Loading mixed 223 and 5.56 brass together

[JoshIronshaft]

In my other thread about bulk reloading on my Dillon 650 for practice ammo I had this question that I thought should have it's own thread.

I have no interest in sorting brass unless I have to.

I've heard some people say I need to separate my 556 and 223 brass, which I have done so far just to avoid swaging all the primer pockets, but after reading different and doing some experimenting, I found that a large sample of all the different headstamp 223 and 556 brass I have collected (about 20 different headstamps) have a range of internal volumes that led me to the conclusion I can use a load that is safe for all my brass, be it wolf gold 223 or lake city 556.

I filled each case 5 times with water and measured the weight of the water, trying to be as consistent and scientific as possible.

Does anyone have a similar experience?

Loading 55gr with CFE 223 powder.

 

[Gadawg88]

I found that a large sample of all the different headstamp 223 and 556 brass I have collected (about 20 different headstamps) have a range of internal volumes that led me to the conclusion I can use a load that is safe for all my brass

Yes and yes. If you are not looking for maximum accuracy at longer ranges (over 200 yards) then you can find one charge that will work and be safe in all the different headstamp cases. You will want to stay away from max loads though. I do not sort my plinking ammo at all.

 

[Sunray]

It'll all end up sized the same anyway. Internal dimensions don't matter much, except to the bench rest people.

 

[Speedster00]

What they said. Unless you're really trying to dial long distance with a precision AR, it won't matter.

 

[JO JO]

I will mix them with light plinker loads but more serious
loads that are loaded up hotter I will separate them

 

[oldpapps]

"I have no interest in sorting brass unless I have to.

I've heard some people say I need to separate my 556 and 223 brass, which I have done so far just to avoid swaging all the primer pockets, but after reading different and doing some experimenting, I found that a large sample of all the different headstamp 223 and 556 brass I have collected (about 20 different headstamps) have a range of internal volumes that led me to the conclusion I can use a load that is safe for all my brass, be it wolf gold 223 or lake city 556.

I filled each case 5 times with water and measured the weight of the water, trying to be as consistent and scientific as possible.

Does anyone have a similar experience?

Loading 55gr with CFE 223 powder."

The game needs consistency in all things. The closer, the better.

Sort the cases that have crimped pockets and process them, only need to do it the one time.

Process all cases the same. I advise trimming to length, every time.

For greater consistency, sort by head stamp and build your loads for each type. If loading 'ratatat-tat' playing loads, this can be dispensed with as long as the loads are low to middle of the pressure curve.

I don't/haven't use/used CFE 223 powder, so I can't give a first hand evaluation. In any case (pun not intended) some of the powders are more forgiving than others. Find one that gives a small velocity change with bigger powder charge changes. That will minimize the variations in cases in mixed lots.

Test and re-test before making up massive amounts of loads.

Above all, load with care and think!

 

[matrem]

No difference.
Even if you're into precision, sort by weight, not by numbers on headstamp.

 

[Walkalong]

My range plinking ammo is loaded so that it is safe in the heaviest cases I use. Occasionally I will get a case where the charge fills it a lot more than any of the others, so I pull it out and cull it. When most of your charges are around the bottom of the neck give or take a little, and all of a sudden one fills the case nearly to the top, it either has some trash in it, or is very heavy.

Loaded for accuracy is a different story. Sorting by weight and/or headstamp can help then, but for plinking ammo using a FMJ it is a waste of time.

 

[homatok]

Once you run the fired cases through your sizing die, either 223 or 5.56 Nato, wind up with the same outside dimensions. The potential (pressure) problem arises when you try to fire factory 5.56 in a rifle chambered for 223 due to slight differences in case dimensions, bullet weight and chamber/leade dimensions. As already stated, for plinking, either resized case works well.