The rule I've always understood is you can shoot a .223 in a 5.56 chamber but should not shoot a 5.56 in a .223 chamber.
A significant part of this issue involves not just the ammo standing alone, but also the chamber the ammo is fired in. Leade dimension in 5.56 chambered rifles is longer by design than the standard .223 chambering. More space equates to less pressure. Less space equates to more pressure.
...which has led to one of the many myths concerning 5.56. You'd be surprised to see how many "5.56" chambers gauge out as being closer to .223. And vice versa.
Which is why some barrels are pricier than others. Tolerances are tighter on the pricier models.
When reloading, is there a tolerance level +/- on sizing or is it exact? I know this will probably start a knife fight, but I know consistency is a key factor for accuracy.
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Yeah well, I don't play golf so...The short (er) answer is that the reloading steps you might take, as well as the tolerances you might strive for....not to mention the money spent....will depend greatly upon what level of precision you're trying to achieve.
By way of an example, a good hunting rifle of yesteryear would group at 2 inches or less at 100 yards with premium factory ammunition. That standard today, with a good many rifles, has moved closer to one inch. Either and both can be likely and most times improved today by reloading. But only so far.
Now improved how much? Well, by way of comparison, I believe the 200 yard benchrest rifle record to be a group of .110 inches. As in 11/100 of an inch. And the record at 1000 yards is still (I believe) 1.068 inches.
Not 100 yards, but rather 200 yards and 1000 yards! Think about that for a minute. Most here aren't doing that. Not anywhere near it. And not me for sure.
Having dabbled in it enough over the years to know not to quit my day job, I like to use a golf analogy when thinking about reloading and precision.
If you have never played the game, the chances that you'll break 100 in golf the first time you play are about slim and none. Deemed to be an interesting game or otherwise, golf is a difficult game. But should you truly look to play and improve, and if you start consistently doing just a few things better....not necessarily perfectly "right", but simply better....you'll find yourself relatively soon knocking on the door of golf's first real
milestone....which is the ability for the first time to be breaking 100.
Now if you should want to be able to break 90?
Now that's a whole different animal. Though only 10 strokes of difference, you're going to have to do some things right, and you're going to have to do more than a few things better.
At 80, you're now doing a lot of things that most others aren't doing. You're doing a lot of things very right, and you're doing most everything else far better.
At 70, you're playing in another world than the 80 player entirely.
If 66 is consistently within the realm of your capability , you're capable of playing with the elites, and likely to be on tour.
Yeah well, I don't play golf so...
Just kidding! Good post unc!
...which has led to one of the many myths concerning 5.56. You'd be surprised to see how many "5.56" chambers gauge out as being closer to .223. And vice versa.
Its amazing how many of these myths weren't around before the internet...
Brass is brass. Any time one changes any component, including the brass, the load should be tested from a point below maximum to determine safe max in your rifle with your components.
What has changed to change this VERY basic safety principle?
Brass is brass. Any time one changes any component, including the brass, the load should be tested from a point below maximum to determine safe max in your rifle with your components.
What has changed to change this VERY basic safety principle?
Was looking at a Facebook page on Long Range Shooting, saw a posting regarding .223 brass, and had the random thought: can you load .223 Rem brass to 5.56 NATO spec? Is .223 Rem brass the same as 5.56 NATO brass just a different headstamp?
Q