I own a 5.56 Colt preban 16" sporter.

I'm interested in purchasing another one (as soon as I sell my sniper rifle!) and was wondering the census on .223 vs. 5.56 ownership.

So, what do you have? .223 or 5.56?

5.56

I have 2 of each.

5.56

YES - (multibles of both)

I never headspaced it, but I bought it new, and was told it was a 5.56.  I've put tons of 5.56 through it, with no weapon related malfunctions.
I've put tons of .223 through it too though.

5.56 mil-spec chambers only.

I have two preban AR-15's - a Colt and an Oly Arms. Also one post-ban Bushmaster, a Romanian SAR-2, and two FAL's - plus my Sig Sauer handguns. Frankly, its all a very bad addiction. I use military life to support my habit - meaning that guaranteed paycheck twice a month goes to one of two things - guns or booze. At 23, I might still have a shot at college but have spent all my funds on German beer,Russian women, Cuban cigars, ARMS accessories, Ammo. by the case, and Bushmaster parts.......[sigh]

Quoted: I never headspaced it, but I bought it new, and was told it was a 5.56.  I've put tons of 5.56 through it, with no weapon related malfunctions. I've put tons of .223 through it too though.

It should be stamped on your barrel and I'm guessing it's 5.56 since you've had no problems. Shooting 5.56 through a .223 chamber you'd be more likely to have problems.


-John

I have a 5.56 Bushmaster carbine and a .223 Armalite Nat. Match. Love them both.

5.56

Bushmaster 20" A2 and RRA 16" M4 both chambered for 5.56

Colt Match Target HBAR 5.56

Quoted: Quoted: I never headspaced it, but I bought it new, and was told it was a 5.56.  I've put tons of 5.56 through it, with no weapon related malfunctions. I've put tons of .223 through it too though. It should be stamped on your barrel and I'm guessing it's 5.56 since you've had no problems. Shooting 5.56 through a .223 chamber you'd be more likely to have problems. -John

The barrel isn't marked.  It is an upper I bought from Sherluk.  They told me it was 5.56 nato
I've fired a ton of ammo through it, so I guess it's ok

don't worry about what I have.

5.56

From Armalite:

Tech Note


DEC, 4 2002

TECHNICAL NOTE 45:  5.56 NATO vs SAAMI .223 REMINGTON CHAMBERS  

BACKGROUND: We are often asked whether our rifles feature NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) or SAAMI (Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) standard chambers, and whether it makes any difference.  

FACTS:

.223 Remington (SAAMI standard) and 5.56mm (NATO standard) rifle chambers are almost identical.  The difference is largely limited to the “freebore,” the cylindrical space in front of the case mouth, and the “lead” or “leade,” the the tapered region that eases the bullet into full engagement with the rifling.  NATO and SAAMI cartridges can normally be used interchangeably with no problem.

The SAAMI chamber features less freebore and a tighter leade, which normally provide better bullet fit and match-grade accuracy than the NATO chamber.  It is wonderfully suited to match bullets.  

Millions of rounds of NATO ammunition have been fired safely in Eagle Arms' and ArmaLite’s SAAMI chambers over the past 15 years.  Occasionally a non-standard round (of generally imported) ammunition will fit too tightly in the leade, and resistance to early bullet movement can cause elevated chamber pressures.  These pressures are revealed by overly flattened or powder stains that reveal gasses leaking around the primer.  

The first few rounds of ALL ammunition, from whatever source or lot, should be checked for pressure and other signs of defect before firing large quantities.  If you have a problem, you can generally bet that the ammunition meets neither SAAMI nor NATO specifications.

ArmaLite has adopted a practice of using a special, modified SAAMI chambers in its stainless steel match barrels.  This chamber is better for match use than the NATO chamber, but fires the NATO ammunition perfectly.  We use the NATO chamber in all moly (phosphated) and chrome-lined barrels.

ArmaLite’s larger AR-10 rifles are all chambered with 7.62mm NATO chambers.  .308 Winchester (SAAMI standard) ammunition functions perfectly in the 7.62mm chambers.

5.56 20" H-BAR bushie here.  "Loving every trigger pull."  

How should I classify a stylus-type Handspring Visor?  And who in their right mind would have a yellow Dr. Pepper cap???  I mean, you'd have to be nuts!

5.56 x 45 x 2

4 Bushmaster NATO chambers
1 Colt NATO chamber
1 RRA "Wylde" hybrid chamber.
1 Oly SAAMI Spec "match" SUM chamber

All shoot any surplus ammo just fine.

I've got 5 .223 uppers sitting here and none of them are stamped. Not even the DCM So, I guess it doesn't matter to me.
I never have ammo issues, even with Wolf (no I don't shoot Wolf in my match rifle, it only gets handloads)

5.56 All the Way !  

My Browning 1885 Low Wall is marked "CALIBER .223 REM/5.56 MM ONLY."

A 5.56 chamber reamer makes all things good.

Bush DCM 223 works for me

Where is the .223 Wylde in the survey?

mjp

2 5.56mm AR15s.

ArmaLiter

Got some in 5.56, got some in .223

10/22 and a .38  [/imbroglio]

5.56 Bushy 20" HBAR