223 Wylde Barrel: Does 223 vs 556 make a difference?

[SteveHamn]

I'm new to AR15's, recently built my first one with a 20" 1:8 223 Wylde barrel. I'm shopping around trying to find my favorite ammo, but probably won't have enough time to find my favorite before Jan 1st. I notice there's tons of 55gr out there, but I'm having a harder time finding heavier stuff I'd like for the longer shots.

For a 223 Wylde Barrel is there a difference between 223 vs 556? I know the 223 Wylde can shoot both, and 223 barreled guns are more accurate than 556's, but will I see a difference between the two types of ammo in a 223 Wylde barrel in terms of performance? Or does it not make a difference?

[17+1]

[mofo1111]

I wouldn't worry about the differences from .223 to 5.56. You purchased the Wylde barrel to shoot both cartridges with no loss in accuracy. It will shoot both the .223 and 5.56 better than a 5.56 NATO barrel. I don't think that you would lose any accuracy shooting .223 out of a Wylde vs .223 barrel unless you are in shooting competitions. You should still be able to find 62 gr bullets online. Federal has some and rebate MAY still be offered. Order before Dec. 19, or check online ammunition retailers, then will post when is the last day to order for California customers.

[mjmagee67]

The Wylde is designed to shoot both equally safely.

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[ar15barrels]

I'm new to AR15's, recently built my first one with a 20" 1:8 223 Wylde barrel. I'm shopping around trying to find my favorite ammo, but probably won't have enough time to find my favorite before Jan 1st. I notice there's tons of 55gr out there, but I'm having a harder time finding heavier stuff I'd like for the longer shots.

For a 223 Wylde Barrel is there a difference between 223 vs 556? I know the 223 Wylde can shoot both, and 223 barreled guns are more accurate than 556's, but will I see a difference between the two types of ammo in a 223 Wylde barrel in terms of performance? Or does it not make a difference?

The quality of the bullet is the biggest factor.
If you get a good bullet like a sierra or hornady match hollowpoint, it will not matter if it's loaded to 223 or 5.56 pressures.
The difference in pressures is due to the chamber that the ammo was developed in.
In their respective chambers, both actually run at about the same pressure.
A 5.56 or 223 wylde chamber actually causes 223 spec ammo to run at lower pressures that it was intended.

[ar15barrels]

.223 wylde can shoot both .223 and 5.56. In theory, .223 wylde barrels can be/are more accurate than 5.56 barrels, but that isn't always necessarily true. Until you get to the high end barrel makers (Kreiger, Lilja, Bartlein, etc), it doesn't make that big of a difference. I've seen Larue 5.56 barrels and DD CHF barrels hold 1/2 to 3/4 inch 10 shot groups where some budget .223 wylde barrel barrels couldn't hold under 1.5 inches with any load. Barrel quality and the individual load the barrel likes will matter more than the chambering IMO. Generally speaking, as far as I know almost all match loads are .223, and you generally will have better groups with .223 vs 5.56

Given equal quality barrels, the 223 wylde is a more accurate chamber design than the 5.56 chamber.
What you are talking about is the intrinsic accuracy differences based on the actual quality of the barrel and chambering job, not the design of the chamber.