- Messages
- 368
- Reactions
- 2
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
My experience is that they are mostly interchangeable. Where you have a gas system operating the action, there is a way for the extra pressure to escape without causing damage. If you have a .223 labeled bolt gun, I would probably stay away from the 5.56. Most AR's and such you will not have a problem either way.
No you are right, I left that part out I guess. I do have a custom made match grade Douglas Barrel for an SPR type rifle on an AR and I had the chamber made for match tolerances in .223. It would not be reccomended to shove a 5.56 in there. It really doesn't even like cheap .223! Also I have shot indoors with silencers on an M4, .223 is pretty quiet, the 5.56 didn't even sound suppressed. This tells me that there is a significant difference in pressures between .223 and the LC 5.56 XM193.
maaaaaaaan I LOVE this board:banana:!
That's great info. And cool to know that specifically about the Mini-14, a buddy here on the board has one, the 1st one I've ever shot & me likey! Even though we were in snow & it was getting dark, it was great. We were shooting .223 only, and that was before the 5.56 vs .223 question was even on my radar. Until he was explaining the similarities/differences to me... but I'm still at the stage of caliber-info overload and tend to remember things all bass-ackwards!
Seems like a Mini-14 that was specifically rated to handle 5.56 pressure and .223 both would be pretty dang handy for ammo availability etc.
Two things. First, the "target" model of the mini-14 isn't rated for 5.56 but all the rest are.
Second, you will change your point of aim switching back and forth. At least I find that to be true, especially bad at longer ranges since the 5.56 flies much faster and flatter.
Cliff
Ah, Cliff that's good to know. Since I've so far only owned handguns, I sure am glad to get info from all y'all who know these things. So much I need to learn!!i8asquirrel said:The simple answer is to take any rifle in ? to a qaulified Gunsmith and have the check/ cut the throat with the desired amount of freebore....
In general, yes. There is one exception though. The Ruger Mini-14 is always marked .223 but it can fire 5.56 safely.
You really should not put NATO spec 5.56 rounds in a .223 chamber. More because of pressure than dimensions. NATO weapons test pressure at case mouth, different than SAAMI. This exacerbates the pressure difference and basically will equal a 20,000 psi difference. You can get operating problems with brass, extraction problems, screwed up primers and occasionally catastrophic failure.
Occasionally, some chambers are marked .223 REM that are actually 5.56, but I wouldn't rely on that.
The 20,000 pressure difference has been debunked. NATO and SAAMI use different sensors to measure pressures. CIP using the same type sensors defines the maximum service and proof test pressures of the .223 Remington cartridge equal to the 5.56 mm NATO.