Ammunition & Hand Loading > General Ammunition Discussion

.223 Remington vs 5.56 Mil.

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Ronvandyn:
So, the question has come up, where is the difference between these two rounds.  I did some research when I initially thought about getting a .223 and there was much discussion but little definitive information.  I am now in a position to buy some 5.56 but have no wish to blow out my rifle with the wrong rounds. 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a definitive answer on this?  I dont mind buying the 5.56 because I can always resell it to someone with an AR (plenty of you guys out there, right?  :) ).

Ron

RobertH:
from what i know/remember... .223Remington and 5.56x45 are the same in looks, but perform differently.  the 5.56 have a lot higher chamber pressures, therefore it could blow your gun apart.  maybe not on the first or second or even 20th round, but it stresses out the chamber.

on AR15's, the end of the barrel by the flash hider would say something like ".223Rem/5.56", then both calibers are ok.  always take the side of caution.

anyone else have other information?

justsomeguy:

--- Quote from: RobertH on May 18, 2011, 10:31:02 PM ---anyone else have other information?

--- End quote ---

Yep... The people who make firearms and ammunition say don't do it.

http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_211-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf

Dan W:
5.56 chambers are not the same as .223

Get a 5.56 chambered rifle, or the compromise Wylde chamber if you want to shoot any type of ammo.

I would not recommend shooting 5.56 ammo in a tight .223 chamber, as the risk is blown out primers and extraction problems, and in the worst case possible high pressure failures of the chamber.

5.56 ammo needs more room in the leade where the bullet extends into the rifling. when firing 5.56 ammo in a tighter match .223 chamber, it is possible for the neck to pinch the bullet at the leade and cause a very high pressure spike before the bullet exits

Mudinyeri:
Nice discussion guys.  Usually when I see this topic on forums, it's accompanied by the "I shoot 5.56 out of my .223-chambered rifle all the time and have never had a problem" comments.

While that may be true, it's safest to shoot only the ammo for which your gun was chambered. 

One other point of clarification: Not all AR's are chambered for 5.56.  Check the barrel, not the lower for chambering markings.  It makes no difference whatsoever what the markings are on the lower. 

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