5.56 brass into a 223 bolt gun

[Silver-z28]

Went today and picked up some bulk 5.56 brass my load data book lacks what I need.
Im shooting out of bolt gun chambered in 223. Im looking for data to load the 5.56 with varget to be be around 3250fps. the 5.56 in doesnt show varget with a 55gr bullet. Thanks and looking forward to any info.

 

[jbrooks19]

I was told ".223 in 5.56 but NO 5.56 in .223"

Basically I was told not to shoot 5.56 out of .223 bolt gun.

I have a savage .223 axis bolt action. And was informed NOT to shoot 5.56 out of .223

 

[Regnar]

The throat of the 5.56 is longer than the .223, meaning you can get high pressure due to the longer 5.56 being crimped by the shorter .223 chamber.
Danger Will Robinson!

 

[gunbunnies]

Well if you load your 5.56 brass with 223 loads then there won't be any problems....

It's when you take a hot 5.56 load in 5.56 brass and shoot it in a 223 bolt gun that you may exceed the pressure rating on the chamber in the 223 firearm...

 

[pmorriso]

Are we talking Elmer Fudd failure or a stove pipe?

 

[avboiler11]

5.56 brass is the same as 223 brass...FL size, load per 223 data and shoot.

 

[Jeremy1066]

Are we talking Elmer Fudd failure or a stove pipe?

Elmer Fudd type.

 

[bstewrat3]

Use the 223 loads. I found Varget in 4 of my manuals for 55gr bullets in 223.

 

[Silver-z28]

Yes in my new book it shows 3200 fps i guess my over all question was witch load data to base it off of thanks for all of tje replys

 

[HavokCycle]

is it a lyman book? lyman will not show any military load data.

 

[billybob44]

.223/5.56...

The throat of the 5.56 is longer than the .223, meaning you can get high pressure due to the longer 5.56 being crimped by the shorter .223 chamber.
Danger Will Robinson!

When FL sized in a .223 die+trimmed to 1.750" it fits fine.

Well if you load your 5.56 brass with 223 loads then there won't be any problems....

+1

It's when you take a hot 5.56 load in 5.56 brass and shoot it in a 223 bolt gun that you may exceed the pressure rating on the chamber in the 223 firearm...

+1

5.56 brass is the same as 223 brass...FL size, load per 223 data and shoot.

On the outside-Yes...On the inside-No..Check this yourself. Fill one fired case with water, and then pour it into the other..

Yes in my new book it shows 3200 fps i guess my over all question was witch load data to base it off of thanks for all of tje replys

If you are shooting a .223 stamped barrel, use load data for .223 Remington...Bill

 

[avboiler11]

On the outside-Yes...On the inside-No..Check this yourself. Fill one fired case with water, and then pour it into the other..

I have...and no surprise, its capacity is different than RP, Win, FC or Lapua.

That's why a safe, prudent reloader doesn't just start at a max load, but works up...finding where the pressure signs are in a given weapon.

Brass is still brass is still brass...

 

[bstewrat3]

I usually start with data from the manufacturer of the bullet I am using and cross check it with data for the same weight bullets from other manuals. The start loads in my Speer manual for the combination you are using are higher than the max loads in my Nosler manual.

 

[Water63]

Follow Billybobs advice he is telling it straight. You will not have a problem loading the 556 brass with the 223 load just don't start at the top load as you would any new cal start at the bottom and then go up.

 

[Loc n load]

5.56 brass

I have loaded and shot thousands of rounds of .223 in bolt guns over a period of 30 years using LC brass....as posted before, if it is FL sized, and trimmed it will work just fine.

 

[Litlratt]

The rule of thumb has been to reduce your load 10% when going from commercial to military brass and then work your way up.
This is due to case capacity normally being less in military brass which increases the pressure given the same load.
I've always thought the 10% was a little aggressive, but for the inexperienced handloader it's a good place to start.

 

[billybob44]

+1 Ratt..

"This is due to case capacity normally being less in military brass which increases the pressure given the same load."

^^^Very true statement.

Somewhere on this Forum, a member showed a sectioned (cut) case, that showed the extra material in the case web on Military brass. Maybe they will show up again??..Bill.

 

[Silver-z28]

Thanks for everyones replys. I took the leap on the brass as one of those never know type things it will be enough to last me for a long time. Just wanted to make shure I had all my answer. I do have the fl die and resized and will follow my hornady load book for the 223 to a t. Thanks everyone

 

[bberg]

The volume of military spec 5.56 being less than commercial .223 is not so much the case. This is far more true on .308 but not really on .223/5.56 this is mostly going to be on what company made the case and even down to what year the case was made. there are factory .223 with less volume than 5.56 older Lapua comes to mind and vice versa. it is a fact that 5.56 loaded to mil spec uses higher pressure than SAMMI locked in pressures for .223
What does this mean for re-loading? absolutely nothing, the outside case dimensions are exactly the same. as with any new round of rifle brass start with a lower safe load and work up checking for primer flattening or blow out. once you have a load your gun likes and is safe load in mass and go have fun.

 

[PriestEG]

fwiw, I just received my order of black hills .223 69gr smk (redbox) and all of the .223 match ammo was loaded in nato stamped 5.56 brass. if a manufacturer is doing it, then i feel safe putting 5.56brass (.223 loads) into my .223 chambered bolt gun