5.56mm in .223REM rifles: What's the real story?

Smis Five Creedmoor

Smis Five Creedmoor

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What is the real story for .223REM rifles and their (in)ability to accept 5.56mm? I only have 5.56mm rifles, but I still want to know.

Because every Google search seems to point to the answer of "just Google it."

I refuse to use AI which is known to give very lousy advice based on oftentimes conflicting, if not outright nonsensical advice.
 
Smis Five Creedmoor said:
What is the real story for .223REM rifles and their (in)ability to accept 5.56mm? I only have 5.56mm rifles, but I still want to know.

Because every Google search seems to point to the answer of "just Google it."

I refuse to use AI which is known to give very lousy advice based on oftentimes conflicting, if not outright nonsensical advice.
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You will get some that say certain 223 rifles will handle the additional pressure of 556 no problem but as a safe answer:

If barrel is marked for 223 than only use 223. If barrel is marked 223 wylde, you're good for 223 and 556. If barrel is marked 556 you're good for 223 and 556.
 
The concern stems from different chamber specifications, particularly in the throat/leade area of the chamber. SAAMI is the trade association that specifies standards for US production. They have recommended against using 5.56x45 ammunition in .223 chambers because there could be a bullet jamming issue which could spike pressure.
In all the years I have frequented CGN, I recall only one reported situation of a .223 rifles popping primers when used with 5.56 ammunition. And it was a rechambered .222, so heaven only knows what the chamber situation was. Other than this, I am unaware of any reported dangerous incidents.
 
The link works for me.
You will hear of the "Wylde" chamber. The late BIll Wylde was an American gunsmith/competitive shooter from Illinois. The chamber design carrying his name allows both 5.56 and .223 ammunition to be fired, yet has the tighter dimensions preferred for enhanced accuracy. The NATO spec. 5.56 chamber is one designed to optimize performance of specific military cartridges in military firearms. The Wylde chamber tries to maximize both accuracy and ammunition compatibility.
I suspect that a .223 chamber which has experienced any throat wear will not experience any issues when used with 5.56 - if such issues actually exist.
 
I remember guys arguing about this back in the late 70's and early 80's, when I owned a Colt HBAR. Back then, everybody "knew" that you could shoot either round in barrels marked with either designation. Only a few professional worriers were banging the drum about how dangerous this could be; the rest of us just shot whichever ammo we wanted in those guns.

Here we are, almost 50 years later, and those worriers...or maybe their grown-up kids...are still telling us how dangerous it is. But...where are all the disasters? Has any factory-made rifle shooting factory loads or milsurp actually blown up? Based upon the preponderance of people doing this, we should have graveyards full of horror stories; where are they?

I'd bet that today, many or most of the rifles that are marked .223 are done that way only as a workaround for legislation that limits the sale or use of "military" ammo in certain areas or countries. Frankly, I don't believe for a moment that Ruger (as a random example) chambers the barrels on a .223 Ruger Predator any differently than the ones on 5.56 Ranch Rifles. Can't say for sure, and I'm happy to be proved wrong...key word there is proved, as opposed to just being yelled at by fear-mongers.

I wonder if any of those fearful people also blindly obey the warning that is seen in many new firearm manuals...you know, the one that says you should never use reloaded ammo in their guns...?
 
I’d say it’s not much of a problem especially in a properly designed bolt action. Fact that most rifles now a days are built with longer bullets in mind.

I would call things like the wylde chambers more of a sales pitch then anything.
 
Smis Five Creedmoor said:
What is the real story for .223REM rifles and their (in)ability to accept 5.56mm? I only have 5.56mm rifles, but I still want to know.
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The real story is there is small potential for problems, so don't blindly buy a million rounds of 5.56mm. Buy two boxes, and shoot them while watching for problems. If you find problems, don't buy any more.

There is no real possibility of a seriously dangerous outcome, so just try it. Wear glasses in case you pierce a primer.
 
antiqueguy said:
I’d say it’s not much of a problem especially in a properly designed bolt action. Fact that most rifles now a days are built with longer bullets in mind.

I would call things like the wylde chambers more of a sales pitch then anything.
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Actually when I spoke with Bill about his chamber, he told me he designed it to shoot the longer bullets in a .223.
The fact that it accommodates the 5.56 NATO is a plus .
BTW, Bill Ruger scoffed at the idea of one cartridge not being safe when used in a different chamber and was quoted as such, especially where the the mini 14 was mentioned
Cat
 
iron cat said:
Actually when I spoke with Bill about his chamber, he told me he designed it to shoot the longer bullets in a .223.
The fact that it accommodates the 5.56 NATO is a plus .
BTW, Bill Ruger scoffed at the idea of one cartridge not being safe when used in a different chamber and was quoted as such, especially where the the mini 14 was mentioned
Cat
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Well the companies that use it use it as a can shoot both .223 and 5.56 selling point.
 
Or be like me buy a rifle that is in ,223 or in 5.56 but nothing is wrote on the barrel but the action says 308. it's one of those Australian Omark rifles. The estate I bought it from said some where the guy shot PARMI or some such word. Rifles so heavy can'r see it caring what I use .
 
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