5.56x45 NATO vs .223 Rem

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If I sound subdued in this video it is because I had a long weekend and was pretty tired when I made this video.

According to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufactures' Institute (SAAMI) It is dangerous to shoot a 5.56x45 NATO in a gun chambered in the sporting round of .223 Rem.

This is not something new they stated this warning more than 25 years ago, and it still stands. I know there are those out there that will claim that they have fired 5.56 in their 223 all the time with no problem, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take.

Hope this video was interesting to you...please feel free to comment or video response with further information.

Thanks for Watching!


Copyright 2011 DocTacDad

Category:

Education

Tags:

• 5.56x45
• NATO
• 223
• remington
• nosler
• ballistics
• ammo
• ammunition
• comparison
• military
• ball
• FMJ
• TMJ
• BT

[acousticoath77]

I have an Arsenal SLR 106FR, which is chambered in 5.56x45. Can I shoot .223 in it?

[DocTacDad]

@acousticoath77 Yep, if it is a 5.56 chambering you can shoot .223 in it. Always check with the manual though...

[Vffr1]

I just looked at my Bushmaster AR 15 and it says .223-5.56 on the side. So does that mean it's a 5.56 that can shoot ,223 rounds? Do all 5.56 say .223-5.56 on them or is it typically one or the other?

I've owned this gun for about 10 years, I don't shoot it much, but I've only purchased 223 rounds for it, I didn't even know there was a difference between the two rounds until just recently.

Thanks for you help,

[DocTacDad]

@Vffr1 That means it is good to go with both rounds...thanks for watching!

[Lunchbox1911]

you need to check your history on both rounds.It will explain alot to you without me saying much at all. But I will tell you this the pressure's you got was tested on the ammo you used of coarse there going to be differnt's in sizeing because they were made by differnt companys the two is the same. If you got federal win., rem.,etc to make the shell 556. and 223 they would be the same ezact shell. if you dont belive me look up the history on both of them maybe then you will under stand.

[eric802]

Could only get through about the first half, but there are some misconceptions in there - military (5.56) brass is not thicker than commercial. Lake City brass actually has higher case capacity than some commercial. Also, firing 5.56 in a .223 chamber, while maybe not ideal, is likely to lead to difficult extraction and popped primers at worst; I've never seen a documented case of any catastrophic failure attributed to that.

[Vffr1]

@therebpurpledragons Mine was put together by the manufacturer, so the "5.56 & .223"

Thanks,

Triple

[therebpurpledragons]

@Vffr1 You always want to go with what is stamped on the barrel. The lower receiver may be able to take both but the barrel is what MUST BE STAMPED 5.56 OR 5.56-.223. I don't care what is marked on the lower receiver. If the upper does NOT say 5.56 and ONLY has .223 stamped on it ONLY shoot .223. Some of these guns are from kits. Anyone could be putting them together. They may use one brand of lower and a cheap barrel up top.Be safe and keep on shooting.

[MrJapper88]

So I am going with 223 hallow points in my rifle. All I care about is digging huge holes in bad guys. 

[Vffr1]

@wolfpackunr2 What does your M4 say on the side? If it says 5.56 it can safely shoot both 5.56 & .223. If it only says .223, I'd contact the manufacturer to make sure it's made to also shoot the 5.56. All 5.56s' can shoot .223, but not all .223's can shoot 5.56. The 5.56 is a more powerful version of the 223. Putting a less powerful round in a weapon won't hurt it, however putting a more powerful round in a weapon not made to chamber the more powerful round, is not recommended.

[CornMakesWhiskey]

@wolfpackunr2 Most gun shops have some sort of nato spec ammo. Federal XM195 & XM855 are made at lake city. PMC makes some 5.56 "tactical" ammo... there are lots of brands. If you are not sure if something is NATO spec, then just look at the head stamp on the case. If it is true nato ammo then there will be a circle with a "+" inside; AKA the "nato cross".

[CornMakesWhiskey]

@Vffr1 Nice find! I think that only a few of the older mini-14 models cannot take 5.56; ruger did some funky stuff back then, mixing up parts, changing specs mid production etc... That is why a lot of people knock the mini-14, thankfully ruger got it's act together & the new mini-14s are extremely high quality and consistent (not to knock the older ones, I just noticed that they can be hit or miss).

[Vffr1]

@CornMakesWhiskey Okay, I did my homework this time. Ever since then Mini 14's inception, from the first 180 Series built from 1974 - 1977, regular Mini 14s' were produced to shoot both 5.56 and .223. I have an older model Series 182 which was only produced for 1 year, 1981. If my math is correct, it is one of the rarest regular production Mini's produced. Thanks for the great information! Triple

[wolfpackunr2]

So the M4 Carbine should be able to take both rounds? Where can one buy the NATO version?