.223 Steyr Scout chamber - 5.56 ok?

popcan

popcan

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.4%
173   1   0
Location
N 51.22.803 - W 121.16.257
as the title says.

Anyone know if you can safely shoot 5.56 out of the Steyr Poodle Scout chamber?

5.56 mm NATO versus .223 Remington
While the 5.56 mm and .223 cartridges are very similar, they are not identical. Military cases are made from thicker brass than commercial cases, which reduces the powder capacity (an important consideration for handloaders), and the NATO specification allows a higher chamber pressure. Test barrels made for 5.56mm NATO measure chamber pressure at a the case mouth, as opposed to the SAAMI location. This difference accounts for upwards of 20,000+ psi difference in pressure measurements. That means that advertised pressure of 58,000 psi for 5.56mm NATO, is around 78,000 psi tested in .223 Rem test barrels. The 5.56 mm chambering, known as a NATO or mil-spec chambers, have a longer leade, which is the distance between the mouth of the cartridge and the point at which the rifling engages the bullet. The .223 chambering, known as SAAMI chamber, is allowed to have a shorter leade, and is only required to be proof tested to the lower SAAMI chamber pressure. To address these issues, various proprietary chambers exist, such as the Wylde chamber (Rock River Arms)[1] or the Armalite chamber, which are designed to handle both 5.56 mm and .223 equally well.
Using commercial .223 cartridges in a 5.56-chambered rifle should work reliably, but generally will not be as accurate as when fired from a .223-chambered gun due to the excessive lead.[2] Using 5.56 mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223-chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and the SAAMI recommends against the practice.[3] Some commercial rifles marked as ".223 Remington" are in fact suited for 5.56 mm, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14, but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56 mm ammunition.[4]
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
sunray said:
Before there was an Internet, the .223 and 5.56 were the same thing. They still are.
Click to expand...
Man, are you ever turning out to be fun. Don't know why I never noticed your posts before. Did you even read the info he posted?

5.56 and .223 are not the same, never have been and never will be.

10 rd mags are legal in a bolt action centerfire.

The CF does use parkerizing and have for decades.


Popcan, like you've already discovered for yourself the two rounds are different, and 5.56 has significantly higher pressures, especially in a .223 chamber. It isn't advisable to use 5.56mm, but lots of people have without incident, and will continue to do so. My advice to you would be this; If you really want to use 5.56mm than have your barrel re-chambered to .223 Wylde. It is safe for both rounds and will still keep the chamber tight enough for accurate .223 use.
 
Thanks Leg, interesting alternative.

I know a lot of people have no trouble using 5.56 in a .223 chamber.

Specifically, I was wondering if the steyr scout was a 5.56 chamber or .223.

The other rifle I'm considering is the CZ 527 Varmint, with the 1:9 twist... I thought I read a magazine review that said they used 5.56 in it.
 
IIRC, my Tactical Scout was 5.56 ok though I am not sure if I read that in the manual or if I asked here on CGN.... does anyone have a manual handy ?
 
popcan said:
The other rifle I'm considering is the CZ 527 Varmint, with the 1:9 twist... I thought I read a magazine review that said they used 5.56 in it.
Click to expand...

Talked to a sales guy the other day, he said this year's production only has the 1:9 twist available in the Kevlar Varmint model, not the Laminated Varmint. Showed me the CZ catalog which seems to bear that out.

Eric
 
toomanyhobbies said:
Talked to a sales guy the other day, he said this year's production only has the 1:9 twist available in the Kevlar Varmint model, not the Laminated Varmint. Showed me the CZ catalog which seems to bear that out.

Eric
Click to expand...


That's what I found out too - although it is not really clear on the website. The laminate version is not pillar block bedded either.
 
I have a 700P in 308/762 and a 700P in 223/556 I have mixed and matched with no problems........Im not trying to piss anyone off, I know these arguments do (will) get heated...just relaying my experiences
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom