Thread: 223 or 5.56

Hi all, wanting to know if this ammo is 5.56 or 223 my neighbor gave me some with the stamp on the base is PSD 89 it is solid nose with crimped primers. I don't want to risk using it without being sure. Thanks

PMC ammo made in Korea


89 is the year of manufacture


If it has a primer crimp then 95% chance it's 5.56

PSD is PMC's military head stamp

What sort of rifle were you going to use it in Kiwiman?

I have a marlin 223, and looking closer at the ammo and comparing it with my winchester stuff it looks like the shoulder is different, don't think I'll use it.

I wouldn't even think twice about putting either through my gun, if it was bad they'd throw big warnings everywhere about it.

I will happily shoot it , how much ya got , and what you want for it ?
cheers

hey stumpy I've got 78 rounds hows 20 new brass or 40 once fired 223 brass maybe winchester or Remington, or even a box new box of winchester. hows that sound.

Look on the base if it has the nato + it should be 556.

I was under the impression that 556x45 was 223. Just like 7.62x51 is also 308 and 7.62x63 is 30/06. The metric designations are used mainly as some country's actively ban imperial measurements. I know that some of the 7.62x51 has been made to fire in full auto rifles so is made to eject easier and I am happy to be corrected, but a little evidence to back up any reply would help as all the research I have seen supports what I thought. Including one rifle here labelled as ".223 (5.56x45)" and another rife that I have here that is labelled ".308 (7.62x51)".

I will concede that usually those that make it labelled 556 are for military rate twists and have a heavier projectile (and sometimes a hotter load to push the heavier projectile, but My 223 will shoot and of them happily. It is more accurate with the lighter pills but that is due to the twist rate not the calibre.

Originally Posted by timattalon

I was under the impression that 556x45 was 223. Just like 7.62x51 is also 308 and 7.62x63 is 30/06.

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I will concede that usually those that make it labelled 556 are for military rate twists and have a heavier projectile (and sometimes a hotter load to push the heavier projectile, but My 223 will shoot and of them happily. It is more accurate with the lighter pills but that is due to the twist rate not the calibre.

This is well gone over, messy and filled with lots of dubious information.

Some thing to bear in mind is "philosophy of use" both then and now.

"then"

What I will say is the 556NATO is a highly loaded cartridge from the factory as it was driven there by the demands of the US army pushing the envelope as they wanted to reject the M16/ar15 in favour of keeping the M14. So the factor of safety is far less with the 556, unlike the 7.62x51/308w and 30-06 which in factory loads is pretty moderately loaded, hence it isnt really a fair comparison and a bit of a concern when I see such comparisons.

"now"

However, since its inception 50 years ado the AR15 556nato is probably one of the most tweaked and developed guns/cartridges ever? I suspect so. So today it maybe that the difference is moot. My suggestion is however until you can test that to make sure obey the "dont fire a 556nato in a 223 chamber rule" ie I have found 556 factory ammo with the odd round that have shown extreme stress inside a batch of otherwise normal looking 50 packs, once they have been fired in a 556nato chambered AR.

Playing safe is good I think.

Far out guys, i thought this was a simple question, maybe not.

A simple google search of ".223 vs 5.56" leads to lots of sites saying they're NOT the same, and to mix them up is inviting trouble.

http://bearingarms.com/223-remington...ould-hurt-you/

I have often used military/NATO ammunition in bolt action hunting rifles chambered in .223 or .308 and certainly noticed signs of higher pressure,such as difficulty opening the bolt and increased muzzle blast.

With these rifles,have a look in the Owners Manual under Ammunition...there may be a recommendation. Otherwise an e-mail to the rifle manufacturer should get you a definitive answer.

Originally Posted by stretch

A simple google search of ".223 vs 5.56" leads to lots of sites saying they're NOT the same, and to mix them up is inviting trouble.

.223 Remington vs. 5.56 NATO: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You - Bearing Arms - Remington

because we all know the internet is never wrong......

When I see rifles by legitimate manufacturers stamp their rifles as both calibres are you telling me that they dont know what they are doing? Most of teh internet info comes form the USA and from what I have seen most wouldnt know a mm from a km so metric is a foriegn language to them.

An example would be European countries that actively discourage imperial measurements like France.

I am still open to the possibility that I am wrong, but if I could figure out how to post the photo.

I have here two brand new factory original rifles with the calibre stamp the says 308 (7.62x51) and another that says .223 (5.56x45) and a box of ammo from another manufacturer that has the same on it as well as a box that says 30/06, (7.62x63) These are not after market. They are manufacturer factory ammo in original new factory boxes and I use it to hunt with.

http://www.barnaul.co.nz/uploads/ima...2%20x%2051.jpg

http://www.barnaul.co.nz/uploads/ima...2%20x%2063.jpg

http://www.barnaul.co.nz/uploads/ima...%20reduced.jpg

It would be like saying a Weatherby Vanguard is better than a Howa 1500. Different names but that is about it. A few subtle cosmetic changes but thats about it.

I also found a web page extolling the virtues of buying a Ford Laser as it was better than a Mazda 323 as it was a better made "american car" than the Japanese one. They were actually made in the same factory and the only difference was badge work and price.