Should I buy .223 or 5.56?

[toopercentmlk]

I really need to get some .556, I just have Prvi 62gr .223.

[Cuda440]

But Burro Canyon won't let you shoot the ATI stuff. The bullet tip is magnetic. Good ammo tho, shoots pretty good in my guns.

Damn, I just checked mine, and you're right. I bought 300 rounds, and shot 240 of it at Iron sights, they even ran a magnet over the box first, but they didn't catch it i guess. Now I'm curious about why the tip is magnetic, is it a copper jacketed steel projectile?

[Average Joe American]

5.56 chamber and 1:7 twist rifling if you want to be able to shoot heavier grain bullets accurately. You'll be able to shoot lighter ammo and .223 ammo but not vice versa if you have a .223 chamber with a 1:9 twist. Options are always nice to have.

[dieselpower]

I don't know about you guys, but I have NEVER seen 5.56 at Walmart.

I agree with others....223 for fun, 5.56 for work. Sight your optics with 5.56 and just put up with having to use Kentucky windage for .223.

[pacrimguru]

go with .223, it's cheaper.

[evidens83]

For plinking .223 will do just fine. Buy whats cheapest!

[shortround1]

This is strange to me. At least regarding for example: .308 v. 7.62 nato. I've read that rifles chambered for .308 win. can easily handle the lower pressures of 7.62 nato but 7.62 nato rifles are less safe to shoot the higher pressure .308 win. rounds. Why is .223/5.56 the opposite of this?

http://www.thegunzone.com/30cal.html

[kermit315]

I don't know about you guys, but I have NEVER seen 5.56 at Walmart.

I agree with others....223 for fun, 5.56 for work. Sight your optics with 5.56 and just put up with having to use Kentucky windage for .223.

They have WWB 5.56 down here for I think it was 6.99/20.

[Afterburnt]

so the issue is not settled?

[norcal.xd]

i use .223 @ the range first and like to save my 5.56 for hd, riot ,zombies

[Josh3239]

This is strange to me. At least regarding for example: .308 v. 7.62 nato. I've read that rifles chambered for .308 win. can easily handle the lower pressures of 7.62 nato but 7.62 nato rifles are less safe to shoot the higher pressure .308 win. rounds. Why is .223/5.56 the opposite of this?

http://www.thegunzone.com/30cal.html

5.56mm has a higher pressure, thicker brass which increases strength and decreases powder capacity, and has a longer leade. The higher pressure itself probably isn't enough to blow anything up, even though .223 is proof tested to the lower SAAMI spec, but it will beat the heck out of your rifle. Worst case scenario is because of the difference in leade a 5.56mm bullet could get stuck in the rifling.

From my understanding Remington originally came up with the .223 and when it was standardized it became the 5.56mm NATO and Winchester followed them coming up with the current .223.

The 7.62 NATO was born from the 30-06. Winchester copied the round and named it .308 to take advantage of the standardization. I suppose a standardized military round creates a specific ingredient, whereas commercial ammo has more flexibility with their loads. It just so happend that the military load for 7.62 NATO wasn't as hot as Winchester's .308 but the 5.56mm NATO is hotter than most commercial .223.

[temecula]

1k 5.56 55g WWB at $300.

[pyro3k2]

Get what ever is stamped on your barrel and get a lot of it.

[Grayblue]

This is a reason to get 5.56mm chamber specification.

That way you can get either 5.56mm or 223 with no worries.

5.56mm spec chamber rifle can handle both.

[ireload]

You get the best of both world. I have a 5.56 w/ 1/7 twist in my AR. I save my 5.56 rounds for SHTF and shoot my .223 rounds for practice. From time to time Walmart sells 5.56 55gr rounds.