Which Ammo Is Safe For My AR?

jwhite75 · October 12th, 2009, 11:53 AM

OK...just when i was starting to get a handle on my understanding of which ARs could and could not fire 5.56, I am re-confused by my own rifle. I have owned my COLT AR-15 a3 LE/govt Carbine, for several years now. I bought it NIB for an absolutely awesome deal. Had it not been for this deal I would not be an AR owner probably. I have shot it very little. Always using .223. I was fondling it a little and putting on a light coat of oil yesterday. It was part of a special run getting 16" heavy target barrels. The receiver is marked .223. The barrel says "5.56 NATO/HBAR". For you AR gurus, am I safe to shoot 5.56?

varob · October 12th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Mine is marked .223/5.56 so I use both? But, I'm not an AR guru.

Blackeagle · October 12th, 2009, 12:05 PM

Should be safe to use 5.56mm.

C hawk Glock · October 12th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwhite75

OK...just when i was starting to get a handle on my understanding of which ARs could and could not fire 5.56, I am re-confused by my own rifle. I have owned my COLT AR-15 a3 LE/govt Carbine, for several years now. I bought it NIB for an absolutely awesome deal. Had it not been for this deal I would not be an AR owner probably. I have shot it very little. Always using .223. I was fondling it a little and putting on a light coat of oil yesterday. It was part of a special run getting 16" heavy target barrels. The receiver is marked .223. The barrel says "5.56 NATO/HBAR". For you AR gurus, am I safe to shoot 5.56?

You can shoot either round with that Colt barrel, there are other specific rifle models from some manufacturers that you can only shoot .223 (Some bushmaster models etc.) When I first got my AR i shot quite a few 5.56 just to test it out and I didn't see any real differences.

By the way, keep that AR wet!

nitrohead · October 12th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Can't remember the particulars, but you can shoot .223 in a 5.56mm, but you can't shoot 5.56 in a .223. If your barrel is marked 5.56, then you're ok. I can't remember if it has something to do with headspace, case shoulder dimensions, chamber pressures, or what. If I'm wrong, anyone please feel free to correct me.

Janq · October 12th, 2009, 12:26 PM

"...you can shoot .223 in a 5.56mm, but you can't shoot 5.56 in a .223. If your barrel is marked 5.56" - Nitrohead

Correct ^^

Same as you can fire .38 out of a .357 Mag but not .357 Mag out of a .38.
The reasons for this are different as from that of a rifle (not just ARs) but the concept of ammunition interchangeability remain the same there.

For maximum flexibility in a rifle/carbine/pistol get one that is chambered for 5.56 and you can support conventional .223 Remington no problem, including .223 Wylde as well.

- Janq

Rcher · October 12th, 2009, 12:27 PM

If the barrel is marked 5.56, this means its chambered for 5.56.

Mine is marked .223/5.56 and I can shoot either. Your questions may be better answered at ARFCOM, AR15.Com This is where the guru's are.

C hawk Glock · October 12th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janq

"...you can shoot .223 in a 5.56mm, but you can't shoot 5.56 in a .223. If your barrel is marked 5.56" - Nitrohead

Correct ^^

Same as you can fire .38 out of a .357 Mag but not .357 Mag out of a .38.
The reasons for this are different as from that of a rifle (not just ARs) but the concept of ammunition interchangeability remain the same there.

For maximum flexibility in a rifle/carbine/pistol get one that is chambered for 5.56 and you can support conventional .223 Remington no problem, including .223 Wylde as well.

- Janq

Spot on.

jwhite75 · October 12th, 2009, 01:20 PM

Good to know. Dont know why I had never noticed that the receiver was marked one way and the barrel another. Guess I dont shoot it enough. LOL

MinistrMalic · October 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM

That 5.56 barrel will shoot them both just fine. Good luck finding ammo that isn't a ripoff though!

October 12th, 2009, 11:53 AM	#1
jwhite75 VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,306	Which Ammo Is Safe For My AR? OK...just when i was starting to get a handle on my understanding of which ARs could and could not fire 5.56, I am re-confused by my own rifle. I have owned my COLT AR-15 a3 LE/govt Carbine, for several years now. I bought it NIB for an absolutely awesome deal. Had it not been for this deal I would not be an AR owner probably. I have shot it very little. Always using .223. I was fondling it a little and putting on a light coat of oil yesterday. It was part of a special run getting 16" heavy target barrels. The receiver is marked .223. The barrel says "5.56 NATO/HBAR". For you AR gurus, am I safe to shoot 5.56? __________________ Friends don't let friends be MALL NINJAS. "May God have mercy on my enemies...because I won't." -Gen. George S. Patton.

October 12th, 2009, 11:58 AM	#2
varob Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,273	Mine is marked .223/5.56 so I use both? But, I'm not an AR guru. __________________ Don't believe what you hear and only half of what you see! -Tony Soprano

October 12th, 2009, 12:26 PM	#6
Janq VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,519	"...you can shoot .223 in a 5.56mm, but you can't shoot 5.56 in a .223. If your barrel is marked 5.56" - Nitrohead Correct ^^ Same as you can fire .38 out of a .357 Mag but not .357 Mag out of a .38. The reasons for this are different as from that of a rifle (not just ARs) but the concept of ammunition interchangeability remain the same there. For maximum flexibility in a rifle/carbine/pistol get one that is chambered for 5.56 and you can support conventional .223 Remington no problem, including .223 Wylde as well. - Janq __________________ "Killers who are not deterred by laws against murder are not going to be deterred by laws against guns. " - Robert A. Levy Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Op Ed -- The Washington Post

October 12th, 2009, 12:27 PM	#7
Rcher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Montana (resident) Utah (currently) Posts: 1,092	If the barrel is marked 5.56, this means its chambered for 5.56. Mine is marked .223/5.56 and I can shoot either. Your questions may be better answered at ARFCOM, AR15.Com This is where the guru's are. __________________ >>----> Keep it Concealed: *"The Element of Surprise is Far Superior than the Target of Fate".*

October 12th, 2009, 01:20 PM	#9
jwhite75 VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,306	Good to know. Dont know why I had never noticed that the receiver was marked one way and the barrel another. Guess I dont shoot it enough. LOL __________________ Friends don't let friends be MALL NINJAS. "May God have mercy on my enemies...because I won't." -Gen. George S. Patton.

October 12th, 2009, 12:05 PM	#3
Blackeagle Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,997	Should be safe to use 5.56mm.

October 12th, 2009, 12:16 PM	#5
nitrohead Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 73	Can't remember the particulars, but you can shoot .223 in a 5.56mm, but you can't shoot 5.56 in a .223. If your barrel is marked 5.56, then you're ok. I can't remember if it has something to do with headspace, case shoulder dimensions, chamber pressures, or what. If I'm wrong, anyone please feel free to correct me.

October 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM	#10
MinistrMalic Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 484	That 5.56 barrel will shoot them both just fine. Good luck finding ammo that isn't a ripoff though! __________________ "...whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one." (Luke 22:36) Here is my blog if you're interested :)

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