.223 Remington

Firearms cartridge .223 .223 Remington 223 Remington.jpg 300px A variety of .223 Remington cartridges with a .308 Winchester (right) for comparison United States Rifle Remington Arms 1962 5.56×45mm NATO 1964–present .222 Remington Rimless, bottleneck 2 .2245 .219 .253 .3542 .3759 .378 .045 1.760 2.260 28.8 grain H2O (1.87 ml) 1 in 12 in mm 0 on (military-style rifles use 1 in 7 in mm 0 on to 1 in 10 in mm 0 on to stabilize longer bullets) Small rifle 55000 SAAMI 62366 CIP 52000 55 Nosler ballistic tip 3240 1265 60 Nosler partition 3160 1325 69 BTHP 2950 1338 77 BTHP 2750 1301 24 in cm 223 REM https://www.federalpremium.com/ammunition/rifle/caliber/223-rem federalpremium.com 9 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170306181831/http://www.federalpremium.com/ammunition/rifle/caliber/223-rem 2017-03-06 dead223 Remington http://www.black-hills.com/shop/new-rifle-ammo/223-remington/ black-hills.com 9 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20230531171310/http://www.black-hills.com/shop/new-rifle-ammo/223-remington/ May 31, 2023 The .223 Remington, also known as 223 Remington by SAAMIhttps://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAAMI-Z299.4-CFR-2025-Centerfire-Rifle-Approved-2-10-2025.pdf#page=115 SAAMI Z299.4-2025 American National Standard Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Centerfire Rifle Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers SAAMI February 2025 November 8, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20250215045527/https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAAMI-Z299.4-CFR-2025-Centerfire-Rifle-Approved-2-10-2025.pdf#page=84 February 15, 2025 dead mdy-all 223 REMINGTON [223 REM] ISSUED: 04/21/1980 REVISED: 09/25/2023 71 and 223 Rem. by the C.I.P.,223 Rem. https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/223-rem-170406-en.pdf Commission internationale permanente pour l'épreuve des armes à feu portatives 19 December 2023 (pronounced "two-two-three") is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire intermediate cartridge. It was developed in 1957 by Remington Arms and Fairchild Industries for the U.S. Continental Army Command of the United States Army as part of a project to create a small-caliber, high-velocity firearm. Firing a .2245 in mm projectile, the .223 Remington is considered one of the most popular common-use cartridges and is used by a wide range of semi-automatic and manual-action rifles. History thumb|From left: .222 Remington, .223 Remington, and 5.56×45mm NATO Development The development of the cartridge, which eventually became the .223 Remington, was linked to the creation of a new small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) combat rifle. Work on a rifle and cartridge to meet the requirements of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) began in 1957. Fairchild Industries, Remington Arms, Winchester,Watters Daniel A 5.56 X 45mm 'Timeline' http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw.html thegunzone.com 6 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20040209030852/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw.html dead 9 February 2004 and several engineers (including Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite, who was invited to scale down the AR-10 (7.62×51mm NATO) design),History of the .223 Remington Cartridge https://fenixammo.com/pages/history-of-the-223-remington-cartridge 2021-04-25 Fenix Ammunition en https://web.archive.org/web/20230506233326/https://fenixammo.com/pages/history-of-the-223-remington-cartridge May 6, 2023 contributed. CONARC ordered rifles to test. Stoner and Sierra Bullet's Frank Snow began work on the .222 Remington cartridge. Using a ballistic calculator, they determined that a 55-grain bullet would have to be fired at 3,300 ft/s to achieve the 500-yard performance necessary. Robert Hutton (technical editor of Guns and Ammo magazine) started the development of a powder load to reach the 3,300 ft/s goal. He used DuPont IMR4198, IMR3031, and an Olin powder to work up loads. Testing was done with a Remington 722 rifle with a 22" Apex barrel. During a public demonstration, the round successfully penetrated the US steel helmet as required, but testing also showed chamber pressures to be too high. Stoner contacted both Winchester and Remington about increasing the case capacity. Remington created a larger cartridge called the .222 Special. This cartridge is loaded with DuPont IMR4475 powder. Testing and military trials During parallel testing of the T44E4 (future M14) and the ArmaLite AR-15 in 1958, the T44E4 experienced 16 failures per 1,000 rounds fired compared to 6.1 for the ArmaLite AR-15. Because of several different .222 caliber cartridges that were being developed for the SCHV project, the .222 Special was renamed .223 Remington. In May 1959, a report was produced stating that five- to seven-man squads armed with ArmaLite AR-15 rifles have a higher hit probability than 11-man squads armed with the M14 rifle. At an Independence Day picnic, Air Force General Curtis LeMay tested the ArmaLite AR-15 and was very impressed with it. He ordered a number of them to replace M2 carbines that were in use by the Air Force. In November of that year, testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground showed the ArmaLite AR-15 failure rate had declined to 2.5/1,000, resulting in the ArmaLite AR-15 being approved for more extensive trials. Adoption and standardization In 1961, marksmanship testing compared the AR-15 and M14; 43% of ArmaLite AR-15 shooters achieved Expert, while only 22% of M14 rifle shooters did. Le May ordered 80,000 rifles. In July 1962, operational testing ended with a recommendation for the adoption of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle chambered in .223 Remington. In September 1963, the .223 Remington cartridge was officially accepted and named "Cartridge, 5.56 mm ball, M193". The following year, the ArmaLite AR-15 was adopted by the United States Army as the M16 rifle, and it would later become the standard U.S. military rifle. The specification included a Remington-designed bullet and the use of IMR4475 powder, which resulted in a muzzle velocity of 3,250 ft/s and a chamber pressure of 52,000 psi. Civilian introduction In the spring of 1962, Remington submitted the specifications of the .223 Remington to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI). In December 1963, Remington introduced its first rifle chambered for .223 Remington a Model 760 rifle.Barnes Frank C. Cartridges of the World 2016 Krause Publishing Iola, WI, US 978-1-4402-4265-6 88 Cartridge dimensions The .223 Remington has a 1.87 mL (28.8 gr H2O) cartridge case capacity. 400px .223 Remington maximum CIP cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/223-rem-170406-en.pdf C.I.P. TDCC .223 Rem. CIP 2018-06-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143302/http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/223-rem-170406-en.pdf 2018-06-21 dead Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 = 23 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 305 mm (1 in 12 in), 6 grooves, Ø lands = 5.56 mm in 3, Ø grooves = 5.69 mm in 3, land width = 1.88 mm in 3 and the primer type is small rifle. According to the official CIP rulings, the .223 Remington can handle up to 430.00 MPa psi on Pmax piezo pressure. In CIP-regulated countries, every rifle cartridge combination has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum CIP pressure to certify for sale to consumers. This means that .223 Remington chambered arms in CIP-regulated countries are 2016 y proof tested at 537.50 MPa psi on PE piezo pressure. This is equal to the NATO maximum service pressure guideline for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The SAAMI pressure limit for the .223 Remington is set at 379.212 MPa psi 0 on, piezo pressure.http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm SAAMI Pressures Leverguns.com 2007-11-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20071014041459/http://leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm 14 October 2007http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/specifications/Velocity_Pressure_CfR.pdf ANSI/SAAMI Velocity & Pressure Data: Centerfire Rifle Saami.org 2007-11-29 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130702015600/http://saami.org/specifications_and_information/specifications/Velocity_Pressure_CfR.pdf 2013-07-02 Remington submitted .223 Remington specifications to SAAMI in 1964. .223 Remington vs. 5.56×45mm NATO 5.56×45mm NATO#5.56mm NATO versus .223 Remington In 1980 the 5.56×45mm NATO (SS109 or M855) cartridge was developed from the .223 Remington. Dimensions The external dimensional specifications of .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO brass cases are nearly identical. The cases tend to have similar case capacity when measured (case capacities have been observed to vary by as much as 2.6 grains (0.17 ml)), although the shoulder profile and neck length are not the same and 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge cases tend be slightly thicker to accommodate higher chamber pressures. When hand-loaded, care is taken to look for pressure signs as 5.56×45mm NATO cases may produce higher pressures with the same type of powder and bullet as compared to .223 Remington cases. Sierra provides separate loading sections for .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO and also recommends different loads for bolt-action rifles as compared to semiautomatic rifles.5.56 vs .223 – What You Know May Be Wrong http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/ LuckyGunner.com June 22, 2012 June 13, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20230529120828/https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/ May 29, 2023 Pressures Remington submitted the specifications for the .223 Remington cartridge in 1964 to SAAMI. The original pressure for the .223 Remington was 52,000 psi with DuPont IMR Powder. A higher pressure of 55000 psi MPa 0 on resulted from the change from IMR to Olin Ball powder. The official name for .223 Remington in the US Army is cartridge 5.56x45mm ball, M193. If a 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge is loaded into a chamber intended to use .223 Remington, the bullet will be in contact with the rifling and the forcing cone is very tight. This generates a much higher pressure than .223 Remington chambers are designed for.223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html 6mmbr.com 8 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20230321074551/https://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html March 21, 2023 Chamber pressures obtained using different methods are not comparable. The pressure limits for .223 Rem and 5.56×45mm NATO are very similar, if using similar measurement methodologies. The SAAMI sets the pressure limit for .223 Rem at 55000 psi MPa 5, using a chamber conformal transducer. The US military uses a similar methodology (SCATP) and produces a very similar limit for their ammunition, at 380 MPa psi 5.MIL-C-9963F and MIL-C-63989A(AR) The CIP sets the pressure limit for .223 Rem at 430 MPa psi 5, using a perforated-case transducer. NATO EPVAT testing uses a case-mouth setup and is intended for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. The 2005 proof pressure is 537.5 MPa psi 5, which when divided by a factor of 1.25 yields the same maximum service pressure of 430 MPa psi 5.20 May 2005 Defence Standard 05-101, Proof of Ordnance, Munitions, Armour and Explosives, Part 1, Requirements http://www.dstan.mod.uk/standards/defstans/05/101/01000100.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20110716024825/http://www.dstan.mod.uk/standards/defstans/05/101/01000100.pdf 16 July 2011 Ministry of Defence Defence Standardization Chambers The .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO barrel chamberings are not the same according to Clymer, with the 5.56 NATO chamber having generally slightly larger dimensions.http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/945/223vs556ub9.jpg .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO Chamber dimensions differences imageshack.us dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140315185302/http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/945/223vs556ub9.jpg March 15, 2014 A brochure from "Forster Products" claims that while the headspace gauge for .223 Rem is 1.4636/1.4666/1.4696 for Go/NoGo/Field, the gauge is 1.4636/1.4736 for Min/Max on 5.56 NATO. The brochure goes on to claim that this could mean a premature contact with rifling with 5.56 ammunition if fired from a .223 chamber.NATO Chamber Headspace Gages Available for 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO However, the 2025 SAAMI specification for the headspace dimension on .223 Rem is the same as what Forster claimed for 5.56 NATO: 1.4636 to 1.4736. In any case, the premature contact allegation is likely not based on headspace differences, but on the lede length and angle difference between the two chambers, with 5.56 NATO having a shallower and longer lede. By observation, 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition is not as accurate as .223 Remington in many of the AR-type rifles extant, even with the same bullet weight. The .223 Wylde chamber specification developed by Bill Wylde solves this problem by using the external dimensions and lead angle as found in the military 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the 0.224 inch freebore diameter as found in the civilian SAAMI .223 Remington cartridge. It was designed to increase the accuracy of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition to that of .223 Remington.http://www.americanweaponscomponents.com/products/clearing-the-caliber-confusion-223-wylde-vs-5-56-nato/ Clearing the Caliber Confusion: .223 Wylde vs. 5.56 NATO 16 September 2016 American Weapons Components https://web.archive.org/web/20221218183200/https://www.americanweaponscomponents.com/clearing-the-caliber-confusion-223-wylde-vs-5-56-nato/ December 18, 2022 Other companies also have chamber designs that increase 5.56×45mm NATO accuracy.Noveske Rifleworks 13.7" 5.56 Infidel Gen III Complete Upper http://www.primaryarms.com/noveske-13-7-gen-iii-infidel-5-56-complete-upper-half-w-13-5-nsr-nv03000109 Primaryarms.com 8 March 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20221218183157/https://www.primaryarms.com/ar-15/upper-receivers/complete December 18, 2022 (The "lower accuracy" observation for 5.56 chambers running .223 ammunition has not been reproduced with newer tests.)Chamber Reality Check Patrick Sweeney March–April 2013 Peterson's Rifle Shooter 16 2 32–36 Andrew of LuckyGunner LLC has collected 8 different chamber dimensions from various reamer companies, including .223 Rem, .223 Wylde, and 5.56. He also emphasizes that manufacturing differences will make each actual chamber dimensionally different from others. In addition, he tested 5.56 NATO ammunition in .223 Rem chambers and failed to find dangerous levels of pressure increase.5.56 vs .223 – What You Know May Be Wrong https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/ LuckyGunner.com Labs 22 June 2012 Rifling NATO chose a 178-mm (1-in-7) rifling twist rate for the 5.56×45mm NATO chambering. The SS109/M855 5.56×45mm NATO ball cartridge requires a minimum 228 mm (1-in-9) twist rate, while adequately stabilizing the longer NATO L110/M856 5.56×45mm NATO tracer projectile requires an even faster 178 mm (1-in-7) twist rate. Comparisons The table contains some estimated pressures based on normal proofing practice and on the known increases in pressure caused by bullet setback (which is a similar occurrence with regard to pressure). The proof pressure of M197 is 70,000 psi.Barnes Frank C. Cartridges of the World 2014 Krause Publishing Iola, WI, US 978-1-4402-4265-6 688 The following table shows the differences in nomenclature, rifling, throating, and normal, maximum, and safe pressures:April 2025 Cartridge US designation NATO designation Bullet Rifling Throat Pressure in NATO chamber in 223 SAAMI chamber Safe sustained 223 Remington 223 Rem 55 gr FMJ 1:14 tight 52,000 psi MPa 0 on 52,000 psi MPa 0 on Yes 223 Remington M193 5.56×45mm 55 gr FMJ 1:12 tight 55,000 psi MPa 0 on CCTMIL-C-9963F, 15-10-76 55,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 Yes 223 Remington Federal AE223 5.56×45mm 55 gr FMJBT 1:12 tight 50,000 psi MPa 0 on MCSGN/A N/A 223 Remington Federal AE223 5.56×45mm 55 gr FMJBT 1:12 tight 44,000 psi MPa 0 on CCT49000 psi MPa 0 on Yes 223 Remington M196 5.56×45mm 54 gr Tracer 1:12 tight 55,000 psi MPa 0 on 55,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 Yes 223 Remington M197 C10524197-56-2 1:12 tight 70,000 psi MPa 0 on 70,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 One time only 5.56×45 mm NATO M855 SS109 62 gr ball 1:7 long 62366 psi MPa 0 on EPVAT over 70,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 No 5.56×45 mm NATO M855 SS109 62 gr ball 1:7 long 55000 psi MPa 0 on CCTMIL-C-63989A(AR), 5-10-84 over 70,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 No 5.56×45 mm NATO XM855 (Federal) SS109 62 gr ball 1:7 long 57500 psi MPa 0 on–61500 psi MPa 0 on MCSG 60500 psi MPa 0 on MCSG Yes 5.56×45 mm NATO XM855 (Federal) SS109 62 gr ball 1:7 long 54000 psi MPa 0 on CCT 59000 psi MPa 0 on CCT Yes 5.56×45 mm NATO M856 L110 77 gr Tracer 1:7 long 62366 psi MPa 0 on EPVAT over 70,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 No 5.56×45 mm NATO M857 SS111 Tungsten carbide 1:7 long 62366 psi MPa 0 on EPVAT over 70,000 psi MPa 0 onMay 2025 No 5.56×45 mm NATO Proof Proof unknown 1:7 long 77,958 psi MPa 0 on EPVAT 82,250 psi MPa 0 on estimatedMay 2025 No Key to peak pressure measurement methods: EPVAT: NATO EPVAT testing at case mouth. CCT: chamber conformal transducer. Includes: SAAMI method and SAAMI-like "SCATP" method used by the US Army. CIP: CIP drilled-case. MCSG: mid-case strain gauge, appears to generate slightly higher readings than SAAMI. (no marking): unknown, hence difficult to compare. Notes: "Rifling" and "throat", like chamber dimensions, should be attributes of the firearms themselves, and not of the ammunition. This probably refers to "intended" values for the ammunition. Effects of barrel length on velocity Barrel length helps determine a specific cartridge's muzzle velocity. A longer barrel typically yields a greater muzzle velocity, while a shorter barrel yields a lower one. The first AR-15 rifles used a barrel length of 20". Usage and commercial offerings thumb|150px|(Left to right) .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester The .223 Remington has become one of the most popular cartridges. It is used in a wide range of semiautomatic and manual-action rifles and even handguns, such as the Colt AR-15, Ruger Mini-14, Remington Model 700.https://www.chuckhawks.com/223rem.htm .223 Rem https://web.archive.org/web/20230404185842/https://chuckhawks.com/223rem.htm April 4, 2023http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-most-popular-calibers-in-the-us/ What are the most popular calibers in the US? Knowledge Glue 14 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20230715042246/http://knowledgeglue.com/what-are-the-most-popular-calibers-in-the-us/ July 15, 2023 For example, the cartridge has become widely used in the US, significantly reducing the prevalence of other similar .22 caliber center-fire varmint rifle cartridges such as the .22 Hornet.https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/223-vs-308-a-rifle-caliber-comparison/ 223 vs. 308 – A Rifle Caliber Comparison 15 August 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20190119123552/https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/223-vs-308-a-rifle-caliber-comparison/ January 19, 2019https://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_varmint_cartridges.html https://web.archive.org/web/20230628230915/https://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_varmint_cartridges.html June 28, 2023 Compared: Varmint Cartridges (.204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., .243 Win. And .25-06 Rem.) It is commercially loaded with 0.224-inch (5.7 mm) diameter jacketed bullets, with weights ranging from 35 to 85 grains (2.27 to 5.8 g), with the most common loading by far being 55 gr (3.6 g). Ninety-grain and 95-grain (6.2 g) Sierra Matchking bullets are available for reloaders.https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/9290/224-dia-90-gr-HPBT-MatchKing https://web.archive.org/web/20150427093856/https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/9290/224-dia-90-gr-HPBT-MatchKing dead 2015-04-27 .22 Caliber (.224) 90 gr. HPBT MatchKing Sierra Bullets See also .30 Remington AR 5 mm caliber 6×45mm Delta L problem List of rifle cartridges Sectional density Table of handgun and rifle cartridges References External links .223 Remington Cartridge Guide by AccurateShooter.com A 5.56×45mm Timeline by Daniel Watters Ballistics By The Inch .223 Remington results. 223 Remington Category:Paramilitary cartridges Category:Remington Arms cartridges Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s