.223 Remington
.223 Remington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() A variety of .223 Remington cartridges with a .308 Winchester (right) for comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Designer | Remington Arms | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Designed | 1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Produced | 1964–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Variants | .223 Ackley Improved, 5.56×45mm NATO | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent case | .222 Remington | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 0.224 in (5.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | 0.253 in (6.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | 0.354 in (9.0 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | 0.376 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | 0.378 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | 0.045 in (1.1 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 1.76 in (45 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 2.26 in (57 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case capacity | 28.8 grain H2O (1.87 ml) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rifling twist | 1 in 12 inch (military-style rifles use 1:7 to 1:10 to stabilize longer bullets) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Small rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure (SAAMI) | 55,000 psi (380 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure (CIP) | 62,366 psi (430.00 MPa) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum CUP | 52000 CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 24 inches (61 cm) Source(s): [1][2] |
The .223 Remington (designated as the 223 Remington by the SAAMI[3] and 223 Rem by the CIP[4]) is a rimless, bottlenecked rifle 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. The .223 Remington is considered one of the most popular cartridges and is currently used by a wide range of semi-automatic and manual-action rifles as well as handguns.
In the US Army, the cartridge is referred to as "Cartridge, 5.56 mm ball M193". The 5.56×45mm NATO was also developed from the 223 Remington.[5]
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Cartridges_.222_Remington%2C_.223_Remington_%26_5.56x45mm_NATO.jpg/220px-Cartridges_.222_Remington%2C_.223_Remington_%26_5.56x45mm_NATO.jpg)
The development of the cartridge, which eventually became the .223 Remington, was intrinsically linked to the development of a new lightweight combat rifle. The cartridge and rifle were developed by Fairchild Industries, Remington Arms, and several engineers working toward a goal developed by U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC). Early development work began in 1957. A project to create a small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) firearm was created. Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite was also invited to scale down the AR-10 (7.62×51mm NATO) design.[6] Winchester was also invited to participate.[7][5]
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.[5]
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 showed chamber pressures to be excessively high.[7][5]
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.[5]
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.[5] 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 M-14 rifle. At an Independence Day picnic, Air Force General Curtis Le May 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 trials.[5]
In 1961, a marksmanship testing compared the AR-15 and M-14; 43% of ArmaLite AR-15 shooters achieved Expert, while only 22% of M-14 rifle shooters did. Le May ordered 80,000 rifles.[5] In July 1962, operational testing ended with a recommendation for adoption of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle chambered in .223 Remington.[5] 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.[5]
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.[7]
Cartridge dimensions[]
The .223 Remington has a 28.8-grain H2O (1.87 ml) cartridge case capacity.[8]
.223 Remington maximum CIP cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).[4]
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 millimetres (0.219 in), Ø grooves = 5.69 millimetres (0.224 in), land width = 1.88 millimetres (0.074 in) and the primer type is small rifle.
According to the official CIP rulings, the .223 Remington can handle up to 430.00 MPa (62,366 psi) 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.[4] This means that .223 Remington chambered arms in CIP-regulated countries are currently (2016) proof tested at 537.50 MPa (77,958 psi) 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 (55,000 psi), piezo pressure.[9][10] Remington submitted .223 Remington specifications to SAAMI in 1964.[5]
.223 Remington vs. 5.56×45mm NATO[]
In 1980, the .223 Remington was transformed into a new cartridge and designated 5.56×45mm NATO (SS109 or M855).[5]
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 handloaded, 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.[8][11]
Rifling[]
The Sturm, Ruger & Co. AR-556 has rifling at 1:8. Their Mini-14 rifles have rates of 1:9. Ruger's American bolt-action rifle is also in 1:8.[12] Smith and Wesson in their M&P15 also uses 1:7.[13]
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. The current pressure of 55,000 psi (379 MPa) resulted from the change from IMR to Olin Ball powder.[5] The official name for .223 Remington in the US Army is cartridge 5.56 x 45mm 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.[8] 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 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.[5]
Chambers[]
The .223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO barrel chamberings are not the same.[14] While the cartridges are identical other than powder load, bullet weight, and chamber pressure, a significant difference is in barrel of the rifle to be used, not in the cartridge. The 5.56×45mm NATO chambers are dimensionally larger in certain critical areas than .223 Remington chambers. As the chambers differ accordingly the head space gauges used for the two chamberings differ.[15]
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.[16] Other companies also have chamber designs that increase 5.56×45mm NATO accuracy.[17]
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.[18]
The following table shows the differences in nomenclature, rifling, throating, and normal, maximum, and safe pressures:[5][7]
Cartridge | US designation | NATO designation | Bullet | Rifling | Throat | Pressure in NATO chamber | in 223 SAAMI chamber | Safe sustained |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
223 Remington | 223 Rem | 55gr FMJ | 1:14 | tight | 52,000 psi (359 MPa) | 52,000 psi (359 MPa) | Yes | |
223 Remington | M193 | 5.56×45mm | 55gr FMJ | 1:12 | tight | 55,000 psi (379 MPa) | 55,000 psi (379 MPa) | Yes |
223 Remington | M197 | C10524197-56-2 | 1:12 | tight | 70,000 psi (483 MPa) | 70,000 psi (483 MPa) | One time only | |
5.56×45 mm NATO | M855 | SS109 | 62 gr ball | 1:7 | long | 62,366 psi (430 MPa) EPVAT | over 70,000 psi (483 MPa) | No |
5.56×45 mm NATO | M856 | L110 | 77gr Tracer | 1:7 | long | 62,366 psi (430 MPa) EPVAT | over 70,000 psi (483 MPa) | No |
5.56×45 mm NATO | M857 | SS111 | Tungsten carbide | 1:7 | long | 62,366 psi (430 MPa) EPVAT | over 70,000 psi (483 MPa) | No |
5.56×45 mm NATO | Proof | Proof | unknown | 1:7 | long | 77,958 psi (538 MPa) EPVAT | 82,250 psi (567 MPa) estimated | No |
Beside the NATO EPVAT testing pressure testing protocols the other employed peak pressure measurement methodology or methodologies to correlate this table remain unknown.
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 short barrel yields a lower one. The first AR-15 rifles used a barrel length of 20". In the case of the 223 Remington (M193), ammunition loses or gains about 25.7 ft/sec for each inch of barrel length, while 5.56×45 mm NATO (M855) loses or gains 30.3 ft/sec per inch of barrel length.[19]
Usage and commercial offerings[]
The .223 Remington has become one of the most popular cartridges and is currently 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, Remington XP-100, etc.[20][21] The popularity of .223 Remington is so great, that in the US it virtually eliminated all other similar .22 caliber center-fire varmint rifle cartridges.[22][23]
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- and 95-grain Sierra Matchking bullets are available for reloaders.[24]
See also[]
- .30 RAR
- 5 mm caliber
- 6×45mm
- Delta L problem
- List of rifle cartridges
- Sectional density
- Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
References[]
- ^ "223 REM". federalpremium.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "223 Remington". black-hills.com. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ SAAMI Cartridge & Chamber Drawings 223 Remington, Page 68
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "C.I.P. TDCC .223 Rem" (PDF). CIP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Watters, Daniel. "A 5.56 X 45mm 'Timeline'". thegunzone.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "History of the .223 Remington Cartridge". Fenix Ammunition. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Barnes, Frank C. (2016). Cartridges of the World. Iola, WI, USA: Krause Publishing. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-4402-4265-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "223 Rem + 223 AI Cartridge Guide". 6mmbr.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ "SAAMI Pressures". Leverguns.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "ANSI/SAAMI Velocity & Pressure Data: Centerfire Rifle" (PDF). Saami.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ "5.56 vs .223 – What You Know May Be Wrong". LuckyGunner.com. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ "Ruger Catalog". Ruger.com.
- ^ "Model M&P15". Smith & Wesson. Archived from the original on 2016-07-18. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
- ^ ".223 Remington and 5.56×45mm NATO Chamber dimensions differences". imageshack.us. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014.
- ^ NATO Chamber Headspace GagesAvailable for 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO
- ^ "Clearing the Caliber Confusion: .223 Wylde vs. 5.56 NATO". American Weapons Components. 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Noveske Rifleworks 13.7" 5.56 Infidel Gen III Complete Upper". Primaryarms.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Frank C. (2014). Cartridges of the World. Iola, WI, USA: Krause Publishing. p. 688. ISBN 978-1-4402-4265-6.
- ^ "223 Remington/5.56 NATO, velocity versus barrel length: A man, his chop box and his friend's rifle". Rifleshooter.com. 20 April 2014.
- ^ ".223 Rem".
- ^ "What are the most popular calibers in the US?". 14 September 2015.
- ^ "223 vs. 308 - A Rifle Caliber Comparison". 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Compared: Varmint Cartridges (.204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., .243 Win. And .25-06 Rem.)".
- ^ ".22 Caliber (.224) 90 gr. HPBT MatchKing". Sierra Bullets. Archived from the original on 2015-04-27.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to .223 Remington. |
- .223 Remington Cartridge Guide by AccurateShooter.com
- A 5.56×45mm Timeline by Daniel Watters
- Ballistics By The Inch .223 Remington results.
- Pistol and rifle cartridges
- Paramilitary cartridges
- Remington Arms cartridges
- Military equipment introduced in the 1960s