5.56 Question. - The Firearms Forum

leo66 · 09-02-2012, 07:57 AM

Can you shoot .223 ammo in an AR marked for 5.56.I have heard both yes and no.Confused. Shooting a S&W M&P 15.

Carne Frio · 09-02-2012, 08:15 AM

Yes, .223 is safe to shoot in a 5.56 marked firearm.
I have been doing it for over 30 years.

gdmoody · 09-02-2012, 08:16 AM

Yes, you can.

You should not shoot 5.56 in a barrel marked .223 because of higher pressure in the 5.56.

leo66 · 09-02-2012, 08:17 AM

Thank you Carne Frio

JLA · 09-02-2012, 11:25 AM

easy one to write down. The 5.56 chamber will shoot both safely. The .223 chamber will NOT shoot 5.56 safely. This applies to ANY .223/5.56 chambered firearm regardless of the action type..

GunHugger · 09-02-2012, 01:03 PM

Don't go by what the receiver says, look for the caliber stamped on the barrel to know for sure.

JLA · 09-02-2012, 01:19 PM

Excellent point GH. some AR lowers are stamped '5.56' or 'multi', whereas they could be fit with a .223 target barrel.

polishshooter · 09-06-2012, 10:49 PM

The 5.56 was developed first, and has very slightly different specs and pressures than the .223 Remington which was brought out commercially based on the 5.56, later.

Kinda the same thing as the differences between 7.62x51 NATO and the later .308 Winchester, although not as big a difference. AND backwards...a .308 chamber WILL handle a 7.62 NATO round, but a .308 should NOT be fired in a NATO chamber, like an old Spanish 1916 ".308 Mauser" or an Ishapore MK 2....

The 5.56 chamber specs are a VERY little bit bigger than the .223 to chamber any military ammo by any manufacturer, and it became even more important when it was adopted by NATO, now there was even more differences between countries of origin, and all rifles had to chamber anything available in 5.56 NATO.

The .223 chambers are "tighter," if you look at SAAMI specs, and some very slightly oversize military rounds MAY develop excess pressure in a .223 chamber.

While I know guys who claim they shoot milsurp from all over the world in their .223 bolt guns with no problems, I wouldn't chance it unless a SHTF emergency hit....

But Rock River and Les Baer and others are offering ARs chambered in ".223 Wylde..."

This is an old wildcat based on the same .222 magnum case that the .223/5.56 was based on, a little tighter than a 5.56 but not as tight as a straight .223 chamber so it still should shoot both safely, but with a slightly better potential for accuracy than a straight 5.56 chamber.

leo66 · 09-07-2012, 02:00 AM

Thanks for all the help guys. This is why I love this place

KWM · 10-05-2012, 04:34 PM

I'm kinda lost here. 5.56 mm = .218897 inches. .223 inches = 5.6642 mm. The 223 is the larger round correct?

GunHugger · 10-05-2012, 06:27 PM

09-02-2012, 07:57 AM	#1
leo66 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kansas Contributor Posts: 49	5.56 Question. Can you shoot .223 ammo in an AR marked for 5.56.I have heard both yes and no.Confused. Shooting a S&W M&P 15. -->

09-02-2012, 08:15 AM	#2
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Posts: 699	Re: 5.56 Question. Yes, .223 is safe to shoot in a 5.56 marked firearm. I have been doing it for over 30 years.

09-02-2012, 08:16 AM	#3
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,358	Re: 5.56 Question. Yes, you can. You should not shoot 5.56 in a barrel marked .223 because of higher pressure in the 5.56. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-02-2012, 08:17 AM	#4
leo66 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kansas Contributor Posts: 49	Re: 5.56 Question. Thank you Carne Frio

09-02-2012, 11:25 AM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: 5.56 Question. easy one to write down. The 5.56 chamber will shoot both safely. The .223 chamber will NOT shoot 5.56 safely. This applies to ANY .223/5.56 chambered firearm regardless of the action type.. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

09-02-2012, 01:03 PM	#6
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: 5.56 Question. Don't go by what the receiver says, look for the caliber stamped on the barrel to know for sure. __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.

09-02-2012, 01:19 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: 5.56 Question. Excellent point GH. some AR lowers are stamped '5.56' or 'multi', whereas they could be fit with a .223 target barrel. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

09-06-2012, 10:49 PM	#8
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: 5.56 Question. The 5.56 was developed first, and has very slightly different specs and pressures than the .223 Remington which was brought out commercially based on the 5.56, later. Kinda the same thing as the differences between 7.62x51 NATO and the later .308 Winchester, although not as big a difference. AND backwards...a .308 chamber WILL handle a 7.62 NATO round, but a .308 should NOT be fired in a NATO chamber, like an old Spanish 1916 ".308 Mauser" or an Ishapore MK 2.... The 5.56 chamber specs are a VERY little bit bigger than the .223 to chamber any military ammo by any manufacturer, and it became even more important when it was adopted by NATO, now there was even more differences between countries of origin, and all rifles had to chamber anything available in 5.56 NATO. The .223 chambers are "tighter," if you look at SAAMI specs, and some very slightly oversize military rounds MAY develop excess pressure in a .223 chamber. While I know guys who claim they shoot milsurp from all over the world in their .223 bolt guns with no problems, I wouldn't chance it unless a SHTF emergency hit.... But Rock River and Les Baer and others are offering ARs chambered in ".223 Wylde..." This is an old wildcat based on the same .222 magnum case that the .223/5.56 was based on, a little tighter than a 5.56 but not as tight as a straight .223 chamber so it still should shoot both safely, but with a slightly better potential for accuracy than a straight 5.56 chamber. __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. Last edited by polishshooter; 09-06-2012 at 10:58 PM..

09-07-2012, 02:00 AM	#9
leo66 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Kansas Contributor Posts: 49	Re: 5.56 Question. Thanks for all the help guys. This is why I love this place

10-05-2012, 04:34 PM	#10
KWM Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Contributor Posts: 31	Re: 5.56 Question. I'm kinda lost here. 5.56 mm = .218897 inches. .223 inches = 5.6642 mm. The 223 is the larger round correct? __________________ Compromise, is failure on the installment plan.

10-05-2012, 06:27 PM	#11
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: 5.56 Question. __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775. Last edited by GunHugger; 10-05-2012 at 06:30 PM..