223/5.56

Tikka280ai · Aug 2, 2015

I understand that you cannot shoot 5.56 outta a 223 Remington action. My question is if I was to run 5.56 brass through a 223 Remington reloading die would it be safe to shoot out of a 223 Remington action. I have done a lot of it before but always shot it out of my ar15 with a 223/5.56 action.

It may be a dumb question but I had to ask before sorting throught all my mixed 5.56 and 223 brass to make a load for my new ar15 setup which is chambered in 223 remington

Bed Wetter · Aug 2, 2015

I have no reloading experience, but here's how I see it:

Go for it. What could go wrong?

NDwalleyes · Aug 2, 2015

Yes. 5.56 brass is fine to resize and shoot in a .223 rem.

tinker · Aug 2, 2015

found this on a site...For reloaders, it is generally safe (you should inspect your brass for any defects) to reload 5.56mm NATO cases to 223 Remington load specifications although you must account for the added thickness in the 5.56mm case walls. It is advisable to always reduce your initial powder capacity and work up when developing a new load when using 5.56mm NATO stamped brass.

but as cheap as 223 brass/shells are, id stay with what the barrel is stamped.

Norske · Aug 4, 2015

The case neck is also thicker. This is for reliable functioning in full-auto military guns. If you have a generous chamber throat that was cut with a new reamer, you'd be alright with light (short) bullets. But if the reamer had been resharpened a few times, making a smaller chamber/throat, it will raise pressures a lot. The increased pressure might not be a problem in a bolt action rifle, but it was hard on 223 AR's. Your 223/5.56 has a Wilde chamber which is a kind of hybrid of the looser military 5.56 chamber/throat and the tighter civilian 223 chamber/throat. Military chamber throats are also longer for the heavier bullets now used.
See what a chamber cast of your rifle shows about the suitability of military brass. Gunsmiths do this, and it's not expensive.

223/5.56

Tikka280ai

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Bed Wetter

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NDwalleyes

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tinker

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Norske

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