Why is the 5.56/.223 still so popular?

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citizenconn

citizenconn

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I know I sound like an agitator from the start, but that is not my intention. I really want to know why so many people are still buying ARs and other long guns in 5.56/.223.

I get that low ammo price and availability is a big consideration. But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do: its an ok varmint round but there are much better ones; the 16", variety which is what most of what I see, is pretty limited in effective range; it has shown that it doesn't have the greatest lethality compared to true mid caliber options like the 7.62x39; yes it comes in an AR, but so does the .224 Valk, 22 Nosler, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II, 7.62x39 ; .350 Legend, .450 BM, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, etc... - all of which are more capable and several much more so.

I've got a lot of ARs in 5.56/.223W in barrel lengths ranging from 8.5" to 24", but for the most part I consider them plinking toys. The only exception are the 20"-24" barreled ones shooting 68-77 grain target bullets at the target range.

People hunt with them. I wouldn't. I have ARs in a half dozen better hunting calibers. Yet I rarely see an AR at the range that is not a 5.56/.223 excepting the occasional .300 BLK pistol.

I welcome your input to help me understand.
citizenconn
 
Like you said, most people dont hunt with them so the more powerful hunting cartridges arent needed. 5.56 works really well as a self defense round and works really well inside of normal combat ranges. It has lower recoil and costs less than the bigger cartridges. 7.62x39 still can be finicky in an AR15 unless you get the models that run AK mags.

For a fighting gun I think the 223/5.56 strikes a great middle ground of mild recoil, low weight, and flat trajectory. 7.62x39 is another great cartridge for a fighting gun but Id take a 5.56 over it personally due to the lower recoil and flatter trajectory. I worked with a guy who tested the 6.8 as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan and he said they found no real improvement over 5.56.
 
C-grunt said:
Like you said, most people dont hunt with them so the more powerful hunting cartridges arent needed. 5.56 works really well as a self defense round and works really well inside of normal combat ranges. It has lower recoil and costs less than the bigger cartridges. 7.62x39 still can be finicky in an AR15 unless you get the models that run AK mags.

For a fighting gun I think the 223/5.56 strikes a great middle ground of mild recoil, low weight, and flat trajectory. 7.62x39 is another great cartridge for a fighting gun but Id take a 5.56 over it personally due to the lower recoil and flatter trajectory. I worked with a guy who tested the 6.8 as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan and he said they found no real improvement over 5.56.
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When Uncle Sugar paid for my ammo, I shot mainly the M16A1 & A2. I feel the added velocity with those longer barrels made the round more effective than the shorter, more maneuverable M4s. But I think the 6.5 Grendel is about the greatest thing going in the AR platform, so I've become biased.
 
I'm betting a large number you see at the range are .223's because they're still cheap to shoot.

I've got 2 bolt guns in .223 and 4 AR15s in .223/5.56:

Rem M7 in .223 for a walking varminter, and my big game rifle "trainer"
Rem M700 in .223, XCR tactical, 20" barrel, varmints and precision practice

Colt LE6920, 5.56 my 1st AR15 and serves for HD
Aero Precision, SPR Build with 18" WOA barrel, Wylde chamber, varmints and precision practice
Aer Precision, build 3Gun comp carbine, Faxon 16" barrel, Wylde chamber
Aero Precision, build 16' Larue PreadatAR barrel, Wylde chamber, coyote calling carbine.

I reload for all of them. There's no issue getting 2800+ out of a 16" barrel with 55 grn Nosler BTs, which is very effective out to 300yds, further than most coyote shots while calling. For a practice cartridge that's cheap to load for and brass that's easy to scrounge, there isn't a better alternative IMHO. The .223 with a 1-9 twist or better easily goes to 500+ yards for distance practice and it's mildly recoiling and with match bullets still affordable.

For big game I've got other rifles, but for varmints and practice it's a very solid choice.
 
It’s a NATO spec cartridge which means it is cheap and available and that’s not likely to change any time soon. It’s also quite capable considering it also comes with light recoil and light overall weight of loaded mags. I’ve killed dozens of pigs and several deer with the 5.56 and have no qualms doing so again. I’ve used the 5.56 in social situations and never felt under-gunned in an urban environment. It isn’t a great choice in the Peshawar Valley of Afghanistan, but the 5.56 certainly does just fine in the cities of Iraq as it did in the jungles of Vietnam.

All that said, I rarely shoot my 5.56 ARs these days as I’ve moved to the 6.8 SPC, 6.5 G and 6mm ARC, but if I had to go back to a life that only afforded me one AR-15, that rifle would likely be chambered in 5.56.
 
Military thinks the 5.56 is still effective, and for the same purpose most AR owners envision using the 5.56. I can't speak to barrel length for the bolt guns. But I'd double up AR and bolt.
 
As others have said, the relatively cheap ammo due to the economy of scale is a big part of it. I can afford to shoot alot more 223 than I can 243 or 308 (which are my other centerfire rifles).

It's great for varmints, which plenty of people purposely hunt or dispatch on their land as needed. Lots of different options/loadings depending on what you're targeting. So while not a do-it-all hunting round it does have its utility in that realm as well.

If the military ever drops 223, I think you'll definitely see a decline in civilian use of 5.56/.223 as the cost will rise without the large contracts to drive down the price with volume.
 
But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do: its an ok varmint round but there are much better ones
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I disagree. I think it is quite versatile. Sure there are other rounds that do some things better, but it does a lot of things acceptably well. That is a lot like the 30-06. Pick any objective and I can name several cartridges that are better than 30-06. But if you want to pick one cartridge to do a lot of things traditionally you'd pick 30-06. The 30-06 is fading in popularity now, but it reigned over all others for a long time.

The 223/5.56 is a proven SD round, in the right rifle with the best loads is a 600 yard target rifle and while there are better varmint rounds it is good enough for the vast majority. It isn't my pick for big game, but in a pinch is an adequate round for game up do deer.

And of course price and availability are a huge part of it.
 
I have had good success with the 223, usually (but not always) in the AR type rifles on deer, turkey, and hogs, in various locations throughout the southeast. Yes, its legal to hunt turkey in Fl on private land with a rifle. I primarily used weapons similar to the AR in the military under almost every condition possible, and used them extensively in combat (where I never felt at a disadvantage when using the M4) both in the military and later as a military contractor, and I used a custom AR when I competed in 3 gun. If I had a defensive requirement for a rifle, I would prefer a 223 AR- compared to fighting extremists, I would think most civilian defensive requirements would be "light work" . So, I am very familiar with the rifle and the round that usually goes in it. As someone living in Fl., I theoretically COULD use such a rifle for anything I could do that would require a centerfire rifle. Not to mention, they are easy to build, repair, maintain, modify, etc. These are the reasons I prefer them.
 
citizenconn said:
But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do: its an ok varmint round but there are much better ones;
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“Better” is a relative term. I’ve had several.22-250’s. The last one was incredibly accurate, but I was going on Prairie dog hunts and the muzzle blast sent them underground in short order. A .223 was totally different

The .223 gives good performance with good barrel life.
 
Cheap ammo coupled with the firepower of the AR15. If you suspect civil breakdown on any level, it’s hard to argue against the AR in 556.

Now sure you can argue that other calibers are better. But they ain’t cheap. And most folks don’t look at x vs y as effective, they look at cost vs good enough.
 
FL-NC said:
I have had good success with the 223, usually (but not always) in the AR type rifles on deer, turkey, and hogs, in various locations throughout the southeast. Yes, its legal to hunt turkey in Fl on private land with a rifle. I primarily used weapons similar to the AR in the military under almost every condition possible, and used them extensively in combat (where I never felt at a disadvantage when using the M4) both in the military and later as a military contractor, and I used a custom AR when I competed in 3 gun. If I had a defensive requirement for a rifle, I would prefer a 223 AR- compared to fighting extremists, I would think most civilian defensive requirements would be "light work" . So, I am very familiar with the rifle and the round that usually goes in it. As someone living in Fl., I theoretically COULD use such a rifle for anything I could do that would require a centerfire rifle. Not to mention, they are easy to build, repair, maintain, modify, etc. These are the reasons I prefer them.
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I am not arguing against the AR. I love the AR. I just think there are a lot of better calibers to chamber it in. I know cost and inertia are limiting factors to shooters adopting a different caliber. But I am just surprised how few shooters I see at any of the ranges I've gone to that are trying alternate chamberings. But I know my personal experience if limited. Heck, I am also surprised that even within those shooting the 5.56, I rarely see a setup that is longer than 16", when the best ballistics of the round are realized with longer barrels and heavier bullets. Hog hunters seem to be the biggest group adopting other calibers.
 
Actually, the 5.56 is a far more devastating cartridge than 7.62x39mm.

5.56 fragments violently due to the high velocity and bullet design. It creates a horrific football shaped internal wound cavity.

7.62x39mm is notorious for pencilling right through flesh and creating wounds no worse than a typical handgun. The bullet is too stable and while the on-paper energy figures are marginally higher than 5.56mm, it’s a very inefficient cartridge. Additionally, it has a rainbow-like trajectory and very short range of only about 200-300 meters max.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
Actually, the 5.56 is a far more devastating cartridge than 7.62x39mm.

5.56 fragments violently due to the high velocity and bullet design. It creates a horrific football shaped internal wound cavity.

7.62x39mm is notorious for pencilling right through flesh and creating wounds no worse than a typical handgun. The bullet is too stable and while the on-paper energy figures are marginally higher than 5.56mm, it’s a very inefficient cartridge. Additionally, it has a rainbow-like trajectory and very short range of only about 200-300 meters max.
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My n=1 personal experience does not jibe with your assessment.

https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Por...es/English/MilitaryReview_20120831_art004.pdf
 
But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do
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Yes, and most people are ok with it limitations and what it CAN do. The 223/556 in the USA is a jack of all trades, hunting, home defense, Varmint, competition, military, plinking…

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one" –
 
citizenconn said:
I really want to know why so many people are still buying ARs and other long guns in 5.56/.223.

I get that low ammo price and availability is a big consideration. But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do…
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Low price and availability is an even larger consideration when your only wants are inside the limits of the round.

Same reason the .22 LR is even more popular. Not because of what it can’t do but what it can.
 
citizenconn said:
I know I sound like an agitator from the start, but that is not my intention. I really want to know why so many people are still buying ARs and other long guns in 5.56/.223.

I get that low ammo price and availability is a big consideration. But the 5.56 is pretty limited in what it can do: its an ok varmint round but there are much better ones; the 16", variety which is what most of what I see, is pretty limited in effective range; it has shown that it doesn't have the greatest lethality compared to true mid caliber options like the 7.62x39; yes it comes in an AR, but so does the .224 Valk, 22 Nosler, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II, 7.62x39 ; .350 Legend, .450 BM, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf, etc... - all of which are more capable and several much more so.

I've got a lot of ARs in 5.56/.223W in barrel lengths ranging from 8.5" to 24", but for the most part I consider them plinking toys. The only exception are the 20"-24" barreled ones shooting 68-77 grain target bullets at the target range.

People hunt with them. I wouldn't. I have ARs in a half dozen better hunting calibers. Yet I rarely see an AR at the range that is not a 5.56/.223 excepting the occasional .300 BLK pistol.

I welcome your input to help me understand.
citizenconn
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223 was one of my dad's favorite coyote rounds. He claimed it actually put them down more reliably than 22-250. I shot a raccoon at 100 yds with my 22" 223 Remington, and killed it plus the one behind it.

The real reason it is so popular is because it is the military round and that means: familiarity, commonality, surplus supplies, components, the list goes on and on.

Other reasons people select 223 include low recoil, high velocity, it is an accurate round. Good performance for the price.
 
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I don't think the prices are all that low lately. Maybe cheaper than other rifle rounds other than 7.62x39 but I swear 5.56 keeps going up around here in stores. I've yet to find lately in store even .50 cent a round. Hell most is closer to a $1 a round for plain green tips l. Mind you this is on store in my area, online is different
 
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