DPMS says 5.56 is OK in .223

[proven]

this came up in another thread. whether a dpms rifle chambered in .223 could safely fire 5.56.

all of the information i have ever seen on this subject has stated that 5.56 creates unsafe pressures when fired in a .223 chamber.

i don't own a dpms rifle but called them about this particular rifle (from other thread) and was told the same thing this email reply states.

RE: Panther Bull Sweet Sixteen (Model: RFA2-B16)Monday, December 15, 2008 1:53 PM
From: "DPMS Firearms" <[email protected]>Add sender to Contacts To: "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I am glad to set the record straight. The barrels that are stamped .223 are exactly that, and officially 5.56 will fire through it. However you will see excessive throat and bore erosion. So eventually you will turn your .223 into a 5.56 anyway. We suggest that if you have a .223 that you only shoot .223 Rem ammo. If there are any further concerns please feel free to contact me.

Respectfully,



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DPMS Sales

www.dpmsinc.com

(800) XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(320) XXXXXXXXXX Fax

here's info from winchester, hornady, bushmaster, federal.

http://www.winchester.com/lawenforcement/news/newsview.aspx?storyid=11
http://www.hornadyle.com/faq/index.php?qIdx=3
http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/afmviewfaq.aspx?faqid=62
http://le.atk.com/pdf/223VS556.pdf

there is so much information out there that states the exact opposite of what dpms has said.

what is your take on this? are they spreading misinformation?

 

[possum]

if it is a .223 barrel and chmaber i am not shooting 5.56 in it. period end of disscussion, that is why i buy and shoot ar's that are rated for 5.56

 

[proven]

here's another link to saami stating NOT to use 5.56 in a .223 chamber.

http://www.saami.org/Unsafe_Combinations.cfm

i don't understand how dpms can feel ok about giving people info that flies in the face of what the rest of the industry says regarding the safety of this combination.

 

[Shooter88]

The DPMS sales people aren't necessarily technically minded. Probably better to listen to SAAMI who actually set the specs for cartridges, pressures, and chambers.

 

[onebigelf]

Does it go the other way? .223 in a 5.56 chamber?

John

 

[Shooter88]

That's correct. 5.56 NATO is loaded about 5,000-10,000 PSI hotter than commercial .223 Rem. Much like shooting .38 special in a .357 mag - shoot the weaker round in either, only shoot the hotter round in guns made for it.

 

[waterhouse]

I wouldn't say that letter says 5.56 is "OK" in a .223 chamber.

It says that 5.56 will fire, and cause throat erosion, and they recommend only shooting .223 in .223 chambers.

 

[proven]

i personally would even think about it. i thought this issue was well understood with the exception of those new to 5.56 or .223.

it just amazes me that they are telling people that it's ok.

 

[proven]

I wouldn't say that letter says 5.56 is "OK" in a .223 chamber.

i personally called them and was told it was "fine", and "the rifle isn't going to blow up in your face or anything like that".

 

[Ben Shepherd]

No, it most likely won't be a catastrophic failure. But it's still not a good idea. Akin to shooting 38+p+ in a gun not rated for it.

 

[jpwilly]

I've shoot 5.56 in my DPMS 223 no problems.

 

[HOME DEPOT GEORGE]

What about a mini14, can you shoot 5.56?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Yes, 5.56 in a Mini 14 is fine. It's in the Ruger manual. I think they have a 5.56 chamber anyway.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/PS-InstructionManuals-RI.html

The RUGER®MINI-14®RIFLESare chambered for the .223 Remington
(5.56mm) cartridge. The Mini-14 Rifle is designed to use either standardized U.S.
military, or factory loaded sporting .223 (5.56mm) cartridges manufactured in
accordance with U.S. industry practice. See “Ammunition Notice” & “Ammunition
Warning”, below.

 

[Acera]

In an emergency shoot what you can get.

Other wise shoot what is labeled on the barrel, or receiver if no labeling present on barrel.

Not worth the risk of damaging a fine firearm when you don't have to.


JMHO

 

[cat9x]

We suggest that if you have a .223 that you only shoot .223 Rem ammo

I wouldn't say that DPMS is saying it's OK to use 5.56 and I would ALWAYS go with what a manufacturer recommends.

 

[proven]

i called dpms personally, and was told "it's fine, the rifle won't blow up in your face or anything like that".

 

[UnTainted]

I have a .223 DPMS match 24" bull and I haven't fired a lot of 5.56, but what i have noticed is that the rounds jam almost 1 out of 2 with 5.56 brass and loads, whereas there is zero reliability problems.

I will be changing the barrel to a rra 1:8 w. 20"

 

[waterhouse]

i called dpms personally, and was told "it's fine, the rifle won't blow up in your face or anything like that".

Your first post states that you called and were told the same thing that the email states.

It appears to me that their written stance is that shooting 5.56 in their .223 chambers, while possible, is a bad idea, and thus they only recommend shooting .223 in .223 chambers.

As to what they may have said on the phone: Before I knew any better, I shot some 5.56 in a .223 chamber. Not much, because someone smarter than I was at the time stopped me. It did feed a couple of rounds and fire them reliably.

The rifle seemed fine and did not blow up in my face. That doesn't mean I would do it again.

 

[d2wing]

I read that they chamber for 5.56 in all their ar15 5.56/.223. The caliber is stamped on the barrel near the gas port.

 

[waterhouse]

Some of the guns on their website are listed of having a chamber of 5.56x45. Others, like their long stainless barrels, are listed as having .223 Rem. chambers.

 

[waterhouse]

I just downloaded the DPMS owner's manual. The owner's manual says that it is intended for use with the following caliber rifles, emphasis added:
.204 Ruger, .22LR, 5.56x45, .223 Rem.,6.8mm Rem. SPC, 7.62x39mm, .243 Win, etc.

They obviously recognize that the chambers are different.

On Page 10, Under the Section about loading the Firearm, it states:

1. Use only the ammunition for which your firearm is chambered.

It seems as though they erred on the cautious side, since .223 can be put in a 5.56, but again their written stance seems to be that you should only shoot .223 in rifles chambered for .223.

 

[mpmarty]

And what I find most interesting on the SAAMI website is that they do not say not to use 7.62X51 NATO military in .308 or the opposite. There goes another urban myth.

 

[proven]

what i find interesting is the lack of a safety concern in their 'written position'.

to tell someone over the phone or email them that 5.56 is capable of being fired in a rifle chambered for .223 without any mention of the safety issues involved, is irresponsible.

simply telling people they RECOMMEND .223......... and WARNING them against using 5.56 is not the same thing.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

its not complicated if your barrel has 5.56 stamped on it you can shoot either if it has .223 you can only shoot .223 no reason to over think this

 

[cat9x]

its not complicated if your barrel has 5.56 stamped on it you can shoot either if it has .223 you can only shoot .223 no reason to over think this

that is the point of the thread, some of their chambers are NOT marked 5.56 but rather .223.

to tell someone over the phone or email them that 5.56 is capable of being fired in a rifle chambered for .223 without any mention of the safety issues involved, is irresponsible.

it's also highly unprofessional.