5.56 or .223?

Klaus

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I have always shot .223 in my ARs but was thinking of running 5.56 for my next bulk order. Who runs what?

Thanks
 

BlksvtCobra01

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I believe everything thru mine has been .223 but the last go around I got some .556 so I have mixed now.


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BlckBox04

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I just bought an AR in 556, I can shoot 223 through it if I want but not the other way around
 

13COBRA

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5.56 will have higher psi, and is about an 1/8th of an inch longer throat. Holds another grain or two of powder.

I shoot 5.56. Probably burns barrels faster, but I buy/sell guns so fast I never have to worry about that.
 

Blown 89

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Make sure your barrel is made for the higher chamber pressures of .556 first. A lot of barrels on the market are not and it's very dangerous to interchange them.
 

Klaus

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Thanks. I knew about higher pressure. My barrel runs both. Any difference in accuracy or ammo quality?
 

Double"O"

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Thanks. I knew about higher pressure. My barrel runs both. Any difference in accuracy or ammo quality?

I like american eagle for the price...runs fairly clean. Winchester white box is ok but dirty imo...price is good though

Black hills had some good stuff too
 

BlksvtCobra01

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I like american eagle for the price...runs fairly clean. Winchester white box is ok but dirty imo...price is good though

Black hills had some good stuff too

I love the federal as well as American eagle. I have Winchester but have never ran it thru mine.


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rotor_powerd

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I shoot either and never notice any difference. I'm also ringing steel at 100 yards and not 500 yards so there probably isn't any real difference to notice at that point
 

7998

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5.56 will have higher psi, and is about an 1/8th of an inch longer throat. Holds another grain or two of powder.

I shoot 5.56. Probably burns barrels faster, but I buy/sell guns so fast I never have to worry about that.

^^This^^
I only buy 5.56 62 grn green tip Lake city and M885. As long as your rifle is stamped 5.56 you're fine (Which is 99.99% of all modern firearms). Some old Ruger mini 14's were only rated for .223 and are stamped ".223 only"
 

svtfocus2cobra

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Thanks. I knew about higher pressure. My barrel runs both. Any difference in accuracy or ammo quality?

M855 green tip hits hard, probably the hardest for mass produced ammo that's readily available on the market. There are probably other special rounds out there that can perform better, but I have seen green tip penetrate and damage AR500 steel targets that regular 5.56 couldn't damage at all.
 

Bronze123

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Brass for brass, I can’t tell the difference.


Going steel case 223 though, very noticeable difference. Though recoil ain’t a bastard with brass case, steel case is much softer shooting
 

Machdup1

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Plinking, whichever is cheaper.

Riot suppression, Federal Lake City 5.56 m855 or XM193, it is expensive, but reliable.
 

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