saw some cci primers and on the box it was marked no 40 or 41 on the box. also printed on the box it stated for 5.56. I have regular and mil-cases with mil-crimp removed I also have mil-cases still with the crimp. can I use them in only cases that are regular or mil- cases with crimp removed or just in cases with mil-crimp still in place ? When reloading which one were they designed for ? Yes at my old age I am first learning.

first off, you'll have to remove the military crimp before you can do any re-priming.

The CCI 5.56 primers are designed for the AR platform with a harder cup to help prevent slam fire from the floating fireing pin

As Beeman states.....you must remove the crimp

Either swag it or cut it out

So would it be safe to say that you could use the harder primers in a bolt rifle, ie 700, but couldn't use a standard primer in the AR?

I use the standard small rifle primmers in all of my AR15 loads.
I just know the others were created to help with a slamfire issue.
Ive yet to have a malfunction shooting semi or full auto

so if I understand whats said so far. both primers are the same size, just that one has a harder cup aimed for the one that loads for the ar line-up but could be used in a bolt action if need be. all cases have to have crimp removed if they have them.Do all factory loads sold in 223cal have crimped primer pockets if I use those cases and WHY the mil-crimp?

quote:

both primers are the same size, just that one has a harder cup aimed for the one that loads for the ar line-up but could be used in a bolt action if need be.

That is correct.

quote:

all cases have to have crimp removed if they have them

That is also correct.

quote:

Do all factory loads sold in 223cal have crimped primer pockets if I use those cases

Not all factory loads have the crimped primers. This is usually just for military rounds, so if you look to buy ammo, it it says Mil-spec, SS109 (or whatever numbers), or 5.56 instead of 223, then it probably has a crimped primer. USUALLY if you get a round that is not FMJ, it will be non-crimped, but not always. USUALLY if it has a specialty bullet like HP or VMAX, it is not crimped, but the only way to tell for sure is to look. Most "commercial" rounds are not crimped.

quote:

WHY the mil-crimp?

Because the military has to have the most foolproof reliable ammo possible and if there is a chance that the primer will back out during recoil (for the rounds in the magazine), they need them to be crimped in.