[hun10]

How easy and cheap is this stuff to buy and how does it compare to the .223?

:wave:

 

[SNA2STL]

Can you do it, yes you can, should you;

http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html

 

[Reflex]

[rquote=1509322&tid=105279&author=SNA2STL]Can you do it, yes you can, should you;

http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html[/rquote]

I can. It says so on my barrel.

 

[Reflex]

[rquote=1509322&tid=105279&author=SNA2STL]Can you do it, yes you can, should you;

http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html[/rquote]

I belive hun10's ? is directed for the use in an AR-15, not a "sporting rifle"

 

[Heeler75]

[rquote=1509517&tid=105279&author=Reflex][rquote=1509322&tid=105279&author=SNA2STL]Can you do it, yes you can, should you;

http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html[/rquote]

I belive hun10's ? is directed for the use in an AR-15, not a "sporting rifle"[/rquote]

Thought the 5.56 Nato was chambered only for AR-15's and other military weapons?

I'd just buy the .223 and call it good. From what I can tell, not much available in the way of 5.56 NATO. Not to mention get you set up on reloading and get some .223 dies and go for it.

 

[Dutch]

My understanding was that the chamber pressures are different. 5.56 has higher pressure than the .223

 

[rat]

You can shoot .223 through 5.56 but shouldnt do it the other way around.

Bottom line, if you have 5.56 stamped on your bbl, shoot either round.

If you have a gun specifically chambered for .223, do not shoot the 5.56.

 

[Chairman]

[rquote=1509317&tid=105279&author=hun10]...how does it compare to the .223?[/rquote]

From Wikipedia:

5.56mm NATO versus .223 Remington

The 5.56 mm NATO and .223 Remington cartridges and chamberings are similar but not identical. Military cases are generally made from thicker brass than commercial cases; this reduces the powder capacity (an important consideration for handloaders), and the NATO specification allows a higher chamber pressure. NATO EPVAT test barrels made for 5.56 mm NATO measure chamber pressure at the case mouth, as opposed to the location used by the United States civil standards organization SAAMI. The piezoelectric sensors or transducers NATO and SAAMI use to conduct the actual pressure measurements also differ. This difference in measurement method accounts for upwards of 137.9 MPa (20,000 psi) difference in pressure measurements. This means the NATO EPVAT maximum service pressure of 430 MPa (62,366 psi) for 5.56 mm NATO, is reduced by SAAMI to 379.21 MPa (55,000 psi) for .223 Remington. In contrast to SAAMI, the other main civil standards organization C.I.P. defines the maximum service and proof test pressures of the .223 Remington cartridge equal to the 5.56 mm NATO.

The 5.56 mm NATO chambering, known as a NATO or mil-spec chamber, has a longer leade, which is the distance between the mouth of the cartridge and the point at which the rifling engages the bullet. The .223 Remington chambering, known as SAAMI chamber, is allowed to have a shorter leade, and is only required to be proof tested to the lower SAAMI chamber pressure. To address these issues, various proprietary chambers exist, such as the Wylde chamber (Rock River Arms) or the ArmaLite chamber, which are designed to handle both 5.56 mm NATO and .223 Remington equally well. The dimensions and leade of the .223 Remington minimum C.I.P. chamber also differ from the 5.56 mm NATO chamber specification.

Using commercial .223 Remington cartridges in a 5.56 mm NATO chambered rifle should work reliably, but generally will not be as accurate as when fired from a .223 Remington chambered gun due to the longer leade. Using 5.56 mm NATO mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223 Remington chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and the SAAMI recommends against the practice. Some commercial rifles marked as ".223 Remington" are in fact suited for 5.56 mm NATO, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14, but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56 mm NATO ammunition.

 

[67Firebird]

As with any other firearm, just make sure it's chambered for the ammo you're wanting to use.

[file]84382[/file]

 

[hun10]

I understand all of that, I was just meaning from a hunting stand point and general shooting. Sounds like it is not a good idea to shoot 5.56.

 

[rat]

[rquote=1510081&tid=105279&author=hun10] Sounds like it is not a good idea to shoot 5.56.[/rquote]
out of a rifle specifically chambered for .223 remington.

 

[Heeler75]

[rquote=1510081&tid=105279&author=hun10]I understand all of that, I was just meaning from a hunting stand point and general shooting. Sounds like it is not a good idea to shoot 5.56.[/rquote]

It's not a bad idea, it's just that ammo is more readily available for the .223 (and with more selections) and the performance is the same (basically) as the 5.56 NATO.

 

[hun10]

[rquote=1510086&tid=105279&author=rat][rquote=1510081&tid=105279&author=hun10] Sounds like it is not a good idea to shoot 5.56.[/rquote]
out of a rifle specifically chambered for .223 remington. [/rquote]

:2thumbsup:

 

[rat]

Clear as mud now right?? lol

I sometimes wonder...

Ok to shoot .223 from a milspec 5.56NATO but you are supposed to lose SOME accuracy.
I wonder how much accuracy you lose?

 

[FiremanBrad]

[rquote=1510105&tid=105279&author=rat]Clear as mud now right?? lol

I sometimes wonder...

Ok to shoot .223 from a milspec 5.56NATO but you are supposed to lose SOME accuracy.
I wonder how much accuracy you lose?[/rquote]

I'd have to see it to believe it...Mine is shootin purty darn good as is, with 223 ammo!!!!:banana-man-yeah:

I shot a Colt Hbar this weekend, the lower reciever is marked 223, the barrel is marked 5.56...lol. He was asking these same questions, I told him to stick with 223, because of that lower.:wave:

 

[callaojoe]

Supposedly, .223 Rem ammo would not be as accurate as the 5.56 stuff would be in a rifle chambered for 5.56..... This is because, the bullet has to make a bit of a jump, as it is shorter then Rem .223 ammo..... Like Rat said, if it's chambered for 5.56, then you can shoot both safely. If it's chambered for .223 Rem, then only .223 Rem should be used. My barrel has something they refer to as "wylde" chambering, which is sposed to help bridge the gap between the two.....:shrug: I think what happens is, the 223 ammo is a bit more accurate, but the 5.56 is a bit less..... I dunno.... I have only shot the .223, and that is probably all I'll ever shoot out of it... My barrel just happened to come with it..... And, it does seem to shoot the .223 ammo pretty darn good so far...

 

[hun10]

[rquote=1510299&tid=105279&author=callaojoe]Supposedly, .223 Rem ammo would not be as accurate as the 5.56 stuff would be in a rifle chambered for 5.56..... This is because, the bullet has to make a bit of a jump, as it is shorter then Rem .223 ammo..... Like Rat said, if it's chambered for 5.56, then you can shoot both safely. If it's chambered for .223 Rem, then only .223 Rem should be used. My barrel has something they refer to as "wylde" chambering, which is sposed to help bridge the gap between the two.....:shrug: I think what happens is, the 223 ammo is a bit more accurate, but the 5.56 is a bit less..... I dunno.... I have only shot the .223, and that is probably all I'll ever shoot out of it... My barrel just happened to come with it..... And, it does seem to shoot the .223 ammo pretty darn good so far...[/rquote]

Im with you, I think all I will shoot will be .223 also, but just wondered cause I don't hear much about the NATO round.op:

 

[BELTFEDMG]

It doesnt matter what the lower says, 5.56 or 223, its the barrel that matters. 5.56 is easy to get, its all over the place and in some cases cheaper then 223. I shoot sewer lids at 1/4 mile with 5.56, does just fine. 5.56 is not gonna do any more damage to a 5.56 chambered gun then what 223 is gonna do for a 223 gun.

 

[hun10]

[rquote=1510509&tid=105279&author=BELTFEDMG]It doesnt matter what the lower says, 5.56 or 223, its the barrel that matters. 5.56 is easy to get, its all over the place and in some cases cheaper then 223. I shoot sewer lids at 1/4 mile with 5.56, does just fine. 5.56 is not gonna do any more damage to a 5.56 chambered gun then what 223 is gonna do for a 223 gun.[/rquote]

:2thumbsup: