.223 Thoughts and decisions

[tacklebury]

Ok, after converting my .22 Marlin Papoose to blackpowder and having fun shooting those little pills, I've been contemplating a .22 centerfire for dispatching bushy tails.  I had been hoping and did find some great data from Beagle about downloading the .223, so I've decided this will probably be my platform.  I was originally going for .22 Hornet, but weak and more expensive brass and some limitations on the chambering stopped me going that way.  The one thing about the .223 that was bugging me is that H&R's aren't rated to shoot 5.56x45mm NATO and I would really like that capability also, so I can buy cheap plinking ammo.  So I started looking at other brands that have the correct chamber, then it dawned on me.  Why with the minor difference between 5.56 and .223 can't we just ream it as we do so many other calibers here?
http://www.4-dproducts.com/displayitem.php?rowid=489&tname=rental
This is the correct reamer I think and if I understand only the throat is really different at all.  Any thoughts on this or have any members tried it already.  I'm thinking about buying a superlight youth model so I can get a barrel with sights to play with it, but don't want to waste my dime if this doesn't work.    This was the downloading information I found and I think the superlight would make for a fun squirrel gun with a longer stock of course to fit me:  http://castpics.net/subsite2/ByCaliber/Cast%20in%20the%20.223.pdf

[Spanky]

I've shot hundreds and hundreds of 5.56 rounds in my 223 Handi's and never had a problem. I don't really see the need to ream it.
 
Tell us more about the black powder Papoose.
 
 
 
Spanky

[tacklebury]

Good to know Spanky.  I had just remembered reading that the chamber was .223 only on H&R's somewhere here.  They are listed that way at Bud's also.  I believe the difference is only a couple thousandths in the throat.
 
The other project thread I'll just link to here, because it isn't really handi-rifle related. 
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,241950.msg1099385402.html#msg1099385402

[JMcDonald]

I've also never actually heard of a single person having a problem shooting 5.56 in a ".223" chamber. Nobody will actively endorse it, but it's just one of those things.
 
I also wholeheartedly agree that a .223 is a much better buy than the Hornet, unless you just want the novelty of the Hornet. It is easy to download the .223 to Hornet velocities and you'll use about the same amount of powder and cases will last practically forever. But, you can't upload the Hornet to anywhere near .223 levels, and when you start to even try you'll be replacing cases every few loads.