Firing 5.56 in a .223 rifle

[kal0220]

If I use a chamber reamer and ensure the chamber is sized for 5.56, is there any issue with shooting 5.56 in a bolt action rifle?

I went with the .223 bolt action so I can share ammo with the AR. Some of my AR ammo is true 5.56 and I would feel better if I can reliable interchange all ammo for all rifles.

[orkan]

It'll be fine.

[bp7178]

If you ream the chamber to 5.56 dimensions, it will be ok, but why would you want to?

A bolt action with a .223 chamber is very accurate, and it won't be as accurate with a 5.56 chamber due to the longer free bore.

You'd be much better off just switching both platforms to .223.

[orkan]

Factory remington .223 rifles are throated so damn deep that you can hardly ever load into the lands even if you wanted to. I'm reasonably certain that he would be just fine firing 5.56 out of his bolt gun chambered in .223. I've never tried it... as I've never had the need.

However, he already told us he plans to ream the bolt gun with a 5.56 reamer and he already told us why he wanted to do this:

He has a 5.56 AR, and 5.56 ammo for it... and wants to be able to shoot that ammo in his bolt gun. If he wants to shoot 5.56, that is his prerogative. Unless I missed something, he didn't ask "or should I just switch both rifles to .223?"

[Failure2Stop]

Functionally, you're fine.
What you may see is a decrease in precision.
What twist rate is the bolt gun barrel?
Most mass produced 5.56 is far below the precision capability of more bolt-gun specific .223 ammo.
If you really want to shoot 5.56 in your bolt gun, you are probably fine with a .223 chamber since the firing rate is much slower and more dedicated. I would simply fire a few rounds and check for overpressure signs before reaming.

[bp7178]

Ammunition loaded to 5.56mm pressure is generally not as accurate as comparable .223 pressure stuff.

I don't want to say its a waste of a bolt-gun to shoot XM193 or the like through it but common solutions tend to make compromises.

Just beacause you have a 5.56mm chamber on your AR15 you aren't married to using 5.56mm exclusively in it.

I'm well aware of what the OP asked and I offered another path that could be taken which meets near the same goals. So slow a bit and pump the brakes. No need for the hostility.

[kal0220]

Just beacause you have a 5.56mm chamber on your AR15 you aren't married to using 5.56mm exclusively in it.

I'm well aware of what the OP asked and I offered another path that could be taken which meets near the same goals. So slow a bit and pump the brakes. No need for the hostility.

I'm just looking to see if it's possible to shoot ammo without concern as to whether its .223 and 5.56. I know you can "step down" to 223 with no issue, but "stepping up" to 5.56 can be.

I don't think he was being hostile, just pointing out that I was asking about feasibility of shooting 5.56 in it.

I have no intention of switching both to 223 when I already have a few thousand 5.56 rounds.

Functionally, you're fine.
What you may see is a decrease in precision.
What twist rate is the bolt gun barrel?
Most mass produced 5.56 is far below the precision capability of more bolt-gun specific .223 ammo.
If you really want to shoot 5.56 in your bolt gun, you are probably fine with a .223 chamber since the firing rate is much slower and more dedicated. I would simply fire a few rounds and check for overpressure signs before reaming.

The twist rate is 1:9. I didn't think about the loss of precision by shooting 5.56 or reaming. I'll fire a few rounds like you suggested. If I see any signs of, I'll just make sure I only put 223 through it.

Factory remington .223 rifles are throated so damn deep that you can hardly ever load into the lands even if you wanted to. I'm reasonably certain that he would be just fine firing 5.56 out of his bolt gun chambered in .223. I've never tried it... as I've never had the need.

However, he already told us he plans to ream the bolt gun with a 5.56 reamer and he already told us why he wanted to do this:

He has a 5.56 AR, and 5.56 ammo for it... and wants to be able to shoot that ammo in his bolt gun. If he wants to shoot 5.56, that is his prerogative. Unless I missed something, he didn't ask "or should I just switch both rifles to .223?"

I guess I should clarify. The 5.56 won't be primary but just to make sure it'll work safely in case I do have to tap into my reserve.

[Ned Christiansen]

There'll be no safety issue. As to a decrease in accuracy, I'd love to see some carefully arrived-at comparative groups. I don't think it's going to make that much dif.

If you were to ream it to .223 Wylde, you might have the best of both worlds. It's tighter in the freebore than 5.56, and longer. In before and after testing, I have found an identifiable increase in accuracy with many loads, and a statistically insignificant change to the better/less better with others.

[Failure2Stop]

There'll be no safety issue. As to a decrease in accuracy, I'd love to see some carefully arrived-at comparative groups. I don't think it's going to make that much dif.

If you were to ream it to .223 Wylde, you might have the best of both worlds. It's tighter in the freebore than 5.56, and longer. In before and after testing, I have found an identifiable increase in accuracy with many loads, and a statistically insignificant change to the better/less better with others.

I defer to this perspective.

[fn1889m]

It should not be a problem to ream the chamber to 5.56, or to ream the throat, but I agree that a factory Remington barrel is will most likely shoot both .223 and 5.56 safely. I would try it first, before using a reamer. Less is more.

If and when you rebarrel the rifle, if you use a premium barrel you might have this issue, but you probably don't with a factory barrel. Remington is covering its a-- by assuming people will shoot both .223 and 5.56, and making allowance for it at the factory.