Anyone help me identify a head stamp?
- Thread starter stalkuk
- Start date
'FC' can be Departmento de la Industrial Militar, Mexico City, Mexico; Federal Cartridge Corp., Anoka, MN or Prvi Partizan, Titovo, Uzice 31000, Yugoslavia.
I'd be betting on Federal too though.
"...being 223 and not 5.56..." Doesn't matter it's all loaded the same way anyway. The difference between 'em is the throat of the chamber, not the case.
Wouldn't ever be stamped '.223 Rem' if it was for the military either.
Like griz says, the primer crimp has to come out. Chamfering tool or primer pocket swager. Then just load 'em as per normal.
I'd be betting on Federal too though.
"...being 223 and not 5.56..." Doesn't matter it's all loaded the same way anyway. The difference between 'em is the throat of the chamber, not the case.
Wouldn't ever be stamped '.223 Rem' if it was for the military either.
Like griz says, the primer crimp has to come out. Chamfering tool or primer pocket swager. Then just load 'em as per normal.
Marco Califo
New member
Not NATO
If it was NATO spec ammo you would have the Circle/Cross NATO stamp. This only means that the initial loading was 5.56 NATO spec when loaded at the factory. Once fired, it means nothing about the brass.
Your brass is 223 Commercial FC, not NATO spec, and not U.S. military.
Fecal Cartridge loads a lot of ammo for the U.S. consumer market, and also government non-military contracts: FBI, ATF, LE. It was most likely initially loaded with 55 gr. FMJ, which may have been equivalent to U.S. M193 training ammo (which is NOT NATO spec). The U.S. M855 62 gr. 5.56 is NATO spec, and U.S. mil-spec generally is Lake City and Year head-stamp. Again, once fired the head-stamp loses all meaning.
FC uses a slightly different brass than LC or Lapua. It is softer "Low Brass", as opposed to "Cartridge Brass". You can use it. At least a few times, for reloading. I have prepped FC 223 1000 on hand, but do not load them because I have plenty of LC which is better brass.
If it was NATO spec ammo you would have the Circle/Cross NATO stamp. This only means that the initial loading was 5.56 NATO spec when loaded at the factory. Once fired, it means nothing about the brass.
Your brass is 223 Commercial FC, not NATO spec, and not U.S. military.
Fecal Cartridge loads a lot of ammo for the U.S. consumer market, and also government non-military contracts: FBI, ATF, LE. It was most likely initially loaded with 55 gr. FMJ, which may have been equivalent to U.S. M193 training ammo (which is NOT NATO spec). The U.S. M855 62 gr. 5.56 is NATO spec, and U.S. mil-spec generally is Lake City and Year head-stamp. Again, once fired the head-stamp loses all meaning.
FC uses a slightly different brass than LC or Lapua. It is softer "Low Brass", as opposed to "Cartridge Brass". You can use it. At least a few times, for reloading. I have prepped FC 223 1000 on hand, but do not load them because I have plenty of LC which is better brass.
JeepHammer
Moderator
223 Rem means it was loaded to SAAMI specification.
FC17 means it was part of a government contract to Homeland Security, and produced in a civilian plant for civilian law enforcement.
ATK/Federal had taken over the Lake City military ammo plant in Missouri (from Olin/Winchester).
While Lake City was trying to produce enough ammo for wars on two fronts AND modernize the Lake City plant, the Department Of Homeland Security ordered 3.2 Billion rounds of ammo which overwhelmed civilian manufacturers.
In response, ATK/Federal cleared the change for both military & civilian ammo to share the same case materials & specifications for the government contract.
The civilian (DHS) ammo will have mostly .223 headstamps WITHOUT the NATO circle/cross, but mass manufacture headstamps will mostly look 'Military', along with crimped primers.
(You will run into the same thing in .308 Win, the ammunition was loaded to .308 Win pressures, not 7.62 NATO)
I find these same brass in my military range bulk purchases where civilian LE (law enforcement) practice on military ranges. There is ZERO difference between these and newer military brass, same weight, same case capacity, etc.
Keep in mind that Millions of overrun & out of specification rounds of ammunition that didn't make the government cut are still getting dumped on the market, they are bulk packed at gun stores everywhere and show up on ranges everywhere also.
Since the resupply of that massive stockpile is ongoing, the same rounds are still being made...
Since the first of that order was made in 2012, it's nearly time for it to age out & hit the surplus market.
FC17 means it was part of a government contract to Homeland Security, and produced in a civilian plant for civilian law enforcement.
ATK/Federal had taken over the Lake City military ammo plant in Missouri (from Olin/Winchester).
While Lake City was trying to produce enough ammo for wars on two fronts AND modernize the Lake City plant, the Department Of Homeland Security ordered 3.2 Billion rounds of ammo which overwhelmed civilian manufacturers.
In response, ATK/Federal cleared the change for both military & civilian ammo to share the same case materials & specifications for the government contract.
The civilian (DHS) ammo will have mostly .223 headstamps WITHOUT the NATO circle/cross, but mass manufacture headstamps will mostly look 'Military', along with crimped primers.
(You will run into the same thing in .308 Win, the ammunition was loaded to .308 Win pressures, not 7.62 NATO)
I find these same brass in my military range bulk purchases where civilian LE (law enforcement) practice on military ranges. There is ZERO difference between these and newer military brass, same weight, same case capacity, etc.
Keep in mind that Millions of overrun & out of specification rounds of ammunition that didn't make the government cut are still getting dumped on the market, they are bulk packed at gun stores everywhere and show up on ranges everywhere also.
Since the resupply of that massive stockpile is ongoing, the same rounds are still being made...
Since the first of that order was made in 2012, it's nearly time for it to age out & hit the surplus market.
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This whole 223 Remington , 5.56 Nato ammunition thing has left me so confused that I decided to keep my old model 94 Winchester , a 30-30 is a 30-30 no matter where you go and they all work just fine in the Winchester ....sometimes simplicity is best.
I'm tired of trying to figure out what's what.
Gary
I'm tired of trying to figure out what's what.
Gary
