For some reason I thought the case was slightly different... looks like Im wrong on that one :(
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I'm not an expert, but I can tell you that the cases are dimensionally the same. There are several discussions about it on this forum. 5.56x45 ammunition operates at a higher pressure than .223, and the 5.56 chamber designation denotes a chamber with the correct dimensions to safely and reliably handle the higher pressure ammunition.
That's a interesting thread...I have one Bangor produced Smith...A LNIB K-22.. pinned bbl, 6" target trigger,hammer WO rear sights, Partridge front, excellant shooter, excellant trigger, I used to have a 4" M-19..another excellant shooter..sadly, it was sold when I needed cash...
The first thing doesn't really constitute stupid. 5.56 is the metric standard NATO. It's a metric load. It may differ from the .223 but someone not knowing this doesn't win them the award of "stupidist things heard at a gun shop".
Second, just because an officer is in the room and decides to not address something, doesn't mean that what they aren't addressing is legal. If NJ is anything like NY it IS illegal for your girlfriend to hold/fire/or be in any form of possession of a firearm without the NJ card. Just because three or fifty officers at a gun range enjoying some time away from work decided not to address this doesn't change the law.
I'm not an expert either, but I did read on this forum somewhere that the cases are the same externally, however internally I understand that the case has less volume than a .223 round. Meaning of course that the case walls would be thicker to handle the higher pressures of the 5.56.
No sir. They may be slightly larger AFTER firing because the of higher pressure and looser chamber.
If that were the case the brass would weigh more...they don't. I have heard that this is the case with .308 and 7.62x51, but I haven't measured or weighed them to see.
Ding ding ding. You're correct, I've measured and weighed unfired .223 and 5.56 cases...no difference whatsoever at least that my scale and calipers could pick up.
You must have met Tony a guy I work with.. Only difference is that Tony was in the Navy and was hand picked by the Admiral to be a Navy Seal. He couldn't go of course because he was too valuable to his unit. I've got at least a million stories that he has told us.. As soon as his mouth opens I start looking for my waders to put on.