223/5.56 ammo

Question
I own a stainless ruger mini-14 in 223. Outlets such as Gander Mtn & Cheaper Than Dirt sell 223/5.56 ammo as being  interchangable.  I recently read in The American Rifleman that guns chambered for 223 should not use the 5.56X45 NATO round but guns chambered for 5.56X45 NATO round can fire 223.  Is the civilian 5.56 sold by such companies as Winchester USA & Federal different than the NATO round?

Answer
Hi Doug,

5.56 ammo is the NATO equivalent to the .223 Remington cartridge.  There is some slight variation between the two cartridges.  Your .223 Mini-14 will accept the 5.56 round, however I would not shoot a steady diet of it.  The 5.56 cartridge has a higher pressure than the .223 and will actually cause your gun to wear more quickly.  Conversely, since the .223 is a lower pressure round it will also work in a 5.56 rifle.  There is virtually no difference in the chambering of a military or civilian produced 5.56 round.

Hope this helps you out...

Doug