.223 and 5.56

[Ron J]

I've got an AR frame that is imprinted on the barrel .223/5.56. Logically I can use either. I have a bullpup that is imprinted with just 5.56. I can see it would be a bad thing to shoot 5.56 in a weapon that is printed with .223.

Question: Can I shoot .223 in a weapon imprinted with 5.56?

Best Regards,

Ron

 

[7mmShooter]

Yes, you'll be fine running .223 in a 5.56 chamber

 

[cstunes]

Yes.

.223 chamber: .223 rounds
5.56 chamber: 223 and 5.56 rounds
.223 Wylde: .223 and 5.56 rounds

 

[MudRunner2005]

I've got an AR frame that is imprinted on the barrel .223/5.56. Logically I can use either. I have a bullpup that is imprinted with just 5.56. I can see it would be a bad thing to shoot 5.56 in a weapon that is printed with .223.

Question: Can I shoot .223 in a weapon imprinted with 5.56?

Best Regards,

Ron

Yes, you can shoot .223 in a barrel stamped 5.56...But not the other way around.

Opposite of a .308 Win vs. 7.62x51 NATO...You can shoot 7.62x51 in a .308 Win stamped barrel, but are not supposed to shoot .308 Win ammo in a 7.62x51 stamped barrel. Because SAAMI pressure specs are 24% higher for commercial .308 Win ammo, compared to NATO specs for 7.62x51.

 

[Nomosendero]

I've got an AR frame that is imprinted on the barrel .223/5.56. Logically I can use either. I have a bullpup that is imprinted with just 5.56. I can see it would be a bad thing to shoot 5.56 in a weapon that is printed with .223.

Question: Can I shoot .223 in a weapon imprinted with 5.56?

Best Regards,

Ron

Further down in this article the difference is explained, plus alot of good info here:
223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide

 

[Trickymissfit]

Yes, you can shoot .223 in a barrel stamped 5.56...But not the other way around.

Opposite of a .308 Win vs. 7.62x51 NATO...You can shoot 7.62x51 in a .308 Win stamped barrel, but are not supposed to shoot .308 Win ammo in a 7.62x51 stamped barrel. Because SAAMI pressure specs are 24% higher for commercial .308 Win ammo, compared to NATO specs for 7.62x51.

your right, and then not quite so right. In an AR15 yes your right. Yet in a bolt gun, it really doesn't matter as much. A modern bolt gun that won't handle 65K psi is pretty much junk. Yes the 5.56 is loaded (factory) to about 10% greater pressure, but still around 60K psi. Show me a Remington or Savage that won't handle 60K PSI! Black Hills had the contract for all the Lake City 5.56 last time I heard, and the have publicly said their ammo is loaded at 58.5 K PSI.

gary