.223 Rem vs. 5.56 NATO: What's the Difference?

You don't have to play in the AR playground very long before you hear or ask the question; "Does .223 vs. 5.56 matter?" The argument can reach near-religious proportions, with some on both sides vehemently arguing their cases. The deal is this: They do differ, and, yes, it does matter.

The differences really come into play with the starting path of the bullet and the unrifled portion of the chamber ahead of the rifling, called the leade. A narrower (less diameter) leade keeps the bullet from tipping as it moves forward, which enhances accuracy. A larger leade allows for more buildup and gunk and thus greater reliability.

MORE

-Alemaster