Hunting Equipment | Hunting Supplies

difference between 5.56x45 nato and 223 civilian round ?

I have been trying to figure out what the main difference is between the two rounds of 223 hunting round and the military 5.56x45 round. What I already know... casing dimensions are basically the same. I have read the 5.56 military casing may be a little thicker to withstand a little higher pressure. That said, from ballistics charts that I have seen the velocity and energy of the 5.56x45 military round are basically the same as for a Hornaday v-max 223 round. So what is the difference then ?? anyone anyone ? I have a ak-47 that is built to shoot both types of rounds and I have found the military round for about half price but what difference is there if velocity and energy are the same ?

The only differences in the cartridges are as follows:

5.56 has a thicker case web, resulting in less internal capacity. The primer pocket is crimped. Its generally loaded with 55gr, 62gr, or heavier bullets resulting in a longer COL.

.223 is generally loaded with bullets 55gr and under resulting in a shorter COL.

Those are the only differences in the cartridges, and there is lots of bogus hyperbole out there. The EXTERNAL case dimensions are identical and anyone who says otherwise better pick up a reloading manual and get educated. Pick up a caliper and measure an unfired .223 and unfired 5.56 and they will be the same outside, save manufacturing tolerances. There are no-notations about the "neck" or any other part of the case people make assumptions about, other than less-internal-capacity. As Hornady 7th offers a minimal bit of history on the subject, below the actual case dimensions.

The danger lies in the CHAMBER of the gun. A gun chambered for .223 generally will have a shorter throat which lends itself to the short light bullets. If you try and chamber a 5.56 with a long 62gr or heavier bullet, it may jam itself against the rifling upon chambering resulting in spiked pressure above normal/safe levels. However, this is simply a function of a long COL because of a bullet sticking further out of a case, and that's it! If you reload you can seat any bullet out too long in any caliber and have the same problem.

Somehow, the above became misconstrewn a million different ways toward Sunday. The difference is in the COL vs. the throat (leade) of the barrel....not the neck or anything else. 5.56 GUNS will be cut to accomodate 5.56 ammo with long bullets, which means any .223/5.56 AMMO will be safe in said 5.56 GUN. .223 GUNS MAY OR MAY NOT have the rifling cut short far enough from the chamber to fire bullets with a longer COL, and there are few ways to find this out including a chamber casting.

The facts are out there...I recommend studying a reloading manual like Hornady 7th or Lyman #49 because they don't mention anything like some of the bogus info some people post on this subject, including some websites.

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