.223/.224?

fxdrider · July 23, 2008, 01:08 PM

Please bear with my ignorance. I'm reloading for an AR15, a Bushmaster 16" carbine. I just noticed the bullets in my lot of Winchester 55 gr. PSP's measure .223 in diameter, whereas all my other bullets (Hornady, Sierra, Speer) measure .224. I get really good accuracy with the .224's. I'm wondering if the .223's will work, or are they meant for a different cartidge altogether. I'm asking because if they won't work in the AR, it would be nice to know this before I load up 500 of them.

Thanks.

Scorch · July 23, 2008, 01:45 PM

Winchester PSP measuring .223"?? Better check again just to be sure, but that would have an effect on the accuracy of your loads.

Alleykat · July 23, 2008, 01:48 PM

Can't imagine the real diameter not being .224".

fxdrider · July 23, 2008, 01:54 PM

Yeah, I was a bit surprised, too. I measured 5 of them - all measured .223 perfectly. I then pulled out my Horandy's - all .224 perfectly. I guess I could load up 20 of them and see how they fly.

Alleykat · July 23, 2008, 02:33 PM

I'd be equally surprised if you get accuracy from a .223 barrel, shooting .223" bullets.

Sidetracked · July 23, 2008, 07:50 PM

They'll probably still be accurate enough that you may not be able to tell the difference.

Load 20 up, and see how they work. The .001" difference is nothing to worry about.

The fact that they are Winchesters is a bit irritating. I've been noticing quite a few discrepancies in their advertised applications lately: A bag of their 130 grain .277" SPs measured out to .275". 115 grain FMJ for 9mm measured in at .357". And a box of 8x57JS Mauser ammo... the bullets came in at a maximum diameter of .319" instead of .323". I might use the .270 stuff, but the 115 gr FMJs will have to be used for .38 special rounds and the 8x57 is worthless.

(Yes, I know most factory 8x57 ammo is lawyer-ized for .318" bores, but .319" for a JS is rediculous. Most brands come in at .321", and Federal{?} is true .323".)

rg1 · July 23, 2008, 09:12 PM

If you use them just make sure you have adequate bullet tension in the case so you don't get bullet set-back when chambering. You should be able to push the point of the bullet against the wood bench and the bullet shouldn't move with heavy thumb pressure.

fxdrider · July 24, 2008, 09:45 AM

Thanks for the replies. I guess the thing that really gets me is - all of the other brands I have (Sierra, Hornady, Speer) measure .224 exactly! Last night I measured out a bunch more of the Winchesters in question, and found that out of 30 of them, 10 measured .223, 5 measured close to .224, and the rest measured .2235. Not a very consistent batch. If I'm going to make use of this batch, I'll probably have to separate them into size lots - and even then, limit them to just plinking. Lowered expectations.

TEDDY · July 24, 2008, 09:55 AM

that much difference may not amount to any thing.try them then make your comments.until you tru them every one is just speculating.
old model 8 mm is .318 but the bullets were .321.the mod 88s were shot with standard 8mm .324 in ww1.when configured with the mauser clip.

LHB1 · July 24, 2008, 10:00 AM

I thought .223" bullets were only used in the .22 Hornet but then it doesn't normally use 55 gr bullets either.

Alleykat · July 24, 2008, 10:14 AM

I've always found Winchester's bulk 55gr. fmjbts to be the least-accurate ammo that I shoot through my AR. Just never occurred to me that they might measure to be so inconsistent in diameter.

fxdrider · July 24, 2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

I've always found Winchester's bulk 55gr. fmjbts to be the least-accurate ammo that I shoot through my AR. Just never occurred to me that they might measure to be so inconsistent in diameter.

I think it's time I look into some bulk Hornady's. Live and learn, I guess.

July 23, 2008, 01:08 PM	#1
fxdrider Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Stafford, VA - transplanted from upstate New York Posts: 119	.223/.224? Please bear with my ignorance. I'm reloading for an AR15, a Bushmaster 16" carbine. I just noticed the bullets in my lot of Winchester 55 gr. PSP's measure .223 in diameter, whereas all my other bullets (Hornady, Sierra, Speer) measure .224. I get really good accuracy with the .224's. I'm wondering if the .223's will work, or are they meant for a different cartidge altogether. I'm asking because if they won't work in the AR, it would be nice to know this before I load up 500 of them. Thanks.

July 23, 2008, 01:45 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Winchester PSP measuring .223"?? Better check again just to be sure, but that would have an effect on the accuracy of your loads. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

July 23, 2008, 07:50 PM	#6
Sidetracked Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2008 Location: Henrietta, FL Posts: 306	They'll probably still be accurate enough that you may not be able to tell the difference. Load 20 up, and see how they work. The .001" difference is nothing to worry about. The fact that they are Winchesters is a bit irritating. I've been noticing quite a few discrepancies in their advertised applications lately: A bag of their 130 grain .277" SPs measured out to .275". 115 grain FMJ for 9mm measured in at .357". And a box of 8x57JS Mauser ammo... the bullets came in at a maximum diameter of .319" instead of .323". I might use the .270 stuff, but the 115 gr FMJs will have to be used for .38 special rounds and the 8x57 is worthless. (Yes, I know most factory 8x57 ammo is lawyer-ized for .318" bores, but .319" for a JS is rediculous. Most brands come in at .321", and Federal{?} is true .323".) __________________ Feel free to disagree with my opinion. -I do it all the time.

July 24, 2008, 09:55 AM	#9
TEDDY Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: MANNING SC Posts: 837	size that much difference may not amount to any thing.try them then make your comments.until you tru them every one is just speculating. old model 8 mm is .318 but the bullets were .321.the mod 88s were shot with standard 8mm .324 in ww1.when configured with the mauser clip.

July 24, 2008, 10:00 AM	#10
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	I thought .223" bullets were only used in the .22 Hornet but then it doesn't normally use 55 gr bullets either. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

July 23, 2008, 01:48 PM	#3
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	Can't imagine the real diameter not being .224".

July 23, 2008, 01:54 PM	#4
fxdrider Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Stafford, VA - transplanted from upstate New York Posts: 119	Yeah, I was a bit surprised, too. I measured 5 of them - all measured .223 perfectly. I then pulled out my Horandy's - all .224 perfectly. I guess I could load up 20 of them and see how they fly.

July 23, 2008, 02:33 PM	#5
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	I'd be equally surprised if you get accuracy from a .223 barrel, shooting .223" bullets.

July 23, 2008, 09:12 PM	#7
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	If you use them just make sure you have adequate bullet tension in the case so you don't get bullet set-back when chambering. You should be able to push the point of the bullet against the wood bench and the bullet shouldn't move with heavy thumb pressure.

July 24, 2008, 09:45 AM	#8
fxdrider Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2007 Location: Stafford, VA - transplanted from upstate New York Posts: 119	Thanks for the replies. I guess the thing that really gets me is - all of the other brands I have (Sierra, Hornady, Speer) measure .224 exactly! Last night I measured out a bunch more of the Winchesters in question, and found that out of 30 of them, 10 measured .223, 5 measured close to .224, and the rest measured .2235. Not a very consistent batch. If I'm going to make use of this batch, I'll probably have to separate them into size lots - and even then, limit them to just plinking. Lowered expectations.

July 24, 2008, 10:14 AM	#11
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	I've always found Winchester's bulk 55gr. fmjbts to be the least-accurate ammo that I shoot through my AR. Just never occurred to me that they might measure to be so inconsistent in diameter.