223 Wylde vs. 5.56 BCG

[Scrod314]

Hello... I am 99.99% sure this is fine to do, but I need yous guys to give me more reassurance. So, I bought a new rifle chambered in 223 Wylde. I have another rifle chambered in 5.56. Can I put the bcg from the 223 Wylde rifle into my 5.56 rifle? Thanks.
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[Varminterror]

No difference due to the cartridge designation.

There MAY - MAY - be a difference in one model using a “full auto carrier” or “shrouded carrier,” while the 223 Wylde might use a “semi-auto carrier” or might not have a firing pin shroud. Not a significant difference worth fussing, but might be dimensionally observable. Won’t change anything.

 

[Scrod314]

Thanks. I wasn't going to make it through this Indycar race unless I knew. This is the view from my seat.

 

[Chuck R.]

There remotely may (REMOTELY) be a headspace issue. Normally swapping bolts isn't a problem and most will be OK using at least a field gauge (not closing on). I'm often surprised how many AR15s I've checked that will close on a standard No-Go gauge.

When swapping bolts I check with a set of gauges as it only take a couple minutes and to me is worth the piece of mind.

I've had quite a few AR15 bolts close on standard No-Go gauge, then pass a Field gauge. I've had 1 bolt that closed on a Field Gauge in several barrels and the manufacturer replaced it. On the precision AR15 I put together with matched bold, it closes on go, but doesn't close on a standard No-Go gauge.

 

[Scrod314]

Thanks. Oh... on new bcg's, is everything relatively tight? I mean, it felt tight on both my new bcg's putting the bolts back in the carriers.
About to start this race.

 

[powermad]

.223 Wylde is the chamber and not the cartridge.

Based off of a 5.56 chamber for use with 5.56 55gr ball ammo for the Canadian competition team in 1984.
They found it worked great with 69gr mag length ammo, 5.56 NATO, .223 and when the 80gr SMK came out it worked great as long as you didn't mind single loading.

FWIW my Wilson Combat .223 Wylde closes on a .223 (1.4636") but not a Colt spec, 5.56 NATO (1.4646") GO gauge.
I like to check headspace first when using a new bolt, less headaches and wasted ammo later on.
Same for the extractor spring, toss the o-ring and spring out and replace with a Colt Gold spring or BCM, Spinco at least, with just the insert, no O-ring.

 

[Scrod314]

My new bcg's came with no O-rings. Will Power dominating this race. Looks like rain coming.

 

[mcb]

223 Remington, 55x45 NATO, 223 Wylde and nearly every other hybrid of the first two cartridges have exactly the same headspace. The variation is in throat and free bore dimensions not head space. They used exactly the same bolts.

ETA for that matter you can use the same "standard" AR-bolt for all the above and 204 Ruger, 300 BO, 300 Ham'r. 350 Legend and just about any other cartridge that shared a case head with the original 223/556 cartridge. The distance between the back of the locking lugs and the face of the bolt is a standard dimension. All bolts are made to this standard. When making barrels for AR's the makers know this dimension and ream the chamber with this expectations of the nominal location of the bolt face from the inside of the locking lugs on the barrel extension. This is so standard you can blindly buy a bolt from one maker and a barrel (with extension) from another maker and the results will be within proper head spacing tolerance almost without question.

 

[Scrod314]

You guys are all terrific. Thank you for reassuring me. I'm new to the AR platform. Unfortunately, it's all I want to shoot anymore. My other firearms keep looking at me wondering when I'm going to take them out.

 

[David Hoback]

Yup, all good. I ONLY run M16 BCG’s in every AR I ever assembled or built. My current is a Wylde chamber, and like the Azymuth bolt I run very much.