Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

I have both 223 and 5.56 rounds on hand, pic related. My AR's lower says .223 caliber, but it has a 5.56 NATO barrel on it. I assume due to the barrel it's safe to shoot the 5.56, but what about the 223?

Before thinking about it much I've shot both through it, and nothing went wrong. Well, yet. After thinking about it I'd rather get some second opinions before chancing it again.

Internet literature and video research turned up inconclusive results, at least from what I found.

I have both 223 and 5.56 rounds on hand, pic related. My AR's lower says .223 caliber, but it has a 5.56 NATO barrel on it. I assume due to the barrel it's safe to shoot the 5.56, but what about the 223? Before thinking about it much I've shot both through it, and nothing went wrong. Well, yet. After thinking about it I'd rather get some second opinions before chancing it again. Internet literature and video research turned up inconclusive results, at least from what I found.

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (24).
[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Correct answer goes to glock20!

As for which you should buy/when to use which, whatever .223 is cheapest for practice, 5.56 62gr M855 "green tip" in your SHTF mags because in a long enough barrel they are a match for the type of body armor you might have to worry about from the people most likely to attack you or your house with actual gear on.

[–] • 1 pt

Those M855 green tips aren't very expensive either. I've been getting 20 round boxes for about $14 at my local outdoors store and have been switching them into my mags. Gives me a chance to use the FMJs in there for a little practice, too.