223 : 5.56 Nato

[Drm50]

Stop me if I’m wrong
You can run 223 Rem in AR 5.56
But not visa versa.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That is Correct.

 

[sw dan]

howdy,
yes you can run 223 in your 5.56 gun. they recommend, not to run 5.56 in a 223 gun. be safe....dan

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Many recent 5.56mm barrels are now using the Wilde (Sp?) chamber which has a lead/throat that is reportedly satisfactory for both.

 

[DWalt]

It’s Wylde. Wikipedia will tell you all about it.

 

[TX-Dennis]

That's the general rule of thumb. Honestly, though, if you stick to 62 grain or lighter loads you'll be okay shooting 5.56mm in a .223 barrel. The potential issues crop up with longer bullets.

 

[505Gibbs]

Let's see if I can get this link to load. It basically says they CAN be interchanged - FWIW.



223 -vs- 5.56: FACTS and MYTHS – Ultimate Reloader

 

[S&W revolverman]

It’s Wylde. Wikipedia will tell you all about it.

Yes, Bill Wylde. I know him personally. He developed his .223 Wylde chambering for accuracy when he was shooting high power rifle competition years ago, and it worked very well.

 

[Drm50]

I’ve shot hundreds of GI 55gr 5.56 in Ruger #3. As well as in Ruger, Rem and Savage 340s. This 5.56 / 223 issue didn’t seem to crop up until they went to the heavier load.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Many recent 5.56mm barrels are now using the Wilde (Sp?) chamber which has a lead/throat that is reportedly satisfactory for both.

The designation is .223 Wylde which is a modified .223 chamber. Being that most AR barrels are 5.56 NATO they can shoot .223 without a problem. A .223 barrel should not be used with 5.56 match ammo (heavier bullets not designed for .223 chambers). If anyone cares, an explanation can be found in a recent Hornady loading manual.

I'm not exactly sure what the Wylde barrel accomplishes except maybe better accuracy when shooting service rifle matches, IDK.

 

[BAM-BAM]

CZ says their rifles (527s) are good with either.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I’ve shot hundreds of GI 55gr 5.56 in Ruger #3. As well as in Ruger, Rem and Savage 340s. This 5.56 / 223 issue didn’t seem to crop up until they went to the heavier load.

I think you're fine with 55-62 grain military ammo. A 75 grn. bullet in a .223 chamber is no bueno.

 

[67tempest]

I have an 18 inch heavy barrel AR with a Wylde chamber. Accuracy with 62 grain milsurp 5.56 is superb, under 1 inch groups at 100 yards.

 

[Jerry M]

That's the general rule of thumb. Honestly, though, if you stick to 62 grain or lighter loads you'll be okay shooting 5.56mm in a .223 barrel. The potential issues crop up with longer bullets.

In the 1980's Shooting PMC 55 grain ball in a Remington 700 blew chunks of the primer into the firing pin hole, tying up the rifle, requiring gunsmith's involvement to get the rifle working.

So I'm not sure your statement is absolute.

Good Luck

 

[Paul in Nevada]

In the 1980's Shooting PMC 55 grain ball in a Remington 700 blew chunks of the primer into the firing pin hole, tying up the rifle, requiring gunsmith's involvement to get the rifle working.

So I'm not sure your statement is absolute.

Good Luck

Could a 3k psi pressure difference cause that issue? Maybe. Or maybe it was a quirk of that specific rifle. The only other difference is the depth of the throat.