.223 through.556
- Thread starter Will219
- Start date
For nearly all modern ammo and colloquialism, yes. Technically. 223 is higher speced though.
stuckhere
9mm
Please explain.
northny
.40 S&W
It’s finding the .223 wylde ammo that’s the problem if you have the .223 wylde barrel. I have been looking for that ammo for two years.
Jk/ sarcasm
Jk/ sarcasm
stuckhere
9mm
Never thought of that. I'm gonna try that on someone. "Hey, new guy, find me a box of .223 Wylde for this rifle!"
Kinda like making the new auto tech find the canuder valve or the sphincterknuckle on a car.
northny
.40 S&W
Seriously, here is what I do
.223 Remington chambered barrel only .223 Remington
5.56 NATO chambered barrel either .223 or 5.56
.223 Wylde chambered barrel either .223 Remington or 5.56. Tends to be more accurate with either. Can’t say whether it is better chamber or just that it is chambered by better barrel makers.
(Just don’t ask me how to headspace them on a new build. What I do is simple, explaining why would take a book.)
.223 Remington chambered barrel only .223 Remington
5.56 NATO chambered barrel either .223 or 5.56
.223 Wylde chambered barrel either .223 Remington or 5.56. Tends to be more accurate with either. Can’t say whether it is better chamber or just that it is chambered by better barrel makers.
(Just don’t ask me how to headspace them on a new build. What I do is simple, explaining why would take a book.)
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
If one wants to get a very precise answer then you need to know what version of your 5.56 chamber and what version of your 223 ammo.
Shrot answer... Of course is ok to put a 223 on a 5.56 barrel and vice-versa with few and rare exceptions (read below).
They confusion with the industry is that consumers don't really know what "223" or "5.56" really bought when it comes to one's barrels and ammunition and unless you measure them and look for the potential minute differences other than the brass and load specifications that are more clear.
Let me explain:
A) modern "223" barrels may be reamed with more than a dozen reamer designs that all fall under the "223" specification that is perfectly
compatible with anything that looks like a 223 or 5.56. 99% of the people do not take the time to measure the chamber to find out what they really got regardless of what the barrel says outside.
Here 8 different type of reamers all good to shoot whatever ammunition.
B) Most modern ammunition regardless of the label is ok to shoot in modern "223" or "5.56" barrels regardless of the type of reamer
that was used. Very rarely thins get dicey if, lets say, one has an old obscure surplus or some cheapo Turkish or Indian ammo from who knows where, where the ammo is slightly out of spec, for example max case coal, or higher than normal charges, or some other factor whether it was a QC issue or because it was done with a specific firearm in mind 40 years ago. Then combine this with an old .223 barrel from an old reamer
that is short base to case mouth and pilot diameter, or simply because the reamer was old and worn out and it was chambered tight and you might end up with spikes in pressure but extremely rarely to become dangerous before some warnings show up like blown primers or swelling heads.
So the best thing is, if one is going to stay outside the modern commercial type of parameters or reloading hot or specialty loads, is to understand very well if one is playing with old rifles and chambers or unconvential ammo or loads. Also make sure the firearm can take NATO type of pressures up to 62-63K psi w/o affecting function and durability and most modern firearms do. There is also commercial ammo that runs on those pressures to take advantage of the modern brass and get more performance. lapua is a good example, and WWC and LC brass for higher capacity that is used to get some pretty hot loads that are not military spec bullets.
Modern manufactures do not take changes and make the rifles so they can function w/o issues with whatever is available commercially so they can protect themselves against potential liabilities and why many of the reamers and 100% cross compatible regardless of what the barrel
specification says. When dealing with old rifles and unconventional ammo simply ask or measure the chamber or have someone run
a reamer to recondition throat and lands that takes a few minutes. But many old rifles do not have the rate of twist for being practical with
many of the modern longer bullets since they cannot stabilize them so that is why they end up in the trash and replace with a modern chamber and tighter twist that for this caliber is normally a simple and inexpensive swap to start with.
And a wylde chamber is not the most accurate. It can be but a 5.56 from compass lake above could be more accurate for any ammo including a match load. So any chamber has the potential to be more or less accurate depending on how is done and what ammo.
So again, 223 , 5.56, wylde, whatever, ...it might mean something or nothing at all.
Shrot answer... Of course is ok to put a 223 on a 5.56 barrel and vice-versa with few and rare exceptions (read below).
They confusion with the industry is that consumers don't really know what "223" or "5.56" really bought when it comes to one's barrels and ammunition and unless you measure them and look for the potential minute differences other than the brass and load specifications that are more clear.
Let me explain:
A) modern "223" barrels may be reamed with more than a dozen reamer designs that all fall under the "223" specification that is perfectly
compatible with anything that looks like a 223 or 5.56. 99% of the people do not take the time to measure the chamber to find out what they really got regardless of what the barrel says outside.
Here 8 different type of reamers all good to shoot whatever ammunition.
B) Most modern ammunition regardless of the label is ok to shoot in modern "223" or "5.56" barrels regardless of the type of reamer
that was used. Very rarely thins get dicey if, lets say, one has an old obscure surplus or some cheapo Turkish or Indian ammo from who knows where, where the ammo is slightly out of spec, for example max case coal, or higher than normal charges, or some other factor whether it was a QC issue or because it was done with a specific firearm in mind 40 years ago. Then combine this with an old .223 barrel from an old reamer
that is short base to case mouth and pilot diameter, or simply because the reamer was old and worn out and it was chambered tight and you might end up with spikes in pressure but extremely rarely to become dangerous before some warnings show up like blown primers or swelling heads.
So the best thing is, if one is going to stay outside the modern commercial type of parameters or reloading hot or specialty loads, is to understand very well if one is playing with old rifles and chambers or unconvential ammo or loads. Also make sure the firearm can take NATO type of pressures up to 62-63K psi w/o affecting function and durability and most modern firearms do. There is also commercial ammo that runs on those pressures to take advantage of the modern brass and get more performance. lapua is a good example, and WWC and LC brass for higher capacity that is used to get some pretty hot loads that are not military spec bullets.
Modern manufactures do not take changes and make the rifles so they can function w/o issues with whatever is available commercially so they can protect themselves against potential liabilities and why many of the reamers and 100% cross compatible regardless of what the barrel
specification says. When dealing with old rifles and unconventional ammo simply ask or measure the chamber or have someone run
a reamer to recondition throat and lands that takes a few minutes. But many old rifles do not have the rate of twist for being practical with
many of the modern longer bullets since they cannot stabilize them so that is why they end up in the trash and replace with a modern chamber and tighter twist that for this caliber is normally a simple and inexpensive swap to start with.
And a wylde chamber is not the most accurate. It can be but a 5.56 from compass lake above could be more accurate for any ammo including a match load. So any chamber has the potential to be more or less accurate depending on how is done and what ammo.
So again, 223 , 5.56, wylde, whatever, ...it might mean something or nothing at all.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Thanks.
I recently acquired some .223 ammo and have never shot it through my stamped 5.56 barrel.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
No prob. What ammo is that and what barrel? Again unless you are dealing with old, obsolete or specialty stuff like obscure surplus ammo or barrels that should not be a concern. most reamers and manufactures are cross compatible these days. Makers do not take chances.
Folks giving advice otherwise they need to tell why because otherwise they might be part of the confusion out there.
It was/is just some bulk ammo I picked up from a buddies buddies dad.