223 vs 556 personal test - don't do this at home

[MoBoost]

Sorted brass each weighing 90.0 grains.
Ran through Lee FL die.
Trimmed with Wilson to 1.755 and chamfered.
65gn Sierra Game King #1395 @ 2.255 COL
Loaded with 24.3gn of AA2015 - this is 0.1gn under max load for 5.56 Service rifle and full 1.0gn OVER 223 Remington bolt gun load data in Sierra reloading manual.

WARNING!!! FOLLOW RELOADING MANUALS AND WORK UP YOUR LOADS!!!

Left to right:
#1 Savage F-TR, 223 Benchrest chamber, pressure closing bolt on new brass, extended firing pin for Russian primers
#2 AR-15 5.56 NATO
#3 AR-15 223 Creedmoor Match chamber
Bottom two, same load with smaller capacity cases
1) Same load 92.0gn case weight fired from #3
2) Same load 94.0gn case weight fired from #3

 

[aeropb]

Look at you. Blowing primers in the name of pseudo science!

 

[peanut]

Your still alive and have all your fangers!
Don't tell the naysayers! Your spose ta be dayed!

 

[uncle money bags]

Thanks for the pic!
I have been looking for good pics of over pressure signs using primer indicators.
Guess who has a new desk top wallpaper. This guy.

 

[swampratt]

So with this in mind...how many rounds have been shot through these guns...
To lay rest possibly to the theory that if you shoot 1000 rounds through your .223 the chamber will be the same as 5.56.

I sure hope my 10fp chamber is not going to be that way after 1000 rounds...Of course i clean a lot...
Maybe in a semi auto as you get some flame out and around the chamber..
Just curious....

WOW look at the bottom right corner load...that brass really flowed into the extractor pin hole( or whatever you wish to call it)
good job testing.
Now what is your next trick!!!

 

[Calamity Jake]

Sorted brass each weighing 90.0 grains.
Ran through Lee FL die.
Trimmed with Wilson to 1.755 and chamfered.
65gn Sierra Game King #1395 @ 2.255 COL
Loaded with 24.3gn of AA2015 - this is 0.1gn under max load for 5.56 Service rifle and full 1.0gn OVER 223 Remington bolt gun load data in Sierra reloading manual.

WARNING!!! FOLLOW RELOADING MANUALS AND WORK UP YOUR LOADS!!!

Left to right:
#1 Savage F-TR, 223 Benchrest chamber, pressure closing bolt on new brass, extended firing pin for Russian primers
#2 AR-15 5.56 NATO
#3 AR-15 223 Creedmoor Match chamber
Bottom two, same load with smaller capacity cases
1) Same load 92.0gn case weight fired from #3
2) Same load 94.0gn case weight fired from #3

Breaking the golden rule is a NO-NO!!!

The golden rule: Treat each gun unto itself working up loads for each.
(not trying to use one load that is a listed max to begin with for more than on gun.)

As you've seen, it can get you in trouble, quickly

A ? why do you need a extended firing pin for russian primers? I've never heard that before and I'm using some Tula LR right now.
and have used almost 10,000 LP

 

[Calamity Jake]

Thanks for the pic!
I have been looking for good pics of over pressure signs using primer indicators.
Guess who has a new desk top wallpaper. This guy.

Primer appearence is not a good indicator of over pressure although a lot of reloaders use it, the raised areas around the FP strike could be from an
oversize FP hole in the bolt face.
The first case in the pic has a pierced primer from the long FP used for the Russian primers.
Cases 3,4 and 5 are overpressure for sure as seen by the extractor/ejector marks on 3 and 5 and the blown primers in 4 and 5.

 

[swampratt]

Missing primers is not a positive indicator either..
I have seen many 308 match brass once fired factory loads missing primers.
I almost feel some of this match brass is deliberately made to have a loose primer pocket.
forces you to not want to reload it and that causes you to buy more...

But i would venture to say 95% of the time it is a good indicator.

 

[uncle money bags]

Primer appearence is not a good indicator of over pressure although a lot of reloaders use it, the raised areas around the FP strike could be from an
oversize FP hole in the bolt face.
The first case in the pic has a pierced primer from the long FP used for the Russian primers.
Cases 3,4 and 5 are overpressure for sure as seen by the extractor/ejector marks on 3 and 5 and the blown primers in 4 and 5.

Not in and of itself, correct. It would be foolish to only rely on one indicator. However, cratering along with flattened or top hatted primers can be good signs in case of enlarged fp holes.

 

[MoBoost]

Savage has 120 rounds down the pipe.
223 AR-15 has 40 round count
556 AR-15 has 7000 rounds of Tula and whatever else through it

Both RPs shot through AR-15 have flattened and slightly raised primer. I was seeing if 556 NATO chamber has pressure reducing characteristics over 223 - that's why I went with the combo that I knew was on the pressure limit, small change would blow the primer out. I don't see any difference between the two.

92gn Win has enlarged primer pocket now
94gn Win is destroyed, the rim is flattened and won't fit in the shell holder.

Tula 223 primers are very hard, and I had ignition problems before adjusting the firing pin; I am going to back it off since I'm switching BR primers anyway.