Originally Posted By: KizmoOriginally Posted By: VarminterrorOriginally Posted By: KizmoKeep in mind that, contrary to most AR's on the market, the .223 version SAAMI chambered for .223, not 5.56. Yes, there is a difference. The chamber throat (or leade) is shorter than in a 5.56 chamber, thus there is a shorter distance before the bullet engages the rifling, thus resulting in better accuracy. You are not supposed to shoot 5.56 military ammo from it.
Are the Remington's really 223rem's, and not 223 Wylde's? I didn't know anybody still made an AR chambered with 223 rem SAAMI throats, especially considering that the Rem brothers of DPMS and bushmaster use wyldes.
Definitely something interesting to learn!
Yes, but, at least at the time the R15 was introduced, Bushmaster didn't make a gun with an 18" barrel, so I'm not sure if these are Bushmaster barrels. I've seen this stated in several places, and I have no reason to believe the first poster on THR linked below is lying, so I haven't emailed Remington myself to hear it from the horse's mouth.
Remington R15 chamber
Read the response in the 5th post.
Quote:Somewhere buried deep in my files I have a copy that Bushmaster (the actually maker of the R-15) sent indicating the R-15 actually had a hybrid chamber and firing .223 and 5.56 was totally safe. This was probably a more honest answer. Remington's name is stamped on the gun and, in no way, can they recommend firing a cartridge in a rifle if that cartridge is not stamped on the gun.
Just found the e-mail. It was sent to a member of another shooting website concerning the barrel of R-15s:
Hello,
Subject: Chambers
The barrels have a custom match hybrid chambering that uses the tighter .223 SAAMI Spec headspace from the shoulder of the chamber to the bolt face. It has the longer 'leade' or throat that will accommodate the 5.56 ammunition so it can be used without developing higher pressures as in a .223 caliber chamber that have a shorter 'leade' or throat. Both 5.56mm and .223 caliber ammunition can safely be used in the rifles.
The 1:9 twist barrels will stabilize bullets from 40 to 75 grains.
Thank you,
Jim Eden
Technical Support
Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC
Office: 1-800-883-6229 ext. 277
Fax: 207-892-806
Not to mention...I have yet to see a single case of firearm damage or anything from a 5.56 designated round in a 223 Rem chamber. The response from Remington is a bean counter CYA response.