question for firearm owners/enthusiast

**stangslayer98** · 11-29-2008, 09:32 PM

question...is a .22 caliber round the same as a .223 round. i found some forums showing the differences, but would like some co-workers to read this so please explain thanks

**LoneGunman** · 11-29-2008, 09:40 PM

Not even close

From left to right.

.22 caliber .223 caliber .270 caliber .308 caliber

**TempleU_WS6** · 11-29-2008, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by stangslayer98

question...is a .22 caliber round the same as a .223 round. i found some forums showing the differences, but would like some co-workers to read this so please explain thanks

The cartridges of a .223 are much larger and hold more powder than the .22.

Looking at the picture the difference is very clear.

**stangslayer98** · 11-29-2008, 10:21 PM

what about the round itself i know one has a full metal jacket , but technically can they be considered the same caliber .22 and .223 also one more question can a gun shot a 357 magnum round and a 38 special round

**rbob93** · 11-29-2008, 10:21 PM

The diameters are the same. That is the only thing they have in common.

38 special can be fired in a 38 magnum pistol, but not vice versa

**nhraformula** · 11-29-2008, 10:30 PM

a 223 is basicly a 22 on roids.

**LoneGunman** · 11-29-2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by stangslayer98

what about the round itself i know one has a full metal jacket , but technically can they be considered the same caliber .22 and .223 also one more question can a gun shot a 357 magnum round and a 38 special round

Here ya go. This will give you the basics http://www.speakupwny.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19424

Yes, a 357 Magnum handgun can shoot a 38 Special round. A 357 is basically a stretched 38 special. You can't fire a 357 round out of a 38 though, chamber is too small.

**dpinson** · 11-30-2008, 07:00 AM

22 long rifle and 223 do have the same o.d. bullet which is 224 nominal i believe is what they say but the 22 is a different designed projectile and cant be swapped out

22-250 is also the same size bullet

for plinking rounds i use the exact same box of projectiles to load 223 and 22-250 which is 55gr ballistic tips

**dpinson** · 11-30-2008, 07:02 AM

some 223 rifles do make conversion kits so you can fire 22 long rifle through them

the barrel is the same you just need to make adjustments for the chamber and clip

**TransAm11973** · 11-30-2008, 07:57 AM

.223 is a boat tailed conical round mean to be fired at a very high rate of ft/sec....it is the basic round used by the US military, all about speed, distance and damage..... a .22 is like getting hit by a pee..and a .223 id like getting hit by a bowling ball thrown out of a car going 60mph

**91Z28** · 11-30-2008, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by TransAm11973

.223 is a boat tailed conical round mean to be fired at a very high rate of ft/sec....it is the basic round used by the US military, all about speed, distance and damage..... a .22 is like getting hit by a pee..and a .223 id like getting hit by a bowling ball thrown out of a car going 60mph

There are many bullets available for the .223, not just FMJBTs. There are 40gr Polymer tipped bullets, 64gr Soft points, 69, 75, 77, and even 90, yes 90gr OTM bullets now also.

To the OP

The most common .22 and the one I'm sure you're talking about is .22 Long Rifle, a rimfire cartridge. .223 Remington/5.56 x 45mm NATO is a centerfire rifle cartridge so the only thing they share is a similar bullet diameter. The 2 most common loads for 5.56 NATO are a 55gr FMJBT @ 3250 fps and a 62gr steel core FMJBT @ 3100 fps. .22 Long Rifle can only dream of muzzle velocities like that.

**TransAm11973** · 11-30-2008, 05:18 PM

yea i understand there are many different types of bullets for the .223 but as you said the 2 most common are FMJBT

**dpinson** · 12-01-2008, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by TransAm11973

yea i understand there are many different types of bullets for the .223 but as you said the 2 most common are FMJBT

he is talking about nato rounds not civilian ammo

**nhraformula** · 12-01-2008, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by TransAm11973

.223 is a boat tailed conical round mean to be fired at a very high rate of ft/sec....it is the basic round used by the US military, all about speed, distance and damage..... a .22 is like getting hit by a pee..and a .223 id like getting hit by a bowling ball thrown out of a car going 60mph

there are slight differences between the 223 and 556

http://www.fulton-armory.com/556-vs-223-Chambers.htm

**ztrouble** · 12-01-2008, 01:49 PM

to answer the op yes a .223 is considered a .22 cal bullet much like the 308 is considered a .30 cal bullet. are they interchangable? no

**91Z28** · 12-01-2008, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by dpinson

he is talking about nato rounds not civilian ammo

The bullets are interchangeable. The 5.56 NATO rounds are simply loaded to higher chamber pressures and as a result tend to have slightly longer throats. But the brass and bullets are the same for .223/5.56. Its basically the same. Generally, 5.56 chambers are reliable with both types of ammo but commercial .223 guns shouldn't be used with 5.56 NATO ammo. There are also hybrid "Wylde" chambers to consider also.

**dpinson** · 12-02-2008, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by 91Z28

The bullets are interchangeable. The 5.56 NATO rounds are simply loaded to higher chamber pressures and as a result tend to have slightly longer throats. But the brass and bullets are the same for .223/5.56. Its basically the same. Generally, 5.56 chambers are reliable with both types of ammo but commercial .223 guns shouldn't be used with 5.56 NATO ammo. There are also hybrid "Wylde" chambers to consider also.

yes but the statement was that most 223 ammo is boattail,and while this is true for nato ammo there are many different types that are loaded in civilian ammo