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ligonierbill · October 27, 2012, 07:49 PM

"Can you shoot 5.56 in a .223 bolt action rifle? I know you can't in a semi-auto (AR, Mini), but there seems to be some debate on bolt-actions."

Typo? You certainly can shoot 5.56 NATO in an AR; that's generally what they are chambered for. SAAMI sets specs for sporting rifles, and since military ammo (5.56 NATO) is not made to SAAMI specs, it doesn't have their "blessing". Obviously, a lot of folks shoot it without a problem. My Sierra manual has separate sections for AR and bolt action, but the powder charges are actually a little higher for the same bullet in the bolt action section.

October 27, 2012, 07:49 PM	#8
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	"Can you shoot 5.56 in a .223 bolt action rifle? I know you can't in a semi-auto (AR, Mini), but there seems to be some debate on bolt-actions." Typo? You certainly can shoot 5.56 NATO in an AR; that's generally what they are chambered for. SAAMI sets specs for sporting rifles, and since military ammo (5.56 NATO) is not made to SAAMI specs, it doesn't have their "blessing". Obviously, a lot of folks shoot it without a problem. My Sierra manual has separate sections for AR and bolt action, but the powder charges are actually a little higher for the same bullet in the bolt action section.