dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
Though I have given the 
in the past on the 223vs556 debate, particularly as half the guns marked 556 out there really aren't quite 556, and half the guns marked 223REM actually aren't quite 223REM either, but I think it's prudent from a liability perspective to put something officially down on the matter.
As many of you know, the US isn't allowing 556 chambers out of the USA. They have extended this to 223 Wylde as it is "designed to chamber a 556NATO cartridge", yes, we asked.
So, you'll notice that all Stag Arms rifles and carbines come with .223Rem stamped barrels. I have had a number of people write to ask if they can fire 556NATO through these. Though I personally do, I'm going to take the safe route and say, no. Why? Because a standard rule of firearm safety is to only shoot the cartridge that is stamped on the barrel, and so our official company line is, 223Rem ammo in 223Rem guns. This is the official line from Stag Arms as well.
I have also been asked if we actually use 556 chambers and just stamp them 223. The answer is absolutely not. This would be misrepresenting the goods for export, and TTBOMK, no manufacturer would knowingly stamp a barrel with a different chamber than what it actually is anyway, if nothing else than for liability reasons, moreso because that would not be on.
So where does this leave us? First, there is very little to no actual 556NATO ammo being sold in Canada, mainly because the US has also barred the ammo from export. I would assume the vast majority of ammo that ARs are firing these days is SAAMI 223Rem anyway, and if this is the case, a 223 chamber is in theory an accuracy advantage when shooting 223Rem ammo, than using the looser dimensions of the 556NATO chamber.
However, I know there are some shooters who for various reasons are required to shoot 556NATO ammo, including C77 Ball. For those users, or anyone else that wants the looser 556 chamber, let us know and we will convert your 223 chamber to a 556/Wylde hybrid which has the longer throat of the Wylde, for longer bullets, and the larger leade of the 556NATO. This chamber will fire anything with complete safety, guaranteed.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR that this conversion will offer nothing in performance/accuracy to those shooting 223REM Ammo, we offer it for those shooting 556 or who want the long throat of the Wylde chamber.
There is a writeup in the new SWAT magazine where a Sabre Defence gun (chamber cast taken, definitely SAAMI 223Rem) was fired for groups with the original 223 chamber, then opened with the same 556 hybrid reamer we use, and fired again for groups. The author found that group size was unaffected. I haven't read the article yet, but I did speak with the author today and this is who I am quoting.
So there's the scoop. We recommend 223 ammo in our 223 guns. We do not recommend 556NATO ammo in our 223 guns. If you want 556, tell us and we'll make it so. If you shoot 223 ammo, the 223 chamber is in theory, an accuracy advantage, and I don't recommend having the throat reamed.
For those wondering about the potential affect on a chrome lined chamber, please understand that we are talking thousands of an inch of cutting here. The chrome lining wears away quickly in that part of the throat on all guns, regardless of reaming or not. It is a moot issue. The only concern here is from AEI, as chrome will wear out our tool quicker.
If anyone with any brand of AR is noticing popping primers or signs of pressure with their AR and 556 ammo, regardless of brand, let us know and we can adjust your chamber as well. I have it on very good authority that many many US manufactured AR15 marked 556 chamber are not actually 556 anyway. We can fix this if you wish.
Ass now covered,
DT
in the past on the 223vs556 debate, particularly as half the guns marked 556 out there really aren't quite 556, and half the guns marked 223REM actually aren't quite 223REM either, but I think it's prudent from a liability perspective to put something officially down on the matter.As many of you know, the US isn't allowing 556 chambers out of the USA. They have extended this to 223 Wylde as it is "designed to chamber a 556NATO cartridge", yes, we asked.
So, you'll notice that all Stag Arms rifles and carbines come with .223Rem stamped barrels. I have had a number of people write to ask if they can fire 556NATO through these. Though I personally do, I'm going to take the safe route and say, no. Why? Because a standard rule of firearm safety is to only shoot the cartridge that is stamped on the barrel, and so our official company line is, 223Rem ammo in 223Rem guns. This is the official line from Stag Arms as well.
I have also been asked if we actually use 556 chambers and just stamp them 223. The answer is absolutely not. This would be misrepresenting the goods for export, and TTBOMK, no manufacturer would knowingly stamp a barrel with a different chamber than what it actually is anyway, if nothing else than for liability reasons, moreso because that would not be on.
So where does this leave us? First, there is very little to no actual 556NATO ammo being sold in Canada, mainly because the US has also barred the ammo from export. I would assume the vast majority of ammo that ARs are firing these days is SAAMI 223Rem anyway, and if this is the case, a 223 chamber is in theory an accuracy advantage when shooting 223Rem ammo, than using the looser dimensions of the 556NATO chamber.
However, I know there are some shooters who for various reasons are required to shoot 556NATO ammo, including C77 Ball. For those users, or anyone else that wants the looser 556 chamber, let us know and we will convert your 223 chamber to a 556/Wylde hybrid which has the longer throat of the Wylde, for longer bullets, and the larger leade of the 556NATO. This chamber will fire anything with complete safety, guaranteed.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR that this conversion will offer nothing in performance/accuracy to those shooting 223REM Ammo, we offer it for those shooting 556 or who want the long throat of the Wylde chamber.
There is a writeup in the new SWAT magazine where a Sabre Defence gun (chamber cast taken, definitely SAAMI 223Rem) was fired for groups with the original 223 chamber, then opened with the same 556 hybrid reamer we use, and fired again for groups. The author found that group size was unaffected. I haven't read the article yet, but I did speak with the author today and this is who I am quoting.
So there's the scoop. We recommend 223 ammo in our 223 guns. We do not recommend 556NATO ammo in our 223 guns. If you want 556, tell us and we'll make it so. If you shoot 223 ammo, the 223 chamber is in theory, an accuracy advantage, and I don't recommend having the throat reamed.
For those wondering about the potential affect on a chrome lined chamber, please understand that we are talking thousands of an inch of cutting here. The chrome lining wears away quickly in that part of the throat on all guns, regardless of reaming or not. It is a moot issue. The only concern here is from AEI, as chrome will wear out our tool quicker.
If anyone with any brand of AR is noticing popping primers or signs of pressure with their AR and 556 ammo, regardless of brand, let us know and we can adjust your chamber as well. I have it on very good authority that many many US manufactured AR15 marked 556 chamber are not actually 556 anyway. We can fix this if you wish.
Ass now covered,
DT
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