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Thread: .223/5.56

  1. #1
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    Default .223/5.56

    It never dawned on me when collecting brass for reloading. I never separated the 556 from the 223, and there aint no
    way I'm sorting them now if even possible.
    Question is, can the 223 be reloaded with a 556 die or vice versa.
    One more question, what is the best powder for tracers (223) I know some powders wont light tracers.

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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    Can you find dies labeled 5.56? It looks like it's .223 as it is with .308 and not 7.62.
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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    Quote Originally Posted by Walleye Hunter View Post
    Can you find dies labeled 5.56? It looks like it's .223 as it is with .308 and not 7.62.
    I have no idea, never thought about it.

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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    The external dimensions of a .223 and 5.56 are identical. So just use a .223 die.

    Same with .308 and 7.62

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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    Edit: well I should of read the original post better. Yes the dies are the same. I will leave this information below, be it irrelevant, for anyone that needs it.


    .308 and 7.62x51 cases do not have the same internal volume, and should not be treated as the same.

    .223 and 5.56 are interchangeable, and I have done it thousands of time.

    When I first got into reloading I did an experiment to confirm this for myself. I gathered a large variety of .223 and 5.56 cases with different headstamps. I filled them with water 5 times and recorded an average volume for each headstamp. The interesting finding was that commercial headstamps, be it .223 or 5.56, had a range with so much variation that it encompassed all of the military headstamp case volumes.

    This is why reloaders striving for the greatest accuracy will reload cases with the same headstamp and look for other ways to maximize consistency.

    This volume variation won’t matter if you’re loading in a safe range, below the max charge, and loading for “blasting” at the range which is what my .223/5.56 reloads are for. So I do not sort those cases, other than filtering out the ones notorious for loose primer pockets when I’m swaging.

    Without a doubt though I treat 308 and 7.62x51 as different cases requiring different loads.

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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    Josh's post mentions swaging.
    I routinely segregate these cases after a range time.
    Mainly to separate the ones with crimped primer pockets.
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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    I've been using RCBS in 223 for many years. That's all you can buy is dies made for .223 because .556 is exactly the same dimensions. What makes a difference is the bullet length and seating depth when loading for bolt guns chambered specifically for .223. I like to mess with the eggspurts with this one.

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    Lightbulb Re: .223/5.56

    FYI I've seen some videos on reloading. 223 / 556 and there's also a difference on brand of manufacturing regarding primer seating in cases.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: .223/5.56

    Quote Originally Posted by JenniferG View Post
    I've been using RCBS in 223 for many years. That's all you can buy is dies made for .223 because .556 is exactly the same dimensions. What makes a difference is the bullet length and seating depth when loading for bolt guns chambered specifically for .223. I like to mess with the eggspurts with this one.

    Supposedly you cant use 556 in a gun thats chambered for 223, it has to be marked 556,
    but you can use 223 in it if its marked 556

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    Smile Re: .223/5.56

    Quote Originally Posted by bogey1 View Post
    Supposedly you cant use 556 in a gun thats chambered for 223, it has to be marked 556,
    but you can use 223 in it if its marked 556
    Unless it's chambered in .223 Wylde

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