AR 15 Questions

[cdparker]

A couple of things have come up lately about the AR 15 that leave me wondering. First, why do a lot of the currently produced AR's come with the cut-out on the barrel for clamping a M 203 grenade launcher on? Do any of you know of anyone who has had to use an M 203 on their Civilian AR? Or is this to satisfy "tommy Tacticool" in his dreams?
Second, with all the "High Master tapatalkers" carrying on about the difference between a .223 chamber and a 5.56 chamber; Is there any company out there who uses a SAAMI .223 chambering reamer in their production process? Most all are using the Bill Wilde or Hildabrandt (Savage) chamber. Both of them are 5.56 compatible and very similar to each other. I often wonder if it is folks who read a lot and take everything on the internet as Gospel or if folks have actually found an incompatibility issue.
It's kinda like the folks who say that I should not shoot 7.62 x 51 in my .308, or I should never shoot handloads in my M1A's.
Just wondering??
Craig

 

[jonbearman]

The tacticool crowd is what pushes all this military style stuff for ar-15's. Personally I ended up with one in a trade and I don't use,actually never. I like the colt style heavy barrel. The wylde chamber is a good chamber for the ar-15 as you can shoot almost everything. I have never shot factory through my M1A but they are loaded to correct pressures to avoid destroying it.

 

[vtmarmot]

My attitude is that if an accessory is uncomfortable, gets in the way, or doesn't improve function, get rid of it. I bought a new Ruger SR556. I love it, but I replaced the muzzle brake with a knurled ring before I ever shot it. I don't need the extra noise. Also, I clean with foam. I didn't relish having that gunk up the brake. It's not tacticool, but I don't shoot to be cool.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If they said it was chambered in 223 that would invite a lawsuit when tommy blows it up with 5.56 brass handloaded with his lee loader.

 

[hogan]

Craig has forgotten more about building and shooting precision rifles than most on this site will ever know.

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[william5409]

I haven't good idea now

 

[people]

You know how sallies are. They need that extra few ounces removed. You know ounces equals pounds... blah blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Like they are Rangers or are climbing Everest.

Now that the 203 does not clamp on any more those cuts should be going away.

Personally I would like one of those 37mm units. I should not have sold mine. I loved those baton rounds. They were the best.

 

[akajun]

I think a few varmint or aftermarket ar barrels were chambered in 223, but I never saw one. Pretty much everyone uses a nato or else chamber in their commercially produced ar's. Most highpower shooters use a Wilde or cle chamber

As far as the groove on the barrel, I would guess that it's easier to just run all barrels with the groove than to reprogram the lathe and keep separate pArt numbers.

 

[jj789]

to call the bbl MIL SPEFC it must have the cutout...plain and simple.
launchers are available for smoke etc..not the good stuff.

because it is generally safe to shoot 223 in a 556 chamber most default to 556...some write both on their guns.
some makers do 223 in varmint style guns..you just have to ask.

 

[BlueMoon]

An exact military copy is what most of us would buy. Having the barrel cutout is part of it, so is auto-fire; a person takes what is legal/affordable.

 

[cdparker]

O.K., Let's get back to my original question. Is there a current manufacturer chambering barrels in SAMMI .223? As I said, most everyone is using a chamber that is 5.56 compatible. And assuming that folks who are on this forum are interested in accurate shooting firearms, other than the "Tacticool" look of an M4, do folks actually put the barrel cutout to use? As "people" says, the current 203 does not clamp on the barrel there. I always thought it was a 40mm grenade like the ones I shot out of the M-79 and Mk 19. So--What are your AR's set-up for? I have a service rifle, a "Spacegun with two tops, .223 with a Wilde chamber and a top in 6WOA, varmint guns also with a Wilde chamber with heavy barrels, a .458 SOCOM, a .300BO pistol, and an AR10 Spacegun in 6XC. They are all fun. You should see what the SOCOM does to a pig. I hit one in the face and turned his eyes blew. One blew this way and one blew that way. It is a hoot to whack stuff with that gun.
If you want to shoot fully automatics, you can do it like I did; raise your right hand and put on the uniform. Over the years, my Uncle gave me lots of guns and ammo to shoot fully automatic.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

M203 Still clamps onto that cutout. The M320 from H&K however does not. And I imagine it's presence in the civilian market has to do with cheapness of production. Why pay to retool a hammer forging machine for barrels when you can just keep cranking out "milspec" barrels with the current and more abundant tooling. If Uncle Sam is buying barrels with the cutout in them then it's still going to be cheaper to get the rough material and tooling since big uncle orders them in bulk. Yes I know gov itself doesn't make the guns or barrels but it's contracted and therefore overbought and underused.

Yes people use 223 sami chambers in barrels a lot of them for varmint barrels which you can readily find for sale. However chances are good if someone is buying a 16" barrel of some sort with a lightweight contour to medium contour you can bet that at some point the gun will get shot with crappy high pressure 556 ammo. So it's safer for barrel makers to just use a chamber that can safely handle 556 from the get go and not have to deal with lawsuits from goobers feeding wrong ammo to their guns.

 

[hogan]

I am sure there are some .223rem chambers being offered. Olympic seems to be the manufacturer with more options and chambering variations than any other rifle maker. Lilja offers some ready to install barrels...

As to chamber, is there anything to gain from a .223rem chamber over a Wylde? I have seen relatively tight oal dimensions from the Armalite and White Oak Precision 20" match barrels I own. Checking the fired cases with an RCBS Precision Mic in .223rem, the fired ctg cases "grow" about .004" when fired, but I FL size that much under for reliable feeding. A recent Colt 5.56mm chamber I fired some of the same ammunition in resulted in cases that "grew" about .010" when measured by the Precision Mic. This was a 16" pencil barrel 1:7 with no step or relief to the contour. All cases fired were LC and they were sized to allow .004" clearance from tightest chamber oal so ammo would function in several rifles.

Why the relief cuts? Same reason most chuckleheads want the 14.5 barrel with flash hider pinned or welded rather than a 16" fully rifled barrel; "Cause it looks authentic with what military issues for M4". The forgery aspect.

 

[mac86951]

I have a 223 standard chamber from dpms. The 1:9 works great with the berger 70gr vlds.

-Mac

 

[M14AMU]

"Two rounds to the torso...but alive!"

Must have been hit with an AR-15!!!!

 

[Taildrag15X]

"Two rounds to the torso...but alive!"

Must have been hit with an AR-15!!!!

No it was 45 GAP!!

 

[joshb]

I'll have to go look at mine, as I didn't pay that much scrutiny when I bought mine. Should I feel bad because I got it out of jealousy. 40 odd years ago, my cousin bought one but I was saving up for a pick up truck. Life and starting a business and all this time I put it aside. Retired now, saw one hangin in a gun shop and bought it, just to satisfy that old itch. Feels like picking up a BB gun till ya pull the trigger. I think they're just plain fun to shoot. Mine is a Rock River, with a heavier barrel with no cut. Shoots about 1-1 1/2 inches at 100. Good enough for me, out of a production semi and a 4X scope. I really don't think any American gun owner should cast stones at another, for thier choices. Times require us to stick together. Just my humble opinion, Josh.

 

[ARshuter]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/284890/dpms-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-920-muzzle-diameter-1-in-9-twist-24-stainless-steel-with-aluminum-gas-block?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2081424751/krieger-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-920-muzzle-diameter-twist-26-stainless-steel?cm_vc=ProductFinding

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/721681/dpms-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-920-muzzle-diameter-1-in-9-twist-24-fluted-stainless-steel-with-gas-block?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/616771/voodoo-innovations-barrel-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-m4-contour-carbine-gas-port-1-in-7-twist-16-chrome-moly-black-melonite-finish?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2081280140/krieger-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-dcm-contour?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2081280140/krieger-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-dcm-contour?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/271441/olympic-arms-ultramatch-barrel-ar-15-223-remington-heavy-contour-1-in-10-twist-20-stainless-steel-black-with-front-sight?cm_vc=ProductFinding
Here's a few I found with many more listed.

 

[cdparker]

I have a 223 standard chamber from dpms. The 1:9 works great with the berger 70gr vlds.

-Mac

Their web site says that they use a Wilde Chamber. With the world being as litigious as it is, I still do not think that anyone in his right mind would use a chamber that is not compatible with the 5.56 cartridge.

 

[ridgeway]

I have a 223 standard chamber from dpms. The 1:9 works great with the berger 70gr vlds.

-Mac

Their web site says that they use a Wilde Chamber. With the world being as litigious as it is, I still do not think that anyone in his right mind would use a chamber that is not compatible with the 5.56 cartridge.

People concerned about accuracy would. I did a 1:7 in Wylde simply because I have a Wylde reamer. I double I'll ever run 5.56 out of it. If doing something for pure accuracy, 223 definitely. Each to his own...