Difference Between 5.56 and 223

May 2022 · 5 minute read

The 5.56 or 5.56x45mm ammunition, as it is most commonly called, is a heavily loaded round with high pressure. The pressure exerted by the 5.56 cartridge or ammunition is roughly 58,000 psi.

The Remington.223 or.233 ammo is specially engineered to tolerate less pressure than 5.56 ammo. The pressure exerted by .233 ammunition is estimated to be around 55,000 psi.

5.56 vs 223

The main difference between 5.56 and .223 ammo is that the 5.56 or 5.56x45mm ammunition, as it is commonly known, is a heavily loaded round that produces a lot of pressure. Furthermore, the chambers of this ammunition have been specifically built to resist and retain tremendous pressure. The Remington.223 or.233 ammo is designed to tolerate less pressure than 5.56 ammo. The.233 chambers aren’t built to withstand a lot of pressure, either.

The distance between the location where the bullet engages the weapon and the mouth of the cartridge is greater with 5.56mm ammo. Aside from that, it’s noted to have a larger leade with a less steep slope than.233 ammunition Chambers. Because 5.56 ammunition has a longer leade, it aids in achieving reduced accuracy with increased velocity while also reducing the pressure applied. Because it has a longer throat than its counterpart,.233 ammo, the 5.56 ammo is believed to perform better.

The distance between the area where the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the mouth of the cartridge is shorter when using .233 ammunition. It has a steeper slant and a shorter leade than 5.56 ammo Chambers. Because .233 ammunition has a shorter leade, it aids in greater accuracy while maintaining a lower velocity but higher pressure. Because it has a shorter throat than 5.56 ammunition, the .233 ammo is known to have lower performance.

Comparison Table Between 5.56 and 223

Parameters of Comparison5.56223
PerformanceBetterComparatively less
Pressure exerted58,000 psi55,000 psi
Leade length, AngleLonger, less steep angleShorter, steeper angle
AccuracyLowHigh
VelocityHighLow

What is 5.56?

The pressure exerted by 5.56 ammo or ammunition is roughly 58,000 psi. Because it has a longer throat than its counterpart,.233 ammo, 5.56 ammo is believed to perform better. The 5.56 or 5.56x45mm ammunition, as it is commonly known, is a heavily loaded round with high pressure.

Furthermore, the chambers of this cartridge have been carefully built to withstand and hold tremendous pressure. The distance between the location where the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the mouth of the cartridge is greater with 5.56mm ammo.

Otherwise, it is known to have a larger leade with a less steep slope.233 ammunition Chambers. Because 5.56 ammunition has a longer leade, it aids in achieving lower accuracy while increasing velocity, and the pressure exerted is likewise modest.

What is 223?

The pressure exerted by.233 ammunition or ammo is estimated to be around 55,000 psi. Because the.233 ammo has a shorter throat than the 5.56 ammo, it is known to deliver less performance.

The Remington.223 or.233 ammunition is specifically intended to tolerate less pressure than 5.56 ammo. The.233 chambers are also not built to withstand high pressure. Because.233 ammunition has a shorter leade, it aids in obtaining improved accuracy while maintaining a lower velocity but higher pressure.

The distance between the place where the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the mouth of the cartridge is shorter with.233 ammunition. It has a shorter leade and a steeper angle than the 5.56 ammo Chambers.

Main Differences Between 5.56 and 223

  • The popularly known 5.56 or the 5.56x45mm ammunition is highly loaded ammunition that exerts extremely high pressure. Moreover, the chambers of this ammo are specially designed so that they can withstand and hold onto high pressure. On the other hand, the 223 or .233 Remington ammunition is specially designed to withstand comparatively less pressure than 5.56 ammo. The chambers of .233 are also not designed to bear heavy pressure.
  • In the case of 5.56mm ammo, the distance between the area the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the cartridge’s mouth is more. Otherwise, it is known to possess a larger leade with a less steep angle than the Chambers of .233 ammo. On the other hand, in the case of .233 ammo, the distance between the area the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the cartridge’s mouth is less. It possesses a shorter leade with a steeper angle than the Chambers of 5.56 ammo.
  • Due to the reason that 5.56 ammo possesses longer leade, it helps in acquiring reduced accuracy with increased velocity, and the pressure exerted is also low. On the other hand, due to the reason that .233 ammo possesses a shorter leade, it helps in acquiring increased accuracy with a decreased velocity but with increased pressure.
  • The 5.56 ammo or ammunition exerts a high pressure which is 58,000 psi approximately. On the other hand, The .233 ammunition or ammo is known to exert a pressure of 55,000 psi approximately.
  • The 5.56 ammo is known to provide better performance as it possesses a longer throat than its counterpart, .233 ammo. On the other hand, the .233 ammo is known to provide comparatively lesser performance as it possesses a shorter throat than the 5.56 ammo.
  • Conclusion

    The chambers of 5.56 ammo have been carefully built to resist and retain tremendous pressure. The distance between the place where the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the cartridge’s mouth is greater with 5.56mm ammo. Aside from that, it’s known to have a longer leade and a less steep angle than the Chambers of.233 ammunition.

    Whereas, The.233 chambers are likewise not meant to withstand a lot of pressure. The distance between the place where the bullet is engaged in the rifle and the cartridge’s mouth is shorter with.233 ammunition. It has a shorter leade and a steeper angle than 5.56 ammo Chambers.

    As 5.56 ammunition has a longer leade, it aids in obtaining reduced accuracy while increasing velocity, and the pressure exerted is likewise modest. Because it has a longer throat than.233 bullets, 5.56 ammo is known to function better.

    Whereas .233 ammunition has a shorter leade, it aids in obtaining improved accuracy with a lower velocity but higher pressure. The.233 ammo is renowned for having a worse performance than the 5.56 ammo due to its shorter throat.

    References

  • https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA530895
  • https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA317929
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