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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.56 ammo through my .223 rifle?
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gunner_jj
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Posted: 8/3/2012 8:39:03 AM

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Im a bit confused over the difference between 5.56 and .223. I always thought they were the same thing but I understand now, there is a difference. From what I understand 5.56 a hotter round? I have a stock pile of 5.56 for my AR can I shoot it through my .223 rifle? If I shoot .223 out of my AR is it less accurate or harmful? Thanks in advance.
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fuzzy03cls
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Posted: 8/3/2012 9:29:29 AM
[Last Edit: 8/3/2012 9:29:37 AM by fuzzy03cls]
I have a stock pile of 5.56 for my AR can I shoot it through my .223 rifle?

No

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jpk33
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Posted: 8/3/2012 9:48:48 AM
What is marked on your barrel is it stamped .223 .223 Wylde or 5.56?
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gunner_jj
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Posted: 8/3/2012 10:00:28 AM
Originally Posted By jpk33:
What is marked on your barrel is it stamped .223 .223 Wylde or 5.56?


My AR is stamped 5.56, my rifle is stamped .223
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Him
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Posted: 8/3/2012 11:21:07 AM
Originally Posted By fuzzy03cls:
I have a stock pile of 5.56 for my AR can I shoot it through my .223 rifle?

No



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jjmIII_Ruger
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Posted: 8/3/2012 11:54:18 AM
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".

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jpk33
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Posted: 8/3/2012 12:05:45 PM
Like others have said .223 = .223
see Link for a description on chambers
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Arkady
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Posted: 8/3/2012 12:11:23 PM
[Last Edit: 8/3/2012 12:16:27 PM by Arkady]
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".



What?

OP, this link should clarify the differences.

Chamber Differences
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gunner_jj
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Posted: 8/3/2012 12:22:28 PM
Will .223 be less accurate out off a 5.56 barrel? Thanks for the info so far.
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gunner_jj
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Posted: 8/3/2012 12:36:49 PM
Originally Posted By Arkady:
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".



What?

OP, this link should clarify the differences.

Chamber Differences


Thanks, that explains it well
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curiomatic
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Posted: 8/3/2012 12:43:08 PM
[Last Edit: 8/3/2012 12:46:22 PM by curiomatic]
Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Will .223 be less accurate out off a 5.56 barrel? Thanks for the info so far.

Did you not find the answer to this question in the link that Arkady provided?
Ahh, you DID read it.

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urbanredneck
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Posted: 8/3/2012 2:04:02 PM
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".




Disregard this advice.....
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urbanredneck
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Posted: 8/3/2012 2:07:27 PM
556 chamber is good for either...


223 wylde chamber is good for either.....


223 chamber is for 223 only.....


Both rounds shoot the same sized bullet ..... .224...... The difference is the chamber demensions. The 223 wylde chamber was offered to give better accuracy but I believe it is cut longer so pressures would allow 556 to be shot.
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MagnusM4
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Posted: 8/3/2012 2:20:42 PM
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".



Both rounds shoot .224 diameter bullets.
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Fatalwishes
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Posted: 8/3/2012 4:33:12 PM
[Last Edit: 8/3/2012 4:34:56 PM by Fatalwishes]
Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Originally Posted By jpk33:
What is marked on your barrel is it stamped .223 .223 Wylde or 5.56?


My AR is stamped 5.56, my rifle is stamped .223


Huh?

Both your AR and Rifle huh......




Ok..........


Whatever is on your barrel you can shoot. If your barrel is stamped 5.56 then you can shoot both .223 and 5.56
If it is marked .223 you can only shoot .223.

If it is marked 1/9 you can shoot pretty much any bullet up to 69 grns. If it is marked 1/8 or 1/7 you can shoot any grain bullet...55,62,69,75,77,80
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Fatalwishes
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Posted: 8/3/2012 4:34:16 PM
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".



First post fail.....

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klutz347
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Posted: 8/3/2012 8:02:09 PM
Originally Posted By jjmIII_Ruger:
.223 shoots .223 only.

5.56 shoots 5.56 and .223.

5.56 is equal to .224 so the gun can shoot .223 also. The size of the round is the problem, not the "hottness".



What are you talking about?

You were going good on the first 2 statements but when you got to the third, you blew it.
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jfagan601
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Posted: 8/3/2012 8:10:46 PM
Ive got a savage axis in .223 and I shoot 5.56 without a problem.I would never try to fire a 5.56 in a .223 carbine.The bolt action savage can handle way more pressure than the AR.
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Banditman
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Posted: 8/3/2012 9:25:03 PM
What kind of 223 rifle do you have?
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curiomatic
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Posted: 8/4/2012 3:31:33 AM
Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Will .223 be less accurate out off a 5.56 barrel? Thanks for the info so far.

Most articles about accuracy are theoretical. I can assemble .223 SAAMI spec handloads from assorted components that will shoot more accurately from a 5.56 AR than 5.56 milspec ammo will. You can talk about this stuff all day long but you really need to get out to the Range and see what works best in YOUR rifles.

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gunner_jj
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Posted: 8/4/2012 12:55:37 PM
Originally Posted By Fatalwishes:
Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Originally Posted By jpk33:
What is marked on your barrel is it stamped .223 .223 Wylde or 5.56?


My AR is stamped 5.56, my rifle is stamped .223


Huh?

Both your AR and Rifle huh......




Ok..........


Whatever is on your barrel you can shoot. If your barrel is stamped 5.56 then you can shoot both .223 and 5.56
If it is marked .223 you can only shoot .223.

If it is marked 1/9 you can shoot pretty much any bullet up to 69 grns. If it is marked 1/8 or 1/7 you can shoot any grain bullet...55,62,69,75,77,80




My Stag Ar-15 is stamped 5.56 , my Savage bolt action rifle is stamped .223. I wanted to know if I could shoot the same ammo through both my guns accurately and reliably, I was hoping I could.
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Banditman
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Posted: 8/4/2012 5:03:22 PM

Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Originally Posted By Fatalwishes:
Originally Posted By gunner_jj:
Originally Posted By jpk33:
What is marked on your barrel is it stamped .223 .223 Wylde or 5.56?


My AR is stamped 5.56, my rifle is stamped .223


Huh?

Both your AR and Rifle huh......




Ok..........


Whatever is on your barrel you can shoot. If your barrel is stamped 5.56 then you can shoot both .223 and 5.56
If it is marked .223 you can only shoot .223.

If it is marked 1/9 you can shoot pretty much any bullet up to 69 grns. If it is marked 1/8 or 1/7 you can shoot any grain bullet...55,62,69,75,77,80




My Stag Ar-15 is stamped 5.56 , my Savage bolt action rifle is stamped .223. I wanted to know if I could shoot the same ammo through both my guns accurately and reliably, I was hoping I could.

Contact Savage and see what they say. I know plenty of people
shoot 556 in 223 blot actions with no problems, but that does
not mean it is safe.
Let us never forget, government has no resources of its own. Government can only give to us what it has previously taken from us.
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volo
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Posted: 8/4/2012 6:44:25 PM
eh, this is a kinda wrond comment, wow offer advice and its wrong...just wow...
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mustanglover
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Posted: 9/11/2012 12:04:03 AM
People do shoot 5.56 in .223 but sooner or later they will have a failure could be the first round or the 500 rnd. You are not suppose to shoot 5.56 in a gun chambered in .223 rem regardless if it is a bolt gun or semi. If you want to only have one ammo for both guns use .223 rem in both.
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nobamaman19
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Posted: 9/11/2012 9:17:30 AM
DON'T SHOOT 5.56 out of a .223 PERIOD!
you could have a catastrophic failure and ruin your rifle or worse........
be safe just shoot .223 out of both
shooting a .223 out of your 5.56 will NOT effect accuracy
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SYSTEM
Posted: 9/11/2012 10:39:48 AM
[Last Edit: 9/11/2012 10:39:48 AM by Eric802]
I'm just going to refer the OP to the FAQ and shut this down before the hysteria gets out of hand.
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.56 ammo through my .223 rifle?
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