.223 and .224?

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

Hello,

Sam here. I am browsing a catalogue and preparing to try some new bullets in handloaded cartridges. I am running across these low weight .223 bullets, and then seeing lots of .224 in my reguler weights and models (BTHP, SP, Moly, etc). I believe .224 is the standard AR size, but then why does everyone SAY .223 when referring to AR and military rounds? I did search this before posting. . . .

hmmm

ST



ps - have read prior 5.56 stuff, still have above question unresolved, thanks for the help

 

[nitesite]

Deleted

 

[Lone_Gunman]

The AR is usually chambered for the .223 Remington cartridge, which is interchangeable usually with the 5.56 mm NATO cartridge.

223 Remington/5.56 mm NATO both use .224 caliber bullets.

Many cartridges don't use the diameter bullets that is implied by their names. For example, 38 special uses .357 inch caliber bullets. .45 ACP uses .451 or .452 inch caliber bullets.

 

[LHB1]

ST,
I believe the .223 diameter bullets are primarily for .22 Hornet. AFAIK, most if not all other .22 centerfires use .224 bullets.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

ps: +1 on names not necessarily indicating correct bullet diameter. A cartridge name is only for advertising.

 

[griz]

As Lone Gunman said, you often can't tell the real diameter by the name. The 220 swift, the 221 fireball, 222, 223, 225 winchester, and many other cartridges, all use bullets of .224 inches.

 

[Jim Watson]

As said, you have bullets and barrels on one hand, "product identification" on the other. Consider that .218 Bee, .219 Zipper, .220 Swift, .221 Fireball, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .224 Weatherby, and .225 Winchester ALL shoot .224" diameter bullets.

Modern .22 Hornets do, too, but older ones were .223" because for a while they used the same barrel specs as .22 long rifle.

And for a couple of oddballs, .22 Jet bullets are .222" and .22 Savage Highpower bullets are .227".

There is no real system, or rather, there are several different systems in use across the calibers. You just have to learn them. Cartridges of the World is a good reference although secondary or tertiary and not complete or totally accurate.

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

whoa

awesome...thanks.
st

 

[Highland Ranger]

makes me want to just jump into reloading. . . . . .