Using Go/NoGo gauges on an AR15 bolt/barrel check.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I built a new upper with a barrel/barrel extension and bolt from a "reputable supplier of AR15 parts". After careful barrel break in at the range I could not get better than 3 MOA at 100 yards. This was a free floated A3 upper using a scope and bench rest with good ammo. Ruled out scope and ammo. All my other builds have yielded 1 MOA or better.

I removed the barrel to double check the torque on the barrel nut and it about 50 ft/lbs. Then checked the bolt and barrel with my Go and NoGo gauages. That seemed normal too. Closed on the Go and did not close on the NoGo.
But here is my question. My gauges are 223 Rem not 223 Wylde, and the new barrel has 223 Wylde chamber. Does that matter?
I shoot mostly reloads that are sized with a 223 die.

More general question. What if the NoGo guage actually closes with the bolt. Would that indicate out of spec barrel or bolt? I tried several bolts with the barrel in question and did get one of my bolts to close on the NoGo gauge.

[ar15barrels]

There are no 223 wylde gauges as 223 wylde is normally chambered to typical 223 saami specs.
However, a 223 wylde could also be chambered to 5.56 specs.
5.56 has a longer no-go spec than 223.
Both have the same minimum (go) spec.

[Daisy'sDad]

There are no 223 wylde gauges as 223 wylde is normally chambered to typical 223 saami specs.
However, a 223 wylde could also be chambered to 5.56 specs.
5.56 has a longer no-go spec than 223.
Both have the same minimum (go) spec.

I believe there is a guage which can be found here. http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/imper...ce-gauges.html

What it measures exactly, I have no clue.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

The whole Wylde chamber craze is really a loss for us reloaders. I don't care about shooting oh ah mil spec ammo. Its about making very consistent/ no variances ammo that can hold a tight group. Yet a lot of barrel makers have gone to Wylde so non-reloaders can feel safe shooting either commercial 223 or 5.56 NATO.

[liber]

Yet a lot of barrel makers have gone to Wylde so non-reloaders can feel safe shooting either commercial 223 or 5.56 NATO.

It seems the majority of barrel makers have gone to Wylde. IMO, it has become the standard AR-15 barrel.

I don't see how that is a loss for reloaders. If you work off fire formed brass, how would you loose?

[kcstott]

The whole Wylde chamber craze is really a loss for us reloaders. I don't care about shooting oh ah mil spec ammo. Its about making very consistent/ no variances ammo that can hold a tight group. Yet a lot of barrel makers have gone to Wylde so non-reloaders can feel safe shooting either commercial 223 or 5.56 NATO.

Thats funny because CIP cites the .223 and 5.56 as Identical. Pressure Dimensions everything, Even though I know thats not the case.

that and there is not enough of a change in the Wylde chamber to worry about. It's not going to have any effect on reloading. If it did where are the Wylde dies?

[ar15barrels]

I believe there is a guage which can be found here. http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/imper...ce-gauges.html

What it measures exactly, I have no clue.

The only difference from a standard 223 gauge is the laser engraving on it.
Call PTG and talk to Dave and that's what he will tell you...

[ar15barrels]

where are the Wylde dies?

They are on the same shelf with the 5.56 Nato dies.

[dwalker]

The whole Wylde chamber craze is really a loss for us reloaders. I don't care about shooting oh ah mil spec ammo. Its about making very consistent/ no variances ammo that can hold a tight group. Yet a lot of barrel makers have gone to Wylde so non-reloaders can feel safe shooting either commercial 223 or 5.56 NATO.

I have a Nordic barrel with a Wylde chamber and it shoots all the same ammo the 5.56 does.

An article on Luckygunner puts it better than I can:

The exterior (physical) dimensions of .223 and 5.56 ammunition are effectively identical.
5.56 ammunition may be loaded to higher pressures than .223 ammunition.
5.56mm chambers are dimensionally larger in certain critical areas than .223 chambers.
Given the same ammunition, 5.56 chambers will have lower pressures than .223 chambers.

Read the rest here:

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

If you want help to determine why your gun is shooting crap groups more info would be required. Ammo specifics- new or reload, bullet weight, powder, etc. if reloads, barrel twist, manufacturer of barrel, if it was "broken in" and how if it was. Muzzle device, crown, etc. all effect accuracy.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

[milotrain]

A group of SoCal service rifle shooters have put a lot of rounds through a lot of barrels and this is what I can tell you for absolute certainty.

1. Even the big guys cock up a barrel once and a while.
2. The "Brand -x" guys seem to get a barrel right once and a while.
3. The "Brand -x" barrel that shoots well is more temperamental (regarding loads) than a WOA barrel that shoots well.
4. The amount of time spent making damn near anything but a cut rifled barrel chambered by WOA, Compass Lake, Keystone Accuracy or "your favorite gunsmith" is never made up by using a cheaper barrel. In the life of your shooting you will get good cheap barrels, maybe even 50% of your cheap barrels are good. You won't care when one of them takes a dive early, and you won't care that one doesn't shoot quite as good as the better barrels, it's fine they were cheap, and then you get one that shoots 3MOA and you can't get it to work so you spend two weeks and 300 rounds trying to get it to shoot.

Or instead of an early dive, mediocre performance, and 300 rounds of testing and failure you could just spend twice as much for a Bartlein that Frank White tells you shoots. It's CHEAP at twice the price. Having said that we all have beater rifles wearing cheap barrels to keep rounds off our main guns.

[Daisy'sDad]

The only difference from a standard 223 gauge is the laser engraving on it.
Call PTG and talk to Dave and that's what he will tell you...

That makes complete sense because its my understanding that the
.223 and 5.56 cartridges are dimensionally identical.
Please correct me if I'm mistaken and thanks for the info.

[ar15barrels]

That makes complete sense because its my understanding that the
.223 and 5.56 cartridges are dimensionally identical.
Please correct me if I'm mistaken and thanks for the info.

The cartridges are identical dimensions.
5.56 chambered guns have longer maximum chamber depths to make it easier for multiple manufacturers to make parts and still have the assembled rifle pass inspection.