Author Topic: .223 VS 5.56 (Read 855 times)

mod29 · « **on:** May 31, 2004, 05:52:40 PM »

Hello, friends!
Considering a 14" .223 barrel eventually, and I'm wondering if military 5.56 would be OK to shoot in it?
Thanks

Jim

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2004, 06:23:23 PM »

Works fine in mine, but you would probably want to stay away from the lacquer finished steel case Wolf stuff.

Duffy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2004, 06:27:53 PM »

Yah, one in the same, depending on time of manf of the ammo most 5.56 was 55 grain FMJ. I think the later stuff is 65-70 grain and may not shoot worth a hoot in your bbl with a slower twist. If you opt for a custom and specify a 1 in 9 or faster then the heavier bullets will work better.

mod29 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 01, 2004, 03:28:38 AM »

I should be more specific. I have a good deal of Lake City 5.56 55gr FMJ that I purchased for my AR15. That is the ammo I'm wondering about. I've heard different things regarding how .223 is slightly different from 5.56.
Thanks again!

Jim

palgeno · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2004, 03:55:50 AM »

I have tried the LC ammo in my 14" Contender bbl and while it will work OK, I'd save it for fodder in your AR and use "better" ammo in the T/C----the T/C bbl is extremely accurate with ammo loaded to a proper oal . I hand load mostly, but have found a few factory loads that will go 1/2 moa or better in my barrel. Use your single shot for "one shot , one kill" type shooting----you won't get that level of accuracy out of any but the most highly massaged AR's----at 5 or 10 times the cost of a good T/C setup.!

Gregory · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2004, 07:21:40 AM »

Quote from: mod29

I should be more specific. I have a good deal of Lake City 5.56 55gr FMJ that I purchased for my AR15. That is the ammo I'm wondering about. I've heard different things regarding how .223 is slightly different from 5.56.
Thanks again!

Jim

Jim
I've heard the same thing, that the 5.56 is loaded to higher pressure and the throats are cut differently in 5.56 rifles. I've seen warnings about firing military 5.56 rounds in commercial .223 rifles. I save my military rounds for my AR-15.

Steve P · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2004, 09:24:03 AM »

Your Contender will handle good commercially made 5.56 ammo. i.e. UMC is made by Remington, WCC is made by Winchester, I believe Lake City is Federal, etc.

The 5.56 ammo has tolerances to allow shooting in field gage guns. It's case is a little smaller than .223 commercial and it can have higher pressures to activate the military autos and semi-autos. Nothing over the capability of the Contender.

You may find that commercial ammo and reloads shoot better in your gun.
I have a case of UMC and a case of Federal American Eagle and they shoot very (under 1" at 100) accurate in my guns.

Steve

Gregory · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2004, 01:45:46 PM »

Quote from: Steve P

Your Contender will handle good commercially made 5.56 ammo. i.e. UMC is made by Remington, WCC is made by Winchester, I believe Lake City is Federal, etc.

The 5.56 ammo has tolerances to allow shooting in field gage guns. It's case is a little smaller than .223 commercial and it can have higher pressures to activate the military autos and semi-autos. Nothing over the capability of the Contender.

You may find that commercial ammo and reloads shoot better in your gun.
I have a case of UMC and a case of Federal American Eagle and they shoot very (under 1" at 100) accurate in my guns.

Steve

SAAMI warns against using 5.56 Military rounds in a 223
http://www.saami.org/unsafe3.htm

Why take a chance?

Ken Waters in his Pet Loads VI 223 Update advises following this SAAMI warning.

Paladin · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:15:46 PM »

Gregory did you notice there was't a warning about shooting 223 in a5.56. must be a pressure thing.

securitysix · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2004, 05:48:41 AM »

Quote from: Paladin

Gregory did you notice there was't a warning about shooting 223 in a5.56. must be a pressure thing.

Exactly.

.223 in a 5.56 chamber is fine, 5.56 in a .223 chamber may be unsafe.

Steve P · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2004, 09:34:59 AM »

Boy, I am sure glad I read that. Now I know better than to shoot my 8mm Mauser ammo in my 7mm Rem Mag.

I am not knocking a warning about shooting 5.56 military in a .223 firearm. I know MY contender will handle the 5.56 military that I have. Several thousand empty cases and the gun agree.

That warning is on the side of ridiculous.

If you have a bolt action "xyz" or a semi auto "abc" in .223, DONT shoot military 5.56 it. You could hurt the gun, yourself, or someone else.

In MY experience, the UMC 55 grain ammo, Federal American Eagle, and WCC current production 55 grain fmj rounds do not exibit signs of unsafe pressures in MY Contender. So I don't mind spending $3-4 per 20 rounds to shoot it.

YOU NEED TO CHECK THIS AMMO FOR YOUR OWN GUN.

Good shooting,

Steve

GhosTT · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2004, 12:15:07 PM »

I would think that pressure would not be a factor on the TC since it was designed to handle rounds like the 45-70.

I use 5.56 rounds to practice with, but don't expect sub MOA groups.
I get around 1.5" with several loads.
Depends on what you want to use it for.

BillAdair · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2004, 09:57:21 AM »

Jim,

I have an Encore in .223, with a blue standard 15" barrel, and Burris 2X7 scope. My son in law gave me some commercial .223 reloads, and about a third of them will not even chamber in my Encore.

Bought a couple boxes of Winchester .223 white box from Midway, and some of those will not chamber either. When the ammo arrived, it said 5.56mm on the box, not .223 Remington as advertised. :roll:

Had to pull the bullets on the reloads, and resize the cases to get them to chamber.

My Encore has produced half inch three shot groups at 100 yards, when I can hold it steady enough.

Bill

mod29 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2004, 05:18:27 PM »

Thanks for all the replies and info, gentlemen.
When I do purchase my .223 barrel, chances are I'll just shoot factory .223 ammo. (Then again, I might have to try just ONE round of LC 5.56...!)
Anyway, right now I'm waiting for my frame to come back from TC Arms. I sent it there just today to have the firing pin assy replaced (rim-fire pin stuck).

Jim