AR15 223 vs 5.56
I just bought a 223 ar15 and a buddy told me this rifle won't shoot military surplus 5.56. I'd have trouble with jamming, excessive chamber pressures....
Is this true? I always thought .223 Remington was the same as 5.56?
Is this true? I always thought .223 Remington was the same as 5.56?
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In 1979, SAAMI cautioned shooters that 5.56mm military chambers and throats differ from .223 sporting rifle chambers and therefore military ball ammunition may produce high chamber pressures in sporting rifles. Ruger disagreed and said its .223 chambers would shoot military 5.56mm ammunition with no problems. (Cartridges of the World, 4th Edition, Page 20.)
I think the issue is the extra thickness of the 5.56mm necks, which, in a tight chamber, might have trouble expanding enough to let the bullet go without creating excessive pressure. I have shot a lot of surplus ammunition in my .223 rifles and never experienced a problem, but I suppose it is possible to have a stacking of tolerances that could create a problem.
Most people wiil say you are right and your friend is wrong. You decide. I shoot all the surplus 5.56mm I want, but you should make your own decision, understanding there is a remote possibility of a problem.0 -
Call the company who made your AR and I bet you will find that it is designed to safely shoot both.
The same argument applies to .308 and 7.62.
I have asked Browning,Savage,Springfield,and Bushmaster and all of them say their guns are designed to shoot both.
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You can shoot both. I have had several ar-15 from different companys never have I had a problem with them. I have even shoot military tracers through most of them with out a problem. But you can call who ever built yours and ask to make sure.
Ray
More Powder, More Lead, More Dead0 -
I have put several thousand 5.56 rounds through my Colt SP1. Probably only a couple hundred .223 factory rounds. No problems encountered.
"Don't send flowers when I die. Send money now so I can buy more guns and ammo."0 -
quote:Originally posted by JudgeColt
.... Ruger disagreed and said its .223 chambers would shoot military 5.56mm ammunition with no problems.
For the record, it's not that Ruger disagreed with SAAMI's recommendations. Truth is that until recent years, Ruger has used 5.56 chamber specs in their rifles marked as being .223 Cal. Mini 14's are still chambered to 5.56 specs.
The only major difference between these two chambers (when comparing SAAMI chamber prints) is that the 5.56 has a longer throat to allow for more fouling, dirt, etc. in combat conditions so the military rifles chambered in 5.56 will still function when routine cleaning might not get done on a regular schedule.
Mark0 -
I was quoting the source, not Ruger. I did not say Ruger disagreed with the SAAMI recommendations. I said Ruger disagreed with the necessity for the warning for its guns. The specifications quoted for the Ruger chambers are the probable explanation of why Ruger would say what was said. If Ruger chambers are indeed to military 5.56 specifications, then there is no danger with military ammunition in Ruger rifles. The loose chambers is probably another explanation for the poor accuracy of the Mini-14. 0 -
If the loose chambers cause poor accuracy, then how is the ar15 so accurate? It too has the same "loose chamber" correct? 0 -
They will work just Dandy as long as you are using the 55grain.
The 62 grain surplus ammo only works good in the older SP1 which has the 1/12 twist. THe newer 1/9 and even the not so new 1/7 twist do not group worth a flip.witha 62 grain projectile. I tried em all in my bushmaster HBAR..it hates the 62 grain. It loves 55 grain, anything. I must admit that the wolf ammo sucks for accuracy..The bushmaster shoots exceptionally well with the 45 grain, winchester hollowpoints..I was suprised at this...I had no idea a 45 grain would work so good in a 223.0 -
Chris:
The cartridge/chamber specs are marginally different. I think the Judge makes reference to the practice of shooting commercial spec .223 cal. in Ruger's mil-spec 5.56mm chambers. Presumably, a rifle will shoot more accurately if the cartridge matches the chamber better. The AR-15 is properly chambered for the 5.56mm. The differences between the two are small, and so the difference in accuracy attributable to correct cartridge/chamber combination may be difficult to determine. In the case of the Ruger .223 rifles, the difference might not be discernible, given the inherent accuracy (inaccuracy?) of the action.
Most military style semi-autos are chambered in 5.56mm. Modern bolt rifles are more likely SAAMI .223 cal. spec chambers.
redcedars0 -
quote:Originally posted by JudgeColt
I was quoting the source, not Ruger....
Hey Judge,
Didn't mean to imply anything. Hope you weren't offended by my 'tone'.
I really just wanted to clarify the reasoning as to why Ruger (may have) felt the SAAMI advisory regarding Mil-Surp ammo wouldn't be a reason for alarm in their .223 rifles.
The info you posted was good, and is something all .223 owners should know about. Hope my addendum also sheds some light on the subject.[;)]
Mark0
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