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  #1  
Old 02-08-2012, 07:32 PM
ottawadriver ottawadriver is offline
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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Default 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15
I currently have the 15-22 and am very happy with it. I am now looking into the M&P 15 Sport for a little more boom at the range. It will only be for range use. I notice on the S&W website that most of the other models are listed to fire both the 5.56 and the .223 rounds, however the Sport is only 5.56. Can anyone explain why the Sport is unable to fire the .223 and if I am using it just at the range will it make a difference to me if I am limited to the 5.56? Is one more economical, accurate, or more reliable? Would it be worth it to spend more on one of the upper models to be able to fire both? Thanks all.
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Old 02-08-2012, 07:37 PM
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If you buy a rifle chambered in 5.56, you can shoot either 5.56 or 223. If you have a barrel chambered for 223, you only shoot 223.
Hope this helps.

Lee
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  #3  
Old 02-08-2012, 07:45 PM
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Posted this in the ammo section yesterday:

5.56 ammo is loaded hotter and has a bit thicker brass case to accomidate use in various NATO weapons, from rifles to SAWs.
Besides the leade (longer chamber neck area) there is also a very slight difference in shoulder angle.
Ad it all up and it causes a possible over pressure problem when 5.56 is used in a .223 chambered firearm.
A notable exception are rifles chambered in .223 Wylde which was designed to be able to shoot both cartriges safely.
It's fine to shoot .223 out of a 5.56 chambered firearm, just not the other way around.
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Old 02-08-2012, 08:11 PM
ottawadriver ottawadriver is offline
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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Thanks for the clarification. I was pretty sure anything in 5.56 could fire .223 but S&W lists both calibers on most of the M&P rifles except the Sport. Maybe they did this as a ploy to get people to step up to the full models. Just need to sell some of my R/C planes to make the wife happy and provide play money for the M&P Sport and my M&P 9.
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Old 02-09-2012, 07:45 PM
HalfSwiss HalfSwiss is offline
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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Hmmmm, the Sport I looked at had both 5.56 and 223 stamped into the barrel. In any event, like was said, you can shoot 223 in a gun chambered for 5.56, but vicer versa is not a prudent thing to do.
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Old 02-10-2012, 03:04 PM
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I'll have to look but I'm pretty sure my barrel is also only marked with 5.56.

Just curious, to the OP what state are you in?
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Old 02-12-2012, 03:38 PM
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ottawadriver View Post
Thanks for the clarification. I was pretty sure anything in 5.56 could fire .223 but S&W lists both calibers on most of the M&P rifles except the Sport. Maybe they did this as a ploy to get people to step up to the full models. Just need to sell some of my R/C planes to make the wife happy and provide play money for the M&P Sport and my M&P 9.
I just got my Sport and the barrel is only stamped with 5.56x45 1/8 5R..
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Old 02-12-2012, 05:31 PM
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My Sport barrel is only stamped with 5.56 NATO 1/8 5R and I got it the last week of January.
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Old 02-12-2012, 08:51 PM
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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My Sport barrel is only stamped with 5.56 NATO 1/8 5R and I got it the last week of January.
I got my Sport a week ago and it's stamped the same.
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Old 02-13-2012, 03:41 AM
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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Yes, confirmed with mine, stamped only 5.56
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Old 02-13-2012, 06:35 AM
rebs081 rebs081 is offline
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mine is marked 5.56 NATO 1/8 5R
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Old 02-13-2012, 07:39 AM
Mustang5L5 Mustang5L5 is offline
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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My sport is relatively new and just has 5.56 NATO on it

But you can shoot both. I shot both 5.56 and .223 in my rifle this weekend. It all went bang perfectly fine


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Old 02-13-2012, 09:19 PM
HalfSwiss HalfSwiss is offline
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5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15 5.56 vs .223 in the M&P15  
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You are all correct, 5.56 only. At my age memory is the second thing to go.
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Old 02-14-2012, 11:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by butcher1 View Post
If you buy a rifle chambered in 5.56, you can shoot either 5.56 or 223. If you have a barrel chambered for 223, you only shoot 223.
Hope this helps.

Lee
Yep, Like you said!
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