Do you like 223/556 ?

Do you like 223/556 ?

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Legionnaire said:
I shoot .223 more than 5.56. I like it for varmints and for targets. I have a stash of 5.56 for my AR, but I'm not much of an AR guy. I much prefer .223 in a bolt action.
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I've been considering a bolt action rifle chambered in 223 for bobcat and coyote, but I already have a 243 so there isn't much use for it in that situation.
 
It's ok as a varmint round. Premium ammo to realize it's accuracy potential costs about the same as .22-250, which is a far better varmint round. Plinking ammo in 5.56 is cheap and plentiful, but it is only suitable for plinking and casual target shooting. I prefer the 7.62x39 as an intermediate rifle round, but do prefer the AR to the AK platform.
 
You forgot HD/SD. Good for all of the above. I like both AR's and bolt actions in .223/5.56.

There certainly are other good cartridges around. I shunned the .223/5.56 for years because for years I couldn't hunt with it, and parroted the ".223 is too small for deer" line for years. Not long after WI went to rifle statewide, my son got a .223 bolt action, and proceeded to rack up the (deer) body count. So I got one. Never did get a deer with it; my son wanted another axis, and his 870 back, so I traded him my Axis and his 870 for his DPMS Sportical. Hunted with that one year, didn't get a shot. Then I built an AR pistol, that will be my next hunting gun.
 
entropy said:
You forgot HD/SD. Good for all of the above. I like both AR's and bolt actions in .223/5.56.

There certainly are other good cartridges around. I shunned the .223/5.56 for years because for years I couldn't hunt with it, and parroted the ".223 is too small for deer" line for years. Not long after WI went to rifle statewide, my son got a .223 bolt action, and proceeded to rack up the (deer) body count. So I got one. Never did get a deer with it; my son wanted another axis, and his 870 back, so I traded him my Axis and his 870 for his DPMS Sportical. Hunted with that one year, didn't get a shot. Then I built an AR pistol, that will be my next hunting gun.
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Thank you for reminding me.
 
I was married to one for a while. I guess that makes the SP1 I had at the same time a concubine. The marriage didn't last and I sold the SP1. I have come to own two more rifles chambered in 5.56. That cartridge doesn't do anything better than the other rifles I have. It just does it for less money.
 
I checked everything but "no".

I've got 2 bolt guns in .223 and 2 AR15s, one in 5.56 the other with a Wylde chamber, I keep one loaded with 5.56 rds and use the other for 3gun matches. The bolt guns are great for inexpensive practice out to 600 yds and varmints. Had one out back yesterday and the other out today. I probably shoot those two bolt .223s more than any other rifle I own. Don't hunt deer with one, but do hunt coyotes and muskrats with them. Brass is pretty much free and it's cheap and easy to load for even with match bullets, barrels last a while.
 
Well I have an AR. But 223/5.56 is a pitiful little bullet. Suitable for poking holes in humans and such, not a whole lot else. I don't find the cartridge more accurate than others and it's not powerful either. I won't load it because tinkering with all those tiny components and reaming primer pockets is just too much. I fire 600 (10 mags in the spring & 10 in the fall) rounds per year to ensure all the little doo dad's are working alright in my modern rifle. Filthy, oily, loud and weak- an awesome combo.
I will say that since the pandemic hit I have kept it by my bed, I've got a lot of tp and bacon to protect.
It's a necessary round for self defense against 2 legged snakes, not much else. YMMV.
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I chose yes for everything but hunting. If I were a predator hunter, or shot gophers or something similar I’d have checked yes for that too.

I hand load tons of it for plinking and/or target shooting in a couple of AR’s. It’s great for teaching new shooters or a step up for young ones who’ve only shot 22’s. I keep a few loaded mags for HD use too. I hear lots about how it’s too small or weak but I sure don’t want to ever be in the receiving end of it.
 
CapnMac said:
Your list is not inclusive enough for me [:)]

Ok, it's not my choice for moose or water buffalo; decidedly lean for anti-aircraft or anti-materiel use.
Mind, those are not uses I'm likely to put 5.56 to, too.
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That made me laugh. :thumbup:

I feel the same way about 223/5.56. I've been shooting 5.56 since I was 17. The round has served me well on a few foreign sunny vacations that Uncle sent me on. While it isn't me first choice for deer, I will use it. It does just fine on varmints (both 2 and 4 legged). I keep at least one AR loaded with 5.56 along with my Mossberg 410 Shockwave around the house for SD/HD.
 
My first 223 Rem/5.56 NATO experience was in Service Rifle Competition. I was impressed with the accuracy of my competition AR-15 rifle although I could never live up to its capabilities.

I've dabbled with an AR-15 carbine or two, a long barrel AR-15 for prairie dogs and a couple bolt rifles for prairie dogs.

Ultimately, I ended up shooting 204 Ruger at my prairie dog adventures, both a bolt rifle and a long barrel AR-15. The 204 Ruger with 40 grain bullets shoots a bit flatter a couple hundred yards farther than a 55 grain 223 Remington. It allows for less fiddling with the scope.

223 Remington is a good cartridge and I have no plans to delete it from my inventory.
 
I’m another which clicked all options of the poll, save “no.”

With 223/5.56 I have:

• Hunted deer, hogs, prairie dogs, coyotes, and sundry small game

• Competed in multiple formats; 3 gun, Service Rifle, and benchrest (G3)

• Employed, but luckily not deployed, in HD

• Prevented depredation of livestock

• Plinked for pleasure

• Practiced long range competition skills as an analogy for a larger cartridge

With so many uses, I have more rifles and specialty pistols chambered in 223/5.56 than any other cartridge.
 
Only thing I like about it is the cheap ammo. It's loud just for plinking vs similar cheap loads like x39 and pistol loads for PCCs, and I'd rather have a 22-250 for varminting. Varminting's admittedly not really my thing, but I've seen what the extra velocity on the 22-250s can do to prairie dogs though.
 
Last edited:
mustanger98 said:
Nah, too loud... liked my old .25-06 a lot better.
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I was at the range once with the Ranch Rifle, at a bench under the roof, and announced that I was going to fire. The family expert a few tables down told everyone not to put on ears as the 223 was not loud enough to warrant hearing protection.
 
I like it as a general purpose rifle. I have a few bolt actions, a Mini-14, and AR-15s chambered in .223 or 5.56. They make for easy guns to shoot well as they have minimal recoil. This also makes them good for newer or younger shooters. The ammo is also cheaper than the vast majority of centerfire cartridges. It is also easy and economical to reload for.
Overall I think they are fine cartridges than could fill just about any role with proper bullet selection as long as it’s limits are understood.
 
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