Page 10 of 11 FirstFirst ... 891011 LastLast
Results 91 to 100 of 103

Thread: 5.56mm NATO versus 223 Remington Chamber Differences

  1. #91
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    217
    Feedback Score
    0
    Brass thickness varies. As a general rule, yes, 5.56-specific brass (such as LC) is going to be thicker (and thus heavier) than .223 brass. But not always. The weight spread overlap is so great, that there's not much point in worrying about it.

    If you are loading "brass is brass" empties, for practice and plinking, then load to .223 loading data. You are unlikely to notice any POI or accuracy difference, between .223 and 5.56 load specs, using the same bullet. We all know it is an American birthright to be able to buy a sub-MOA AR right over the counter, but most aren't. And most shooters aren't, either.

    If you have to have 5.56-performance ammo that you load, then use a single batch of brass (LC is a good source) and load it up for your rifle.

  2. #92
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Posts
    2
    Feedback Score
    0
    Its the way the chamber is cut. In some .223 chambers, a .556 round will spike in pressure. In others, it won't make a difference. I have 556 and .223 Wylde barrels and I just shoot whatever is cheapest. That happens to be handloads all the time but if someone was selling factory ammo cheaper, I would buy that instead.

  3. #93
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    107
    Feedback Score
    0
    Will accuracy be impacted if you shoot 223 in a 5.56mm chamber?

    Meaning is running 5.56mm ammo in a 5.56mm chamber inherently more accurate than running 223 ammo in a 5.56mm chamber?

  4. #94
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    779
    Feedback Score
    2 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ad_infinitum View Post
    Will accuracy be impacted if you shoot 223 in a 5.56mm chamber?

    Meaning is running 5.56mm ammo in a 5.56mm chamber inherently more accurate than running 223 ammo in a 5.56mm chamber?
    The quality of the barrel, ammo, and skill of the shooter make far more difference.

  5. #95
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    2,193
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by ad_infinitum View Post
    Will accuracy be impacted if you shoot 223 in a 5.56mm chamber?

    Meaning is running 5.56mm ammo in a 5.56mm chamber inherently more accurate than running 223 ammo in a 5.56mm chamber?
    Your barrels 'potential accuracy' may last longer shooting lower pressure .223 ammo. The higher the pressure the ammo - The faster the throat will erode and once it is screwed there is no fixing it.

    Sometimes too a given barrel will perform better at a lower velocity. Faster does not automatically = more accurate. Generally reloaders will notice a place in their load workup where the accuracy is best and then as velocity increases after that point the groups tend to open up. Depends on the barrel where that sweet spot is...

  6. #96
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    107
    Feedback Score
    0
    Interesting point you make

  7. #97
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    32,788
    Feedback Score
    14 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ad_infinitum View Post
    Will accuracy be impacted if you shoot 223 in a 5.56mm chamber?

    Meaning is running 5.56mm ammo in a 5.56mm chamber inherently more accurate than running 223 ammo in a 5.56mm chamber?
    The quality of the ammo is more important than the nominal designation. .223 pressure OTMs will outshoot almost any 5.56 load, but I've loaded 5.56mm pressure OTMs that will out shoot a bunch of .223 ammo.

    Each load and Each barrel are unique.
    "What would a $2,000 Geissele Super Duty do that a $500 PSA door buster on Black Friday couldn't do?" - Stopsign32v

  8. #98
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Posts
    1,725
    Feedback Score
    0
    Why do people insist on saying "5.56mm NATO chamber," as if all things that were designed to shoot 5.56mm NATO have the same chamber?

    The M249 has a difference chamber, and shoots 5.56mm NATO.
    The M27 (HK416) has a different chamber and shoots 5.56mm NATO.
    The Stoner 63 had a different chamber to the M16, although it was gone by the time 5.56mm NATO came along.
    etc
    etc.

  9. #99
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Posts
    215
    Feedback Score
    0
    This is a long old thread.
    But here's my 3cents worth.

    There are chamber diffs, and those diffs come from a few factors:
    1) who made the reamer
    2) what std (spec) are reamers made to
    3) not within the same framework for std (spec)

    Can't really find the 556 NATO spec in the SAAMI docs, thus comparing it to 223rem is like green apple vs the red apple.
    PTG vs JGS vs Clymer, all different.
    Will some rounds fit in other types of chambers? Can you put a 275-75-16 BFG KO2 on a truck that is normally a 255-60-16.

    http://ar15barrels.com/tech.shtml

    Wylde's are interesting. Not sure if any spec of a Wylde falls outside any of the cartridge specs for any SAAMI 223rem, or 556 NATO.

    And then you have the over-arching question, for what application is it for? A SAAMI 223rem Match cut may be a better choice over a 223rem Wylde, or vice-versa. Guess it all depends.

    What we do/should agree on though, there are lots of differences beyond just the lead-in spec.

  10. #100
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    217
    Feedback Score
    0
    You will not find 5.56 specs anywhere in any SAAMI literature, because it isn't a SAAMI cartridge. Nothing nefarious, just "It isn't ours, it is a military thing, go ask them"

    As far as a "5.56 chamber" spec is concerned, that is determined by the end-user/buyer of the reamers. if a given defense ministry wants a "special for us" 5.56 chamber they will send the drawings out for bid. Whoever has the lowest price sends the reamers and gets a check. In talking to reamer makers, I've learned of many "5.56" chambers. All with minor differences. the big diff between .223 and 5.56 is the length of the leade, which is the problem in some rifles.

Page 10 of 11 FirstFirst ... 891011 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •