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- When the .30-06 was the official long-arm
- cartridge of the U.S. Military, the decision to
- standardize on something smaller begat the .308
- Winchester (7.62mm NATO). Similarly, the
- realization that even smaller cartridges can be
- effective in the field has brought us the .223
- Remington (5.56mm NATO).
-
- Of course, there is a world of difference
- between the plinker's .22 rimfire and any .22
- centerfire round in terms of power, but compared
- to it's military predecessors, the .223 is indeed
- a pussycat. At it's introduction in the
- mid-60's, the military underscored the light
- recoil of the M-16 rifle by showing soldiers
- shooting them from their chins!
-
- The Sporting Arms and Ammunition
- Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) warns against
- using military 5.56mm NATO ammunition in sporting
- rifles chambered for the .223 Remington unless
- the manufacturer of the arm has been consulted.
- Evidently, there has been significant variations
- in chamber dimensions used by some makers, and it
- is possible that excesssively high chamber
- pressures could result. It should also be noted
- that the military 55-gr. M193 Ball cartridge does
- not shoot accurately in any rifle having rifling
- longer than a 1-in-12" twist.
-