AR-15 - .223 Wylde or 5.56 NATO?

W

WaltherPPQ

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Quebec
I'd like to put an AR-15 on my to-buy list and I don't yet know much about this class of rifle. I'd like something simple, middle-of-the-road and I'd like to reload.

It seems like 5.56 NATO AR-15s are significantly more available than .223 Wylde at the online stores. Is that because 5.56 NATO is more popular? So, regarding accessories, the availability of magazines and especially the availability of non-steel core ammunition (it seems like nowhere in my neck of the woods am I allowed to shoot with steel core ammunition), with what I've said, I want a 5.56 NATO AR-15, right?

Thanks ahead of time for all the comments.
 
Last edited:
For our purposes it's the same thing. The whole reason behind the 223 Wylde is so 5.56 NATO could be used with pretty much total safety...not that I have any problem firing 5.56 in any 223 rifle I've owned.
 
.223 wylde has tighter chamber , which helps with accuracy and allows you to shoot both .223 and 5.56.

Reloading is where it’s at.
You can shoot quality.223 ammo at 5.56 cost.
 
The Wylde can shoot 5.56 if you need to but it shoots .223 a bit more accurately because its a bit tighter chamber then the 5.56. I think most custom made barrels in Canada are .223 or .223 Wylde you would actually have to look harder to find a 5.56 barrel
 
The Wylde chamber is a good compromise design that will allow safe function of any military spec ammo you might pick up, but it still shoots magazine length match ammo well. It’s not just the leade that was changed but more importantly the throat diameter as well. Some mil spec ammo has rather “fat” profile bullets in terms of ogive, which combined with slightly hotter loading in military ammo could be problematic in a true 223 Remington chamber found in a bolt action Varmint rig.

I’ve had mil spec barrels with a NATO chamber that shoot well, but the Wylde is a little tighter in the right places while being cut correctly in the throat and leade sections.

I have a Wylde chamber in both a Krieger and WOA match barrels. Both shoot magazine length match ammo sub MOA, and both allow for 80 grain loads over magazine length as well. Both will safely fire mil spec ammo.

Both my carbine uppers have NATO chambers as neither will see match ammo or hand loaded 77 or 80 grain loads. They’re not built for pure accuracy work so a specific chamber isn’t necessary.
 
Last edited:
Unless you are building a sub MOA designated marksmen rifle and only shoot your own hand loaded rounds, go with a .233 Wylde it will handle both .223 and 5.56 without a notice difference in accuracy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom