223 Wylde vs 556/223 barrel question

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2agunner

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My questions are regarding the accuracy and reliability of the differences of these two barrels when using 556 or 223 ammo.

When using 556 ammo, is it more accurate or reliable to use a 556/223 barrel?

When using 223 ammo, is it more accurate or reliable to use a 223 Wylde barrel?

When using both 556 and 223 ammo, which barrel 223 Wylde or 556/223 barrel should one use?

Given that both barrels can shoot 556/223 ammo, which barrel gives the most advantages with the least amount of disadvantages when shooting both 556/223 ammo?

Is the 223 Wylde the better choice/compromise that's why the barrel was developed?
 
The Wylde's throat is between the shorter .223 throat and the longer 5.56 chamber. From my brief check, it is not SAAMI approved but is a wildcat that can fire either .223 or 5.56 without the risk of excessive pressure. You can alter an existing .223 chamber to the wylde with a proper reamer as long as you do not have a nitrided or chrome plated barrel as it will damage the reamer. Not sure about stainless but ordinary chrome/moly are fine to alter.

Because there is no ammo labeled .223 Wylde, it may not ever be SAAMI approved.

Here is Bill Wilson's take https://www.wilsoncombat.com/223-wylde/
And LuckyGunner's lab where they measure the different chambers produced by different reamers This is a bit dated (2012) and may not reflect current reamer specs.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/REAMER6.png

And Brownell's comparison video of the .223, .223 Wylde, and the 5.56 in their Tech tips section.

And a long discussion including videos and pics at luckygunner with actual pressure testing with commercial ammo using AR's with different chambers
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/5-56-vs-223/

SAAMI chamber drawings and pressure limits found here
https://saami.org/technical-information/cartridge-chamber-drawings/
 
All I can say is this - this was shot through a Bear Creek Arsenal .223 Wylde barrel with handloads trimmed to .223 spec length, kneeling, iron sights, 200 yards. So far it's doing just fine by me. :) And that is ALL I know about .223 Wylde. :D
 

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If someone is capable of shooting well enough to tell the difference between a Wylde and 5.56 chamber on target, especially with factory ammo, then they wouldn’t be asking on an online forum about it.

Pick one or the other, shove any factory ammo you find on the shelf labeled 5.56 or 223, and shoot.
 
As a hand loader I don’t tend to dance on the bleeding edge of danger when it comes to published pressure so Wylde suits me fine when given the choice. I’ve seen fine groups fired from all 3 chamberings and poor ones as well.
 
I buy 5.56 chambers, wont buy a 223, not apposed to Wylde though. Definetly apposed to ar’s with 223 chambers.

In theory a 223 chamber would be most accurate, but If ammo got tight or in some sort of SHTF situation it could be a deal breaker.
But in real life I have a couple 5.56 rifles that print sub inch groups so for what I use them for I don’t think I need to try and close the groups down. A bolt gun would be better suited for a guy wanting best accuracy anyway.
Wylde is theory is best of both worlds. But I don’t own one so I don’t know what the advantage and disadvantage are.

Anything marked 223/5.56 is a 5.56 chamber.
 
Here is what Rock River Arms, Inc. said about their use of the Wylde configuration in the chambers of their match AR-15 rifles: "The .223 Wylde chamber was designed as a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles. It will accommodate both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition. It is relieved in the case body to aid in extraction and features a shorter throat for improved accuracy."
 
The Wylde barrels are pretty popular with service rifle competition shooters.

The Hornady manual has a section on service rifle loads, probably for that reason.

You didn't specify exactly what your application was or if you reload. If you reload or plan to reload I would consider the Wylde if the price isn't prohibitive.

On the other hand if you want to use nothing but low cost factory ammo and are looking for the $500 rifle with a 1/7 twist that's flooded the AR market it probably won't matter.
 
Either is fine. If you are seriously going for accuracy, a Wylde or similar chamber is desirable. For 90% of shooters the accuracy difference won't be noticeable.

If you dont buy or load match grade ammo, and are going to be shooting 55s, go with the barrel contour and length you want. Either chamber will be fine.
 
Here is what Rock River Arms, Inc. said about their use of the Wylde configuration in the chambers of their match AR-15 rifles: "The .223 Wylde chamber was designed as a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles. It will accommodate both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammunition. It is relieved in the case body to aid in extraction and features a shorter throat for improved accuracy."
I have a Ruger Mini 14 . It must be a Wylde chamber because it says in the manual it will fire 223REM or 5.56NATO ?
 
The round was designed as a military round. the 5.56 chamber was designed for the round. good enough for me.

If I need more accuracy than my AR gives, I'll buy a heavy barrel bolt or single shot, preferable in .22-250.
 
I'm in the process of building a hunting rifle. From the supply end, it appears that higher end
barrels are more likely to be chambered in 223 Wylde, rather than 5.56, IME.
 
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