Is a 5.56 NATO the same as a .223? Considering possibly getting something in that calaber

Yes and no.
5.56 is the Nato designation, but it was developed commercially as the .223
I believe, but I may be wrong, that the throat on a 5.56 is just a tad shorter.
Any .223 rifle you choose will give you years of reliable inexpensive service, with commercial or milsurp ammo

perfect, exaclty what I thought but have no experience with either so know I know. I'm looking for a good coyote/can plinker that is 22lr or mag and cheaper then 30-30 thanks again

The .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO have basically the same exterior dimensions and length, but the 5.56 is usually loaded to produce higher velocity and chamber pressures. It has thicked case walls for the extra strength needed to handle those higher pressures. The difference comes in the chambering of the rifle, and that difference is in "leade", more commonly known as the throat, which is the portion of the barrel directly in front of the chamber where the rifling has been removed to allow room for the seated bullet.

In a 5.56mm chamber the throat is typically .162"; in a .223 chamber it's usually .085" (about half the 5.56mm dimension). The result of firing a .223 cartridge in a 5.56mm chamber is a slight loss of velocity when compared to the 5.56mm cartridge. However, if you have a rifle specifically chambered for the .223 Rem, you should not use 5.56mm ammunition in them because it is considered by SAAMI (Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) to be an unsafe ammunition combination. This information is from the Winchester Law Enforcement Ammunition website, and from Bushmaster Firearms.

Also, the twist rates for the .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO barrels are different. The standard twist rate for a .223 barrel is typically 1:12", while the twist rate for a 5.56 NATO is typically from 1:7" to 1:9"

If your weapon is chambered for 5.56 Nato, it can fire either one. If it is chambered for .223, it is not recommended to fire 5.56 cartridges due to higher pressures. At least that is the way I understand it.

For alot more information, you may want to visit the following site dedicated to the cartridge:

http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm

I feel that the 5.56x45 or the .223 if you will round is at best suited for vermin not millitary use and I can say that becuase im in the service and a iraq vet. It has great muzzle velocity of 3300ftp. and no doubt can go the distance, it greatly lacks any kind of stopping power or tumbling effect upon impact... I would rather roll with a ak47 or FAL that way they dont keep coming after the frist 3 shots to the chest and drop after one.

WARNING!:eek:

Please read before shooting a 5.56 round out of a rifle not chambered for it!


http://www.razoreye.net/mirror/ammo-oracle/AR15_com_Ammo_Oracle_Mirror.htm#diff