5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
02-20-2006, 10:09 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 201
5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
It was brought to my attention that it is not recommended to fire military 5.56 mm ammo in rifles chambered for 223 Rem. The reason is that the over all length of the military ammo is longer than commercial 223 ammo. The throat on the military rifles is longer to accomodate the ammo.When the ammo is used in commercial rifles the bulletmight bejammed into the rifling causing high pressure when fired. Has anyone had a problem with this?
02-20-2006, 10:34 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 2,862
RE: 5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
I've shot thousands of 5.56 rounds thru my 223 chambered rifles with no problems. The cases are usually just a touch thicker (inside dimensions) on the NATO rounds, which means less case capacity when reloading, and maybe slightly higher pressures.
So fire away, you won't ever have any problems!
So fire away, you won't ever have any problems!
02-20-2006, 10:41 PM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Waldorf Maryland USA
Posts: 668
RE: 5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
SAMMI started this, and I'll explain.
223 Remis a SAMMI controled round, 5.56 is not.
5.56 is loaded to 60,000 Cup and SAMMI has 223 Rem restrictedat50,000 Cup, thus your higher preasure answer.
5.56 has a max case length of 1.77 and 223 Rem 1.76.
Bang away with military ammo all you want, any reloader will tell you to get the best accuracy out of a gun the bullet must be set further out than SAMMI standards recomend's andcloser to the lands and groves, and if it fits in the magizine it will work most of the time. Furthermore if the bullet is too long the bolt with not close right.
223 Remis a SAMMI controled round, 5.56 is not.
5.56 is loaded to 60,000 Cup and SAMMI has 223 Rem restrictedat50,000 Cup, thus your higher preasure answer.
5.56 has a max case length of 1.77 and 223 Rem 1.76.
Bang away with military ammo all you want, any reloader will tell you to get the best accuracy out of a gun the bullet must be set further out than SAMMI standards recomend's andcloser to the lands and groves, and if it fits in the magizine it will work most of the time. Furthermore if the bullet is too long the bolt with not close right.
02-21-2006, 08:04 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bandera, Texas
Posts: 1,636
RE: 5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
Being in the military, the last thing I would fire through a commercial rifel is 5.56mm. Just the quality is not the best IMHO. With all the commercial .223 avaiable and better, I would use it! [8D]
02-21-2006, 08:16 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: 5.56 MM in .223 Rifles
It doesn't matter in a bolt gun, a bolt gun will handle the extra pressure of the 5.56 with no problems. For ARs, just get it chambered in 5.56 and you can shoot anything through it.
