5.56 in a .223? I did it!!

[jlorenzo]

I dont shoot 223 in any of my guns both bolt and gas. This was my 26" bolt. Not really fair though as it has a long thoat.
I rarely buy factory ammo other than m193 for the AR and to reload the LC brass. I would only shot 223 if it was all I had available. I like the Ramshot load data that has both 5.56 and long throat 223 pressures listed as well as 223.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

Having recently determined that a "5.56 NATO" marked barrel on one of my builds was not reamed correctly, I would not attempt using 5.56 rounds in a .223 chamber, unless it has enough free bore.
Notice the lands and grooves run all the way down on this BCA barrel. It was causing popped primers in PPU Bronze, 55 grain factory ammo and a live round could not be extracted without pulling the bullet and case apart in the process.
Looks like the tools used on this chamber were damaged or dull, to say the least. Extremely poor quality control.
While trying to develop an accurate 69 grain load, I tried three different powders and experienced pressure signs very near the middle of the listed .223 Rem charge scale in Lyman's 49th. Never got anywhere near a maximum charge and was using 2.260" as the COAL.
Below is what it should look like, to be capable of firing 5.56 NATO loads, safely.

 

[Thor357]

Having recently determined that a "5.56 NATO" marked barrel on one of my builds was not reamed correctly, I would not attempt using 5.56 rounds in a .223 chamber, unless it has enough free bore.View attachment 1346098
Notice the lands and grooves run all the way down on this BCA barrel. It was causing popped primers in PPU Bronze, 55 grain factory ammo and a live round could not be extracted without pulling the bullet and case apart in the process.
Looks like the tools used on this chamber were damaged or dull, to say the least. Extremely poor quality control.
While trying to develop an accurate 69 grain load, I tried three different powders and experienced pressure signs very near the middle of the listed .223 Rem charge scale in Lyman's 49th. Never got anywhere near a maximum charge and was using 2.260" as the COAL.
Below is what it should look like, to be capable of firing 5.56 NATO loads, safely.
View attachment 1346099

Like I said elsewhere in my post, my experiment worked in my rifle. I have no qualms about shooting factory 5.56 ammo in my .223 chambered rifle. I tested Sig Sauer, Frontier and IMI factory 5.56 ammo through my rifle and had no issues. Will I be doing that often? No, probably not, because I primarily reload and I reload to a custom load, bullet and seating depth that works well in both my AR and my rifle. Results for others may/will vary.

 

[thebeav]

FIRST POST ALERT>>>
I can understand why you would want to experiment with some other ammo. Especially the veteran that got his 5.56 for free.
I'm pretty new to centerfire rifle, having recently acquired a Savage Axis II in .223. The rifle does pretty damn well with factory ammo, and 55 gr. ammo that isn't that expensive. I only have a 50 yard range range at this time, but I had a 5 shot group of .310 inches last week. For an entry level rifle, I not sure I can expect much better. I don't have plans for reloading in the future, so I don't know about improvement.
Good luck with your shooting !

 

[Thor357]

FIRST POST ALERT>>>
I can understand why you would want to experiment with some other ammo. Especially the veteran that got his 5.56 for free.
I'm pretty new to centerfire rifle, having recently acquired a Savage Axis II in .223. The rifle does pretty damn well with factory ammo, and 55 gr. ammo that isn't that expensive. I only have a 50 yard range range at this time, but I had a 5 shot group of .310 inches last week. For an entry level rifle, I not sure I can expect much better. I don't have plans for reloading in the future, so I don't know about improvement.
Good luck with your shooting !

Well it sounds like you got a winner there. Depending on the twist rate of your rifle you might want to try a heavier bullet, 1:9 typically likes 62 grains and lower, typically. 1:7 likes 69 grains and higher typically. My Savage is an Axis II Precision w/1:7 and it has yet to show me anything it doesn't like but it seems to love the 77gr. Sierra Match Kings the most.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The bottom line here is that 5.56 commercial loads may work perfectly well in some rifles chambered for .223 Rem. But in some they can cause over-pressure situations, possibly severe in some rifles. Most often, no one can know with absolute certainty what is going to happen until they pull the trigger. If you like those odds, go for it. If you don't, don't.

 

[Thor357]

The bottom line here is that 5.56 commercial loads may work perfectly well in some rifles chambered for .223 Rem. But in some they can cause over-pressure situations, possibly severe in some rifles. Most often, no one can know with absolute certainty what is going to happen until they pull the trigger. If you like those odds, go for it. If you don't, don't.

If the 5.56 factory ammo you choose will chamber like a .223 does then you have nothing to worry about. If you encounter harder than normal chambering then yes you will encounter higher pressure and I, personally, would not shoot it through that rifle. So I guess I basically agree with you.

 

[762willdo]

Someone should start a thread with pictures of all the .223 guns they have seen blown up because they shot 5.56………..

 

[Thor357]

Someone should start a thread with pictures of all the .223 guns they have seen blown up because they shot 5.56………..

Ha! You won't see any because it doesn't happen!!!

 

[762willdo]

Ha! You won't see any because it doesn't happen!!!

 

[1911nut]

Can I use a 5.56 MIL round in a .223 Bolt action rifle?

Answer (1 of 6): Can you? Yes. Should you? No While the cases and bullets and almost identical the chamber pressure created by the 5.56 cartridge is significantly higher. Using 5.56 in a .223 rifle induces a lot of stress on the weapon that it was not designed for and will sooner or later turn i...

www.quora.com

 

[762willdo]

View attachment 1347590

Can I use a 5.56 MIL round in a .223 Bolt action rifle?

Answer (1 of 6): Can you? Yes. Should you? No While the cases and bullets and almost identical the chamber pressure created by the 5.56 cartridge is significantly higher. Using 5.56 in a .223 rifle induces a lot of stress on the weapon that it was not designed for and will sooner or later turn i...

www.quora.com

It’s on the internet so it must be true……

 

[762willdo]

View attachment 1347590

Can I use a 5.56 MIL round in a .223 Bolt action rifle?

Answer (1 of 6): Can you? Yes. Should you? No While the cases and bullets and almost identical the chamber pressure created by the 5.56 cartridge is significantly higher. Using 5.56 in a .223 rifle induces a lot of stress on the weapon that it was not designed for and will sooner or later turn i...

www.quora.com

Damn I’m out of 2520 but unique looks like 2520 so it will be fine……..

 

[Thor357]

View attachment 1347590

Can I use a 5.56 MIL round in a .223 Bolt action rifle?

Answer (1 of 6): Can you? Yes. Should you? No While the cases and bullets and almost identical the chamber pressure created by the 5.56 cartridge is significantly higher. Using 5.56 in a .223 rifle induces a lot of stress on the weapon that it was not designed for and will sooner or later turn i...

www.quora.com

223 -vs- 5.56: FACTS and MYTHS – Ultimate Reloader

ultimatereloader.com

 

[Thor357]

View attachment 1347585

5.56 vs .223 - What You Know May Be Wrong - LuckyGunner.com Labs

Andrew of Lucky Gunner Labs explores the differences between .223 Remington and 5.56mm NATO ammunition - and the results may surprise you!

www.luckygunner.com

 

[762willdo]

Let’s just end this right now….5.56 ammo is extremely dangerous stuff you people should immediately send it all to me for proper disposal…….. I promise to not shoot it in my .223’s.

 

[Thor357]

Let’s just end this right now….5.56 ammo is extremely dangerous stuff you people should immediately send it all to me for proper disposal…….. I promise to not shoot it in my .223’s.

.225 and 5.58 are the same, right? Boxed and ready to go! Where should I send it?

 

[searcher]

I shot several thousands of 5.56 in 223 chambers before the internet said it was a bad thing.

It depends on the chamber and the load being fired. Most companies chamber the .223's a bit "roomy" to accommodate the person who insists on thinking .556's are all "just fine" out of a .223 - so the errant .556 ammo won't blow the gun up. Mind you - not all manufacturers used to do this - and some still don't. Gun manufactures and ammunition manufacturers have warned about shooting .223 in .556 chambers long before the internet came along.........

 

[Thor357]

It depends on the chamber and the load being fired. Most companies chamber the .223's a bit "roomy" to accommodate the person who insists on thinking .556's are all "just fine" out of a .223 - so the errant .556 ammo won't blow the gun up. Mind you - not all manufacturers used to do this - and some still don't. Gun manufactures and ammunition manufacturers have warned about shooting .223 in .556 chambers long before the internet came along.........

I wonder how many more times I'll have to provide these links!!!???

5.56 vs .223 - What You Know May Be Wrong - LuckyGunner.com Labs

Andrew of Lucky Gunner Labs explores the differences between .223 Remington and 5.56mm NATO ammunition - and the results may surprise you!

www.luckygunner.com

223 -vs- 5.56: FACTS and MYTHS – Ultimate Reloader

ultimatereloader.com

 

[Thor357]

View attachment 1347590

Can I use a 5.56 MIL round in a .223 Bolt action rifle?

Answer (1 of 6): Can you? Yes. Should you? No While the cases and bullets and almost identical the chamber pressure created by the 5.56 cartridge is significantly higher. Using 5.56 in a .223 rifle induces a lot of stress on the weapon that it was not designed for and will sooner or later turn i...

www.quora.com

223 -vs- 5.56: FACTS and MYTHS – Ultimate Reloader

ultimatereloader.com