.223 Remington vs. 5.56 NATO: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You

Human Events ^ | 02/15/2011 | Richard Johnson

[G Larry]

OR, you could do your own forensics and determine the actual specs on your weapon!

[ReverendJames]

So how does impact a Ruger Mini14? The military stuff is cheaper. Best not use it in that rifle?

[SIDENET]

Get an AK variant chambered for 7.62 x 39.

Problem solved.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes if its marked .223 it is dangerous. If its a bolt action marked .223 a 5.56 is totallly dangerous and overpowered. An M-4 which is a 5.56 but will take a .223 is a different situation.

[Seaplaner]

So how does impact a Ruger Mini14? The military stuff is cheaper. Best not use it in that rifle?

No worries. You can safely fire the 5.56 round in the mini 14.

(Google Ruger_Mini-14)

.

[ReverendJames]

Thanks.

[hemogoblin]

This is surprising; I have always seen them presented as interchangeable. This is a great site that lists them together ...

['smith]

As I recall Ruger’s manual, the warrantee is voided if you fire military 5.56 ammo in the Mini-14.

[50cal Smokepole]

Both my AR uppers are 5.56. The Rem .223 ammo is not as accurate out of them as the NATO stuff. No surprise there. I chose 5.56 because I can safely shoot the .223. I reload the NATO brass for varmint hunting and knocking the paint off the gongs at 300 meters.

[rsobin]

If you reload , load to max. OAL. This will lower pressures significantly.

[SuperLuminal]

Hmmmm...

[50cal Smokepole]

EBR Ping!

[Chode]

.308 there's no substitute...

[JMJJR]

a Friend asked me that last week, I sent him this article.

Ruger makes the mini in a 5.56.

He has a mini-14 .223, saw a deal on one in 5.56, told him he could buy it, but he could only stock .223 in his stash, so as not to mix up the ammo.

I told him to either sell the .223 and get 2 5.56, or just look for another .223

[Eska]

We have a colt preban A2, couple staggs, 3 mini-14s; have shot both; never any problems.

Since I got the 6.8 spc, never shoot the original AR's much. I'm picking up a 338 fed AR-10 armalite soon as our road opens too. Luv all the new calibers for the AR platform.

[Pontiac]

I have 2 AR-15s and never fired anything other than surplus ammo.

I have never had a problem in either rifle.

[Clint N. Suhks]

I’m sure Smith & Wesson M&P15 is a real 5.56mm NATO or else there’d be some big law suits. What does your Stag say it is?

This pretty much proves your theory 5.56 is better than .223 given those specs.

[Yo-Yo]

So how does impact a Ruger Mini14? The military stuff is cheaper. Best not use it in that rifle?

Reading the Fine Manual, it says:

"RUGER® MINI-14® RANCH RIFLES are offered in two calibers: .223 Rem. (5.56mm) and 6.8mm Rem. SPC. The Target Model Mini-14 is chambered for .223 Remington ammunition only."

So, if you have the Ranch model, you can shoot 5.56. If you have the Target model, you should not shoot 5.56.

[Strzelec]

According to my friend, his circa late 90’s Series 196 Ranch Rifle owner’s manual states it can digest either. Specifically, “The Ranch Rifle is designed to use either standariz(sic) U.S. military or factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges manufactured in accordance with U.S. industry practice.”

Don’t know about the other series. YMMV, of course.