In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

.223 Bolt Action Question

74man74man Member Posts: 162 ✭✭✭
edited April 2011 in Ask the Experts
OK, I know the difference in Chamber Pressures of the .223 and 5.56 Nato. My Question is, will a bolt action rifle chambered in .223 be able to fire a 5.56 Nato Cartridge Safely? I know that bolt action rifles can contain more chamber pressures than Semi-Auto's so this is the reason for my question. I don't want to hear about the leade difference between the two cases. I don't want to hear about the difference in chamber pressures. I DO want to know if a Bolt Action Rifle chambered for the .223 will handle the Pressures produced by the 5.56x45mm Nato round.
Another Question, Does anyone know if there are any rifle manufacturers that produce a Bolt Action Rifle chambered in 5.56?
I have searched the net but all I get is an arguement about the differences between the .223 and the 5.56 so I came here to ask the Experts because I know I will get the real Poop here.
Thanks to all who respond.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The .223 is rated at 55,000 psi. The 5.56x45nato is at 62,000, BUT nato measures pressures a little differently. MOST bolt guns that are built for the .223 are also available for the 22/250Rem which is at 65,000psi {among the highest of all rifle calibers BTW}. Alot of factors [some you mentioned} affect pressures.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    74man,

    In a nutshell, yes the 223 chamber will handle any standard pressures that the 5.56 will, with no problem. The bullet of a 5.56 round, potentially seated into the lands is not standard pressure(it has potential to spike into the 90K range). That is the area in which you don't want to hear about, however, it is critical you do understand about the leade, instead of just knowing about it.

    The 5.56 chamber has an overly long leade to accomodate bullets of up to 80-85 grains, that are in use in service rifle matches. There are some factory loads that house long match bullets, that would not seat in the standard 223 chamber, without pushing at least some of the bullet into the lands. With that heavy of a bullet seated into the lands, the pressure is going to spike way above SAAMI, or NATO spec.

    So, if you stay under like the 62 grain bullets, you might be OK, firing the 5.56 in a 223 chamber. But I wouldn't do it untill I checked to see where the bullet is seating, in relation to the lands. If you reload, or have a friend that reloads, that can make a couple dummy rounds, it would help you out.

    If you need some extra help, drop me an e-mail, and I would be glad to.

    Best
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A bolt action rifle might NOT handle a higher pressure than a semi-auto.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 74man74man Member Posts: 162 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey TSR 1965, Thanks for the info. Do you know of any bolt action rifles chambered for the 5.56x45 Nato round?
    Here's another question: What would a gun smith have to do to increase the leade in a bolt action .223?
    I would probably only shoot the .223 in 55gr and the 5.56 in 62gr. I don't see myself ever buying any bullet larger unless I was going to shoot in any competition for selective distances.
    Again, I want to thank you for your description of leade and lands when a bullet is chambered. Bob
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 41 nut41 nut Member Posts: 3,016
    edited November -1
    I regularly shoot US manufactured 5.56 ammo in my 223 Tika. I will not fool with any forien ammo in it. The 5.56 ammo gives slightly better accuracy than the .223. And before that I shot the same 5.56 ammo for about 10 years in my Rem .223 with no ill affects.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 74man
    Hey TSR 1965, Thanks for the info. Do you know of any bolt action rifles chambered for the 5.56x45 Nato round?
    Here's another question: What would a gun smith have to do to increase the leade in a bolt action .223?
    I would probably only shoot the .223 in 55gr and the 5.56 in 62gr. I don't see myself ever buying any bullet larger unless I was going to shoot in any competition for selective distances.
    Again, I want to thank you for your description of leade and lands when a bullet is chambered. Bob


    Bob,

    Good, now you know the difference in the leades, not just that there is a difference. I was not sure how to approach that with your opening thread. Another thing to remember, is that most commercial 223 twist rates will be one in 12 or 14 so they might not shoot the heavier than 55 grain bullets as accurately.

    You can check if you have contact with the lands by simply taking a black marker or DyChem and coating the bullet with a round, and chambering it. If there is contact with the rifling, you will be able to see it.

    I know of no domestic manufacturers who chamber the bolt gun for the 5.56, but it would not be to hard for a gunsmith to do, although if he had to buy a reamer for the job, it might be costly.

    Best
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have shot a considerable amount of 5.56 55 grain fmj through a Savage .223 and have not had any problems with it. On the other hand, the NEF singleshot showed definite signs of higher than normal pressure and I don't fire military ammo in it. At this time, I have only one BA rifle which is decently accurate with bullets over 60 grains and I don't have any military 62 grain ammo but I'll venture that problems are more likely with the longer, hardcore 62 grain bullets. I'm not sure what application you have in mind for this combo but I can tell you a 45-50 grain hollowpoint blows right through 1/4" mild steel plate @100 yards.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The only BA guns I know of in 5.56 nato came out of BMS Trading in England. They offered the "milcam", "snicam', and the 'polcam".
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandwarriorsandwarrior Member Posts: 5,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 74man
    OK, I know the difference in Chamber Pressures of the .223 and 5.56 Nato. My Question is, will a bolt action rifle chambered in .223 be able to fire a 5.56 Nato Cartridge Safely? I know that bolt action rifles can contain more chamber pressures than Semi-Auto's so this is the reason for my question. I don't want to hear about the leade difference between the two cases. I don't want to hear about the difference in chamber pressures. I DO want to know if a Bolt Action Rifle chambered for the .223 will handle the Pressures produced by the 5.56x45mm Nato round.
    Another Question, Does anyone know if there are any rifle manufacturers that produce a Bolt Action Rifle chambered in 5.56?
    I have searched the net but all I get is an arguement about the differences between the .223 and the 5.56 so I came here to ask the Experts because I know I will get the real Poop here.
    Thanks to all who respond.


    So, if you know all the reasons WHY NOT,.... WHY do it?

    I don't know of any 'main-line' bolt action manufacturers that do. However, you can take it to a gunsmith to have this done for an additional cost of about $100-$150 depending on location. It's worth it if that's what you want to shoot.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.