Author Topic: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens  (Read 1850 times)

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Offline Jagguy

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5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« on: March 27, 2010, 07:05:07 AM »
I think I already know the answer to this but wanted to ask anyway. Will a bolt action like the Savage hold up to shooting the 5.56? I am looking at getting a .223 bolt gun and have a lot of .223 ammo from my Mini 14 days and still have some green tip 5.56 NATO I would like to unload. I know it's not recommended in a lot of rifles but wasn't sure about a bolt action.
Thanks, -greg
 

Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2010, 04:05:03 PM »
The presures of the 5.56 are much higher than the 223 and is not safe to fire in a rifle ment for 223 ammo only. If it were the other way around you would be ok. Meaning if you had a rifle chambered for the 5.56 you could safley fire 223 ammo out of it. Dale
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2010, 08:51:47 PM »
B.S. That rifle can handle a 300 Win Mag, it can surely handle anything that can fit in a .223 case.  Don't sweat it, this is an urban mith.  Larry
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2010, 12:28:20 AM »
Yep what Larry said, Fire away. 8)
Badnews Bob
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Offline mrbgt

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2010, 04:05:14 AM »
I've fired some old 5.56 in my 112 fv , it shot fine, didn't group to bad either but it sure isn't match ammo . ;)

Offline teddy12b

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2010, 05:05:12 AM »
The presures of the 5.56 are much higher than the 223 and is not safe to fire in a rifle ment for 223 ammo only. If it were the other way around you would be ok. Meaning if you had a rifle chambered for the 5.56 you could safley fire 223 ammo out of it. Dale

This is what I've always heard on the topic.  Ask yourself this....  Is it worth a gun blowing up in your face to find out?  If the action can take a 300WM that's fine, but the explosion is going to take place in the chamber.  I'm not convinced that I'd risk it.  If you want to shoot surplus green tip ammo in your savage, buy some pulled green tip bullets and hand load them as 223 pressure levels. 

Offline billy_56081

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2010, 05:22:26 AM »
Your rifle will handle much higher pressures and bolt thrust than any M16 or any other military rifle chambered in 5.56. Shoot it up and save the brass for reloading.
99% of all Lawyers give the other 1% a bad name. What I find hilarious about this is they are such an arrogant bunch, that they all think they are in the 1%.

Offline cjclemens

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2010, 06:17:29 PM »
It should be fine.  Savage makes one of the best actions on the market.  I've shot 5.56 through my .223 Handi Rifle with no issues other than accuracy.

Offline Jagguy

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2010, 06:31:26 PM »
I appreciate all the opinions! Thanks. I shot some 5.56 in my Handi way back and experenced some "pop-opens" so I stopped using them in that.
Seems the 5.56 is loaded to about the same pressures as the 308 Winchester so the action should be up to it.
-greg

Offline teddy12b

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Re: 5.56 NATO in Savage/Stevens
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2010, 04:15:05 AM »
If you do end up doing this (and I'm not recommending that you do) let us know how it works out for you.  Take a look at your primers after the first shot.