bought my first AR..... 1st question is 223 or 5.56?

[Dan-o]

So, Sportsman's Warehouse had a deal I couldn't pass on.

Bushmaster w/ cheap scope, cleaning kit and four 30-round mags for $549.   In the add, it's a 223/5.56.

I think I know enough to know that the two rounds aren't SAMMI identical......   true?

Anybody got a good reference article on the differences, hopefully something that would point me to the right ammo for whatever it is that I just bought......

Any info would be appreciated.

Dan   aka AR Newb

[smdave]

Here is a couple good articles.

http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=35447

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/

[follow maggie]

Go by what's stamped on the receiver.  The main difference is the throat, the space between the casing and the portion of the barrel where the rifling starts. The 5.56 has almost double the throat of the .223. Shooting a 5.56 round in a .223 chamber is dangerous because th bullet can contact the rifling while in th case, before firing.  Tis greatly increases the chamber pressures, which can cause a ruptured case or malfunction-damage in the rifle chamber. Shooting a .223 round through a 5.56 chamber is perfectly fine.

[Blacklab]

you can put a Rem 223 in a 556. But not a 556 in a rem 223. Different pressures 556 being higher. Just like you can shoot 38s in a 357 magnum. But not a 357 magnum in a 38. 

[mountainman]

Unless your running a Wilde

[Mongo Hunter]

From what I have seen most of the 223 guns can only shoot 223 is referring to the old mini 14's. I don't know I have heard of a 223 AR having any problems shooting 5.56, most of what I read is what COULD happen. yes 5.56 is higher pressure so check what the receiver AND barrel say, if they both say 223 and don't say 5.56 anywhere than you may want to play it safe. most AR's I see though are stamped 5.56/223.

[FC]

http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=2056


Question / Issue

Your site says all bushmasters can shoot the 5.56 round.It also says that it is not safe to fire 5.56 rounds in a gun chambered for .223. I just purchased your modular carbine. The webpage says .223/5.56. Does this mean mine is safe for 5.56 rounds or were they actually two separate guns? I read the portion where it noted the differences of the angle and length. I'm slightly confused now and have recieved mixed answers from my dealer.

Answer / Solution


As the site notes it is safe to shoot 5.56mm and .223 ammunition in our rifles. The Modular Carbine has a 5.56 NATO chamber as marked on top of the barrel. You can use both the 5.56mm and .223 ammunition safely.

[Dan-o]

Sweet.   Thanks all for the great info.

That's why I  love this site.

I'm about to go pick it up......   

[Machias]

Just think if you had panic bought 11 months ago, you too could have paid $3,000.00 for that very same rifle. 

[Heredoggydoggy]

5.56 is the military designation for the .223 cartridge.  Military 5.56 ammo is loaded to a higher pressure to make sure they work the gas-impingement action of the AR.  That makes them unsafe to shoot in a bolt action .223 rifle.  You should be OK shooting 5.56 ammo in an AR style rifle.  That's what they were made for.  I've reloaded military 5.56 brass and .223 Rem. brass.  Pretty much the same.  I load for accuracy, not velocity, which puts me about the middle of the load table, and they still work my AR action just fine... 

[Dan-o]

Just think if you had panic bought 11 months ago, you too could have paid $3,000.00 for that very same rifle. 

Yeah that.

$549 with optics, cleaning kit and 5 30-round mags.......   I couldn't walk past it.

[tjthebest]

Were there any more of these rifles??

[6.8mmARHunter]

Just think if you had panic bought 11 months ago, you too could have paid $3,000.00 for that very same rifle. 

I was one of them ^^^   Thanks for reminding me...

Although I did pick up a Colt LE6920, so I feel a little better about what I paid (but not much).

To the OP - hey, great deal you got there. Now you just need a 6.8mm SPC upper and you can use your AR for Deer and Bear etc... hunting.

[Heredoggydoggy]

ARs are a sickness!  I have 5 of them, and only one of them is a .223....

[Dan-o]

Just think if you had panic bought 11 months ago, you too could have paid $3,000.00 for that very same rifle. 

Yeah....     


Wasn't going to happen.....   I'm too cheap.