or 556

    Anyone can help me out? How can I tell if this is a 556 or a 223 brass? Picked it up at my locate range.

    The stamp head has LC 19...
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  • #2
    xfer42
    CGN/CGSSA Contributor
    CGN Contributor
    • Sep 2007
    • 709

    Looks like a NATO stamp (circle with a plus/cross) so I would bet 5.56.

    Comment

    • #3
      MongooseV8
      Veteran Member
      • Apr 2010
      • 4426

      Yep Lake City 556

      Comment

      • #4
        SUBie123
        Junior Member
        • Aug 2020
        • 67

        Thank guys. Everyday I learn something new.

        Comment

        • #5
          divingin
          Veteran Member
          • Jul 2015
          • 2522

          What do you think the difference would be between the two?

          In theory, 5.56 brass *may* be heavier (thicker, less volume), but in practice, it seems to be a crapshoot.

          Exterior dimensions are essentially identical.

          There is the primer pocket crimp to consider, but that may show up on commercial ammo as well.

          Comment

          • #6
            edgerly779
            CGN/CGSSA Contributor
            CGN Contributor
            • Aug 2009
            • 19871

            lake city 5.56

            Comment

            • #7
              edgerly779
              CGN/CGSSA Contributor
              CGN Contributor
              • Aug 2009
              • 19871

              Open i]up primer pocket and reload. I have a bunch I have processed.

              Comment

              • #8
                the86d
                Calguns Addict
                • Jul 2011
                • 9587

                If you don't load near max data it shouldn't matter, unless you might be shooting for precision, which I know nothing about... I am a QTY guy...

                Comment

                • #9
                  JackEllis
                  Veteran Member
                  • Nov 2015
                  • 2731

                  LC brass is all I use in my bolt .223s, mainly because there's tons of it left lying around where I shoot. Depending on the current price of brass, when I'm done with it a brass recycler will pay around a penny and a half per case.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    galun
                    Member
                    • Jul 2009
                    • 142

                    LC is good brass. You lucked out getting his as range pickup!

                    I use LC sorted by year for my precision loads.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      tabascoz28
                      Veteran Member
                      • Mar 2016
                      • 3364

                      It kind of depends on who shot it out of what. You don't really know if it's once fired, unless it has some primer seal on it or you saw the person open up a case/boxes and fire it .

                      If the brass came out of a larger chamber it could have stressed the neck. I've had LC brass crack at the neck on the first reload for moderate loadings.

                      I think sometimes you can tell by how deep or light the printing on the headstamps are. Usually a light headstamp means it's been hammered a bunch already.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        alpha_romeo_XV
                        Veteran Member
                        • Jun 2006
                        • 2999

                        If your plan is to reload it my experience is that with mid pressure loads LC gets about 6 reloads before some of the cases split. I've gotten twice that number of reloads from Lapua and Remington brass. Federal somewhere in between. Best to keep track of how times your brass has been reloaded. I've had 556 LC brass that did not have crimped primers but 223 Speer brass that did have crimps so make sure what you have and process them accordingly.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          sigstroker
                          I need a LIFE!!
                          • Jan 2009
                          • 19670

                          Hard for me to imagine 6 reloads on 5.56. I must have about 2000 empty cases. I think I might have 3 reloads on the first brass I acquired.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            tabascoz28
                            Veteran Member
                            • Mar 2016
                            • 3364

                            I think annealing also helps with longevity, Annealeez is probably the cheapest machine that is already built, but there are a few ways to do it for cheaper in parts/diy. There's a guy that is making a pretty cheap induction machine. He helped me build a regular burner that works for 556 and 762.

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