Caliber 5.56 is a whole family of ammunition, both for military and civilian purposes. The very first representative of the legendary caliber appeared in 1950. It was a 222 Remington, which differed from all subsequent modifications by a shorter 43.18 mm case. The experience of armed conflicts of those years, primarily the US war with North Korea, showed that the US Army troops needed new ammunition, the caliber of which would be smaller than the 7.62 caliber (30-06) then in service, with less recoil, for more accurate firing bursts from automatic weapons. This cartridge became the basis for the development of various modifications of 5.56 caliber ammunition and weapons for it, both military and civilian purposes. Low recoil, excellent trajectory flatness and high lethality have made the 5.56 caliber a very popular type of ammunition for hunting, sport shooting and the needs of the police, not to mention the army. Cartridges of this type are produced all over the world, including in Russia. One of the most common types of 5.56 ammunition for hunting is the 223 Rem caliber, which differs from the 222 caliber in having a slightly longer case - 45 mm. When choosing a rifled hunting weapon, two calibers are usually compared - 30 and 5.56, as well as their modifications. The use of 5.56 caliber cartridges for hunting has its own specifics, advantages and a number of limitations.
Background
During the fighting in North Korea, the Pentagon leadership came to the conclusion that the army needed new ammunition for small arms. The 30-06 cartridge in service was not suitable for creating new systems of manual automatic weapons, since it had too much power. When firing in bursts from a light rapid-fire rifle, this cartridge produced too much recoil, and the accuracy of the automatic burst was too low. The US Army needed a new lightweight assault rifle chambered for a smaller caliber and with less muzzle energy. Remington Arms has developed such ammunition, which is called the 222 Remington. The sleeve length is 43.18 mm, the bullet weight is up to 4 g, the initial speed is up to 1100 m/s, the muzzle energy is up to 1590 J. The cartridge was not accepted into service in the army due to insufficient penetration, but it became the first representative of a whole class of 5.56-caliber hunting ammunition, which is still popular due to its inexpensive price, low recoil, low shot noise and relatively gentle impact on the barrel of a weapon. Subsequent modifications of the 5.56 caliber were also created for the needs of the army; the 223 caliber became the standard cartridge for the armies of NATO countries, but almost all of these modifications found the widest application in the civilian sphere, including hunting.
Specifications
Before you understand who you can hunt with the 223 REM caliber, you need to find out its tactical and technical characteristics. This information often allows you to draw analytical conclusions based on certain data, after which all that remains is to confirm your thoughts in practice. So, the characteristics of caliber 223 REM are as follows:
- type – expansive action cartridge with a lead core;
- method of attaching a cartridge case with a bullet - circular crimping;
- cartridge length - 55.8 millimeters;
- ignition type – central;
- sleeve shape - bottle;
- cartridge weight - 11.8 grams;
- charge mass - 1.66 grams.
The civilian modification is intended exclusively for hunting, but, if necessary, can be used for combat operations. In America, this type of ammunition is also actively used for sports and training purposes, since it is considered one of the cheapest.
It should also be noted that as weapons for this type of ammunition you will have to choose rifles marked 223 REM, since such units have certain technical characteristics tailored specifically for this caliber. You can purchase such a unit secondhand or in any store that specializes in the sale of hunting weapons and ammunition. However, we will return to this issue towards the end of the article, since it requires special attention.
The fundamental difference between the 223 REM caliber and the 222 is that the civilian version uses a lighter bullet, as well as a relatively small amount of gunpowder. This results in a change in ballistic properties because hunters don't want the trophy value of their prey to drop too much.
Caliber 5.56 for the army
All varieties of 5.56 caliber were used for military needs at different times. In the 50s, ammunition for military purposes appeared in the United States with different markings - 22, 221, 224, 223, etc. But it was still the same 5.56 caliber. The US military was trying to find a universal version of the cartridge for small arms that could be adopted by all US NATO allies. There was only one question - which caliber 223 is better for this purpose. All available variants were versions of the 222 Remington cartridge, but the case was typically slightly longer, and the bullet weight, amount of powder, and case thickness varied. The further development of new light automatic rifles for the army depended on the final choice of the desired option.
Stoner rifle cartridge 5.56 caliber
Various competitions for the adoption of a universal cartridge for the US and NATO armies were closely related to the development of a promising rifle based on the Stoner AR-10 rifle chambered for 7.62 NATO. The reduced caliber of this rifle was designated M 16. A longer version of the 222 Remington cartridge was developed for this rifle. The new ammunition became known as caliber 223 Rem. It was adopted by the United States in 1964.
1. Caliber - 5.56 mm. 2. Bullet - 3.56 g. 3. Initial speed - 990 m/s. 4. Energy - 1745 J. 5. Twist 305 mm.
Weapon Selection
Now you know who you can hunt with 223 REM. However, the success of such an event often depends on a correctly selected carbine, which will become your reliable companion for many years. Foreign manufacturers, as well as domestic ones, offer a fairly wide range of rifles of this caliber, which are ideal for hunting. For example, one of the best examples is the Adar-2-15 carbine of 223 rem caliber, which is used not only in Russia, but also in foreign countries.
Also, do not forget about the legendary Saiga, some modifications of which were specially chambered for 5.65 x 45 mm cartridges. This model is suitable not only for those who prefer to use domestic weapons, but also for those who appreciate reliability, since the Saiga can be used in almost any climatic conditions. The temperature range can be from -50 °C to +50 °C. In addition, the weapon is unpretentious during operation. You can “feed” it not only with expensive imported ammunition, but also with homemade cartridges, which are much cheaper.
To choose the right rifle for hunting, you should take into account not only the country of origin and its technical features, but also your own body composition. Most likely, while hunting you will have to use an optical sight, so the weapon should be comfortable to aim not only with the help of a support and bipod, but also from a standing position. If you buy a rifle that is too heavy, you are unlikely to be able to quickly fire a well-aimed shot, and when hunting, every second of delay can be catastrophic.
It is also highly recommended to choose a weapon with a sighting rail that is designed to mount dovetail optical sights. Such sighting devices are much cheaper than expensive imported analogues, but you should not have any special need for high-power optics. It is quite enough to purchase three- or six-time optics, which will allow you to hit even a duck in the eye from a distance of 100 yards.
Interchangeability of 5.56 caliber ammunition
Both cartridges are interchangeable, and they can be used when shooting from military weapons with the wrong twist, but the shooting results in this case will be noticeably different. The 223 Remington caliber is less stable in flight, while the 5.56 NATO standard has higher penetration. The wounds produced by the 223 Rem are very destructive because the lighter bullet travels at a higher velocity and is less stabilized due to the longer twist. Once in the victim’s body, this bullet begins to rotate chaotically and move along a broken trajectory. But for combat operations, other ammunition was needed to pierce helmets and body armor. The modern NATO standard 5.56X45 was developed in Belgium for the next modification of the M 16 rifle, which was designated M 16A2. The barrel was heavier and the twist became shorter. The heavier bullet acquired better stabilization, which increased its penetration ability.
Is it possible to hunt birds?
While figuring out what you can hunt with the 223 REM, you can't help but answer the fairly common question of whether this type of ammunition can be used when hunting ducks or geese. This is what novice hunters most often think about, for whom hunting for birds represents the classic shooting of flying birds with a double-barreled shotgun loaded with shot. However, hunting from hidden areas or along the coast is far from the only way to obtain dietary poultry meat.
Few people know, but hunting birds from the approach can be very effective if you use small-caliber or rifled weapons with an optical sight for this purpose. You just need to choose the right ammunition so as not to leave large wounded animals in the prey. The caliber 223 REM 5.56 x 45 millimeters can do this perfectly.
It is also impossible not to mention that in the spring season hunting from the approach is prohibited for all birds, except capercaillie on a lek. That is, in the spring, when hunting ducks or geese, you will have to use concealed weapons and smooth-bore weapons. However, even in this case, it is allowed to shoot only drakes, since the females begin to lay eggs and hatch offspring. Therefore, most hunters prefer to wait until summer or autumn, when they can hunt in full.
The best month for hunting birds from the approach is September, since it is at the beginning of autumn that most birds begin to store fat for the winter, which is why their trophy value increases significantly. Most birds at this time of year will allow a hunter to come within 50 meters of them, but professional hunters recommend shooting from a distance of at least 100 yards (91 meters). This is quite a bit if you use optics as an additional sighting device.
Civilian career of 5.56 caliber military ammunition
Both versions of the 5.56 caliber ammunition adopted for service have found wide application in the civilian sphere. The 223 Rem caliber is considered a civilian version of the standard NATO cartridge, but in fact both of these ammunition are intended for war and are designed to be fired from weapons with different rifling pitch lengths. When choosing a 223 caliber hunting weapon, you should pay attention to its twist, which will determine which of the two 5.56 caliber military options will be more appropriate to use for shooting this weapon while hunting.
How to choose the best weapon for Caliber 223 Remington
Civilian weapons that use 5.56 caliber are designated 223 Rem. This marking is usually applied to the magazine well. Such a weapon can fire any modification of 5.56X45 caliber cartridges. But optimal shooting results, as well as safe operation of civilian weapons, require compliance with the technical characteristics of the weapon and the type of ammunition. If various types of military cartridges for certain weapons, armor-piercing, tracer, etc., are unified in terms of mass and bullet size, then ammunition for civilian weapons can differ significantly in the weight of the bullets used. But the heavier the bullet, the shorter the twist should be for it. When choosing a weapon for hunting under 5.56 caliber, there is the problem of choosing a barrel with the optimal twist, which would ensure effective use of the widest range of bullets of various weights.
Features of hunting a predatory animal
What game is the 223 REM most commonly used for? That's right, predators, which can be very dangerous to hunt at close range. That is why most professionals recommend building special storage sheds in trees for such activities, since the hunter can feel safe there. You will only need to put an optical sight on your weapon and lure the animal closer to you with a special bait, for example, meat.
As a rule, this type of ammunition successfully copes with the goal of hitting an animal at a distance of up to 300 meters, but it is also worth considering the technical features of the weapon you are using. For example, the effectiveness will not be very high if you use 5.56 cartridges on some Turkish rifle. Most likely, even knowledge of anatomical features will not allow you to kill an adult bear with one shot, after which the animal will die a painful death for several more days.
Some of the best rifles for hunting are the 223 REM CZ carbines. For example, the 550 model is ideal for a beginner; it already comes with an optical sight that does not require a lot of setup. You can also use the domestic analog “Bars-4-1” in caliber 223 REM, which has slightly reduced combat characteristics, but is relatively inexpensive. In general, you can find quite a few models for this type of ammunition, but you should choose only those carbines that have been tested by time, and not buy cheap analogues from unknown manufacturers.
Two options with optimal twist
In an attempt to satisfy different consumer needs, gun manufacturers offer one model with multiple twist options, such as the Remington 700 .223. Reviews from owners of this weapon indicate that the Tactical model is more suitable for heavy 75-77 grain bullets due to the shorter 229 mm twist. (9 inches), while the Varmint model is more suitable for light 50-60 grain bullets because it has a longer twist of 12 inches. The heaviest 80-90 grain bullets require an even shorter twist of 6.5-7 inches. For 223 Rem cartridges, barrel length plays a big role when choosing a weapon. The shorter the barrel, the shorter the twist should be. The ballistic capabilities of the 223 caliber drop sharply with a barrel length of less than 40 cm.
Links[edit]
- ".223 WSSM data at Hodgdon Online". Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
- "223 Winchester Super Short Magnum History and General Information:". gunnersden.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- "World Record 4700 fps 223 WSSM blows up watermelon better than". youtube.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM)". ballisticstudies.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum Ballistics". gundata.org. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ".223 Winchester Super Short Magnum". leeloadmaster.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- “223 WSSM vs 22-250 Rem. - Browning's article. Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ".223 Rem vs. .223 WSSM". fieldandstream.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- Browning Press Release
- Chuckhawks .223 WSSM Page
- Reloading information from Guns and Ammo magazine archived December 9, 2007 on the Wayback Machine
- Super Short Magnums - The Rest of the Story
- Super Duper Shortie Archived 2007-10-18 at the Wayback Machine
Imprint of the military past - 223 Rem
In the USA and Europe, this cartridge is used primarily for sporting competitions, as well as for shooting small rodents for entertainment purposes. Europeans have a negative attitude towards the use of this cartridge for hunting larger animals due to the expansive effect of its bullet. In our country, these cartridges are widely used for hunting, including fox, wolf and wild boar. The caliber 223 Rem has one significant feature. These cartridges were developed for war to incapacitate the enemy. On the battlefield, the use of small arms is not aimed at killing, but at leaving “wounded wounded” incapable of resistance. When hunting, there is a different goal - to cause a quick death to the animal without mutilating its body. Many hunters talk about the terrible damage the .223 inflicts. Reviews indicate that when a crow is hit from a distance of 100 m, the bird literally explodes and nothing remains of it except feathers. 223 caliber bullets are not stabilized; when they hit an animal’s body, they begin to tumble randomly, turning the animal’s body into complete mincemeat.
How to avoid damaging the fur of fur-bearing game?
What can you hunt with the .223 REM, besides predators and birds? You can go hunting for fur-bearing animals to acquire valuable fur and dietary meat. However, so that the trophy value of your loot is not greatly spoiled, it is necessary to reduce the amount of gunpowder in order to reduce the initial speed of the bullet to 300 meters per second. During this process, one important rule must be used - the weight cannot be reduced by more than 10% of the standard number. Otherwise, there will not be enough potential energy for the projectile to reach the target.
The best time of year for hunting fur-bearing animals is winter, when foxes and hares grow beautiful and thick fur. It can also be quite simple to identify the animal by tracks and trails that are clearly visible on the white snow. To increase your chances of a successful hunt, you can use a four-legged assistant who can quickly pick up the scent. However, hunting should be carried out from the approach, and not from the drive. If you constantly run after the dog, you will become very exhausted, which is why you will not be able to make a well-aimed shot, since the aiming bar in the optics will shake a lot.
Advantages of 223 Rem
This cartridge has a number of significant advantages. It's very accurate. At a distance of up to 200 m along a flat trajectory, the bullet drop is only 12-14 cm, and the bullet energy is 650 J, which is 50% higher than the muzzle energy of a Makarov pistol. Experts talk about the excellent comparative ballistics that the 223 caliber has. Reviews indicate that it is almost the same compared to caliber 30-06 and 308. But the recoil of caliber 223 is five times weaker, which increases the likelihood of hitting the second and subsequent shots. 223 Rem cartridges are almost two times cheaper than 308 Win caliber. They are produced by several domestic enterprises, including Tula and Barnaul. Imported options on our market are predominantly Czech-made.
Weapons for 223 Remington
The 223 caliber carbine is one of the fastest growing types of hunting weapons. The domestic manufacturer offers a range of models, mainly semi-automatic and bolt-action repeating rifles. Of the domestic developments, it is worth mentioning, first of all, Saiga. This is a universal self-loading carbine of 223 caliber, which can be called “omnivorous”. Thanks to a well-chosen barrel length ratio of 52 cm and a rifling pitch of 240 cm, this weapon is suitable for using 223 caliber cartridges with a bullet weight of 3.5 to 4.5 g. The optimal bullet weight for it is 4 grams. At a 100-meter distance, 4 gr bullets. easily fit into a five-centimeter circle. The Vepr self-loading carbine is a whole line of models developed on the basis of the RPK barrel and mechanisms. The variability of the Vepr models has been expanded to include options with different barrel lengths. Among the imported weapons, the Remington 700 223 caliber should be highlighted. Reviews indicate the unsurpassed accuracy of this weapon. For optimal results, you should choose ammunition to match the twist of your Remington, since the manufacturer produces several variations of this weapon with 9- and 12-inch twists. Czech 223-caliber hunting rifles traditionally occupy an honorable place among models of similar weapons. The CZ-527, in various modifications, is an excellent option for a sporting bolt-action repeating rifle. High shot accuracy ensures first places in any shooting competition. But for casual hunting of small birds and animals, this Czech weapon will be an excellent option. Light weight and high reliability with amazing shot accuracy will make hunting an easy and exciting experience. High accuracy is due to the barrel manufacturing technology - rotational forging. The popularity of the 5.56 caliber for hunting is increasing every year in our country, thanks to the high accuracy, availability and low cost of this ammunition.
Night hunt
Among Americans, the most popular game species they shoot with 223 REM ammunition is roe deer. These animals can also be found in Russia, although not in all regions. For the event to obtain dietary meat to be successful, it is necessary to go after the animal in the dark. In this case, standard optics should be replaced with a thermal imager or night vision device. However, take into account the mount of such a device and the sighting bar of your weapon so that there are no problems during installation.
If you choose between a thermal imager and night vision devices, it is worth noting that each of these units has its own advantages and disadvantages. A thermal imager allows you to shoot at an animal that has taken cover behind impenetrable thickets of small trees and grass, but such a device often costs more than the rifle itself. A night vision device is a cheaper alternative, but it does not provide magnification and does not allow you to shoot at a target that is hiding in the bushes.
Well, since we’re talking about night hunting, we can’t help but mention wild boars, since wild boars also fall into the category of animals that can be hunted with 223 REM. It will be very dangerous to hunt this animal from the approach alone, so it is best to use storage sheds and bait. If you decide to go wild boar hunting with a partner, then you will need to give him a car headlight and battery, the light of which will strongly dazzle the animal and give you visibility. Shoot the beast in the head to kill it in one shot.
