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Originally Posted by
Drm50
Will someone who really knows the 5.56 vs 223 stuff please tell me the difference in the 2 prior to the Govt going to the heavier bullet and chamber dimensions.
Originally the cartridges were to the same SAMMI specifications and only difference was the NATO name. SAMMI is only observed in U.S. commercial sporting guns and ammo while the military can do whatever they wish. In the military's serious need to field an effective battle rifle instead of a poodle shooter they needed a heavier projectile at the same or greater speed and that demanded more chamber pressure than SAAMI accepted; ergo, the 5.56 NATO cartridge was born again in the same cases.
You have obviously proven that 5.56 ammo can safely be fired in a .223 rifle. The most reasonable fear is that the heavier gas impulse will subject the operating system to a greater beating than it was designed for.
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This brought to my attention that GI cases had less capacity than 223 brass.
That's often true but not invariably; everything varies a bit!
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I’ve read countless articles on this and have not seen one plain explanation as to the early GI 55gr / commercial 223.
That's because there was no difference at first.
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My argument is there isn’t any difference enough to worry about. The chamber pressure may differ a small amount but not enough to damage the gun.
Weelll ... semi/sorta. The chamber pressure difference is real but not vast. Thus, the damage is accumulative so there will be no one round KaBoom! And you could wear a barrel out before it fails. But what are you killing with your 5.56 ammo, why beat the snot outta your lower pressure operating system just to punch holes in paper????
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I can’t see where I’m off base on this. What I know comes from loading and shooting. Everyone tells me I’m wrong and ruining my rifle.
It's your rifle. And maybe they're wrong anyway ... maybe.