SI VOUS CONNAISSEZ LES ARMES ET LES MUNITIONS, VOUS CONNAISSEZ PROBABLEMENT L’HISTOIRE DERRIÈRE LE . 223 REMINGTON . SI NON, NE VOUS INQUIÉTEZ PAS CAR NOTRE MAGASIN DE MUNITIONS EN LIGNE EST LÀ POUR VOUS RENSEIGNER. L’ARMÉE UTILISAIT À L’ORIGINE LE REMINGTON .222 MAIS AU COURS DES ANNÉES 1950, L’ARMÉE A COMMENCÉ À UTILISER DES DÉSIGNATIONS MÉTRIQUES. PAR CONSÉQUENT, LA BALLE DE CALIBRE .222 EST DEVENUE LA  5,56 X 45 MM  OTAN.

L’HISTOIRE

This newly named 5.56 x 45 mm was designed for the AR-15 rifle, which would later become the select-fire M16 rifle in 1964. This revolutionary bullet was supposed to be lighter and faster compared to its’ predecessors, but it still had to break the speed of sound at 500 yards. This goal was achieved by a 55-grain boattail bullet design. This cartridge became so popular that it practically cannibalized the previous .222 Remington. However, Remington responded quickly by releasing the civilian version of the 5.56 x 45 mm, which is the .223 Remington we have today. It’s okay if you’re a little confused right now because we’re going to clear up the differentiating factors. Many people are under the impression that they’re the same bullet, but there are sufficient variables to hinder them from being interchangeable.

NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES

• Pressure. The first, most noticeable difference is pressure. Copper Units of Pressure or a mid-case transducer in pounds-per-square-inch are typically used to measure a .223 Remington. On the other hand, a case mouth transducer is frequently used to measure the 5.56 x 45 mm cartridge. A case mouth transducer generally delivers lower pressure readings than a mid-case transducer so a direct comparison is nearly impossible. However, when a traditional .223 Remington is measured with a mid-case transducer, the average pressure is 55,000 psi, which is actually lower than the average pressure of 5.56 x 45 mm measured with a case mouth transducer (58,700 psi).
• Chamber Aspect. The next differentiating aspect is the chamber itself. The throat or leade is the part of the barrel just in front of the chamber.   This section is noticeably longer in the 5.56 x 45 mm compared to the .223 Remington. For instance, an average .223 Remington leade is about .085 inches while the average 5.56 x 45 mm leade is about .162 inches. The angle set up between the two is also different, which can greatly affect how pressure rises and peaks.
• Thickness. The final, major difference is that 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition is generally thicker than .223 Remington cartridges because it has to withstand greater pressures. Therefore, the internal capacity is smaller.

Overall, .223 Remington cartridges can be fired from a firearm meant to shoot 5.56 x 45 mm ammo, but there is no guarantee that it’ll work. However, under no circumstance should 5.56 x 45 ammo be loaded into a firearm designed for .223 Remington cartridges! As a matter of fact, SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) considers NATO military cartridge use unsafe in firearms chambered for a .223 Remington.