5.56 and .223

[DonWorsham]

The one on the left.

[Ping]

Thanks Don. Had a brain fart for a moment. 

[Rob10ring]

I hate to get back on topic, but,  my mini 14 is stamped 223, while in the manual it sez 5.56 or 223.  What is up with that?

There is a long and short to this.

The long answer is it's a little tricky and has to do with the difference in pressures. The American Rifleman revisited this within the last couple of years. I'll try to find the article and either post a link or an issue date. You can ask all sorts of people and look all over the internet for armchair advice. Some advice will be dead on and some will be dangerous. Some guns shoot either and some don't. While some people have shot 5.56 in their 223 barreled guns with no ill effects, that may not be the case for everyone. Some people have gone over Niagara Falls or the Golden Gate Bridge and lived, but I know better.

The short answer is to take 5 minutes and call the manufacturer. I have 2 guns that are stamped 223. A Mini 14 and a Colt Sporter Lightweight. I called both manufacturers to make sure and I can fire 5.56 in them.

[PegLeg45]

There is a long and short to this.

The long answer is it's a little tricky and has to do with the difference in pressures. The American Rifleman revisited this within the last couple of years. I'll try to find the article and either post a link or an issue date. You can ask all sorts of people and look all over the internet for armchair advice. Some advice will be dead on and some will be dangerous. Some guns shoot either and some don't. While some people have shot 5.56 in their 223 barreled guns with no ill effects, that may not be the case for everyone. Some people have gone over Niagara Falls or the Golden Gate Bridge and lived, but I know better.

The short answer is to take 5 minutes and call the manufacturer. I have 2 guns that are stamped 223. A Mini 14 and a Colt Sporter Lightweight. I called both manufacturers to make sure and I can fire 5.56 in them.

Good advice.
Especially since Ruger has four different manuals for the Mini-14 depending on serial # and date of manufacture.


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

[saltydogbk]

Just got off the phone with Ruger...yes the Mini 14 shoots both 223 and 5.56.

[Sponsor]

[Rob10ring]

Just got off the phone with Ruger...yes the Mini 14 shoots both 223 and 5.56.

Yep, I should have posted that was the answer that I got from them. Same for the Colt Sporters.

[MikeBjerum]

Calling the manufacturer is the best advice I've seen on here.  I have done that for history information on a couple of used guns I purchased, and I just did it with DPMS on questions due to a dealer issue.  In every case I gave them the serial number and they could tell me everything I wanted to know and more about the gun.

Thanks for that advice!

[Rob10ring]

Especially when it comes to anything that may be a safety issue, always ask the manufacturer. We don't want any of our friends & family losing body parts.

[PegLeg45]

Especially when it comes to anything that may be a safety issue, always ask the manufacturer. We don't want any of our friends & family losing body parts.

AMEN, Brother.....AMEN.   

[blackwolfe]

Heard in the last couple of days that the newer Ruger Mini-14 Target rifle is .223 only, but have not been able to confirm or dismiss that statement.   Could not find anything on the Ruger website in regards to aMINI-14 Targert rifle manual.