Military or Commercial

[66gt350]

I have some 223 brass that the jury is out on whether it's military or commercial. The headstamp is "PMC" and "223" which says commercial. But it looks like the primers are crimped in like military brass. Some of the brass has the crimp around the entire primer, but most have what looks like it's been staked three times around the primer.

So would this be considered military or commercial brass?

thanks
Rob

 

[Zak Smith]

If you need to know for reloading it, your best bet is to either work up the load in that brass and/or measure the internal volume vs. a case you have data for.

 

[Steve Smith]

Agreed, however, on a related note, see this for my findings regarding LC brass (and Larry's opposing view). http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=134687&highlight=volumetric

ALWAYS use the brass you're loading for to work up a load, and don't just take someone else's word for it.

 

[Brian Williams]

Probably commercial due to the fact that mil does not use 223 as a designator for the 5.56.

 

[30Cal]

It is commercial, but I think it's probably got the same volume as a surplus case.

 

[66gt350]

I was planning on starting to work up a load tonight. I had just never seen commercial brass with a crimped in primer...

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

It's commercial

Gov ammo always has a Nato Cross ( a circle with a cross ) year of manufacture, and manufacturer stamped on the back of it. For example
WCC 04

 

[Mark whiz]

even IF that is commercial brass, I would advise weighing some of those cases and compare the weights to that of a few KNOWN commercial cases. If they are heavier than regular commercial, you will have to decrease your powder charge by about 12% from a known load in commercial cases. Or for a 10gr difference in case weight, drop the charge 1.2gr in the heavier cases.