About 5.56x45mm NATO
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are covering the
5.56x45mm NATO today. The cartridge is one of the most popular and common rifle rounds on the market, and is employed by shooters of all types. We are covering features, traits, use cases, and other considerations regarding the
5.56x45mm NATO. Without further ado, let’s talk about
5.56x45mm NATO.
What is 5.56x45mm NATO?
The
5.56x45mm NATO is an iconic caliber which is currently utilized by military, law enforcement, and civilian shooters. The
5.56x45mm NATO’s roots can be traced to the
.223 Remington cartridge, a popular smallbore sporting cartridge. Initially, development for the cartridge began in the United States in 1957 alongside efforts to develop a smallbore, high velocity firearm. This led to the introduction of the AR-15 and subsequent M-16 series of rifles. Development led to the adoption of the adoption of “Cartridge, 5.56mm Ball, M193” in 1963. After further development and proving itself in the Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts, NATO standardization of the round came in 1980.
The
5.56x45mm NATO features a light recoil impulse and high muzzle velocities. The light recoil of the cartridge allows the round to be utilized by shooters of all types. Novice shooters can learn to properly employ the cartridge without contending with staunch recoil while experienced shooters can take advantage of its light recoil. This light recoil aids the shooter in performing rapid follow up shots and maintaining a proper sight picture. The high velocity of the cartridge also aids in maintaining a flat trajectory and increasing the effective range of the round.
Presently, the
5.56x45mm NATO is one of the most common centerfire rifle cartridges one will encounter. The cartridge is easily accessible and well-suited to shooters of all types. Additionally, firearms and
ammunition offerings for the caliber are diverse and well-supported by the industry. In today’s market, most shooters’ first centerfire rifle will be one that is chambered in
5.56x45mm NATO. Plinking, training, hunting, defensive use, duty use, and competition are all appropriate use cases for
5.56x45mm NATO ammo. Simply put, the cartridge is incredibly versatile and viable for a variety of roles.
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Potential for Interchangeability
The potential for interchangeability exists between the
5.56x45mm NATO and the
.223 Remington.
5.56x45mm NATO chambered firearms can accommodate both
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition and
.223 Remington ammo. This is due to the fact that
5.56x45mm NATO firearms are designed to handle the higher pressures of their caliber. Conversely, firearms chambered in
.223 Remington should only be used with
.223 Remington ammo, never with
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. This is because
5.56x45mm NATO ammo produces higher pressures than
.223 Remington ammunition.
How Available is 5.56x45mm NATO Ammunition?
At this point in time,
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is very prevalent on the market in a variety of forms. The cartridge is one of the most common rifle cartridges found on the market. This is due to its widespread support and use around the globe. As such,
ammunition manufacturers around the globe produce
5.56x45mm NATO ammo in a variety of loadings. Presently,
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is produced by companies like
PMC,
GGG,
Turan,
Armscor, and
Norma to name a few. Loadings are available in many forms such as full metal jacket (FMJ) range loadings and specialized loads for specific use cases such as suppressed shooting and hunting. Additionally, many
5.56x45mm NATO offerings are loaded to military specs such as M193 and M855.
Typically, one can
purchase 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition in various quantities. These quantities range from individual box offerings to
bulk ammo offerings.
Bulk 5.56x45mm NATO ammo offerings are generally found in the form of battle packs, ammo cans, and case quantities. Some
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is even available on stripper clips, allowing an end user to quickly load magazines. Loadings for
5.56x45mm NATO are commonly found at most places where
ammunition is sold. Additionally, if one elects to
shop for ammo online, their
5.56x45mm NATO ammo options become even broader. This can come in handy if one is looking for a specific loading for specialized use cases such as hunting or precision shooting. Simply put, one will have no issue finding
5.56x45mm NATO ammo.
How Available are Firearms Chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO?
Currently, the market has no shortage of firearms chambered in
5.56x45mm NATO. Firearms which accommodate the caliber are readily available at most places that sell firearms. Typically, these types of firearms will come in the form of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles. Semi-automatic versions of popular military rifles such as the Steyr AUG, CZ Bren, and FN SCARs are commonly found in the caliber. Additionally, manual action firearms such as bolt action rifles and even pump action and lever action rifles can be found chambered in
5.56x45mm NATO.
Companies such as FN, Colt, Ruger, Steyr, and CZ are among the producers of 5.56x46mm NATO firearms. There are many manufacturers who produce AR-15 rifles in particular, allowing shooters of all budgets and preferences to take advantage of the common
5.56x45mm NATO. Of course, one can easily build or assemble a bolt action rifle or AR-15 in the caliber if they wish to make their own firearm. The modularity of the AR-15 and sheer number of parts and components makes it well-suited to being built or configured by an end user for a variety of use cases. Simply put, one can easily get into a firearm capable of accommodating
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition.
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What is 5.56x45mm NATO Used For?
Shooters employ
5.56x45mm NATO for a wide range of use cases and purposes. Plentiful
ammunition stocks and
cheap 5.56x45mm NATO ammo make the cartridge well-suited to plinking and training. Simply put, common and
affordable ammunition is conducive to many well-spent days at the range. Shooters can easily employ the
5.56x45mm NATO recreationally or to help develop their skills.
The cartridge is often utilized in defensive roles and for duty use. At this point in time, many
5.56x45mm NATO loadings can be found in forms optimized for defensive and duty roles. These loadings take advantage of the high velocity of the cartridge and are generally designed to stop and expand within a target upon impact. Many of these loadings also are designed to minimize the potential for overpenetration. The light recoil, accuracy, and controllability of the round makes it well-suited to defensive and duty use.
The
5.56x45mm NATO is also commonly employed in competition and match roles. These types of matches typically multigun style matches such as 2-Gun and 3-Gun. These matches often see competitors using tuned and optimized
5.56x45mm NATO chambered rifles in a competitive setting. Depending on the specific type of match, shooters can employ anything from standard ball
ammo to specialized competition loadings.
Many hunters also employ the cartridge in hunting applications. The
5.56x45mm NATO is capable of dispatching various game with the right loads. Game such as coyote, feral hogs and even white-tailed deer can be taken with
5.56x45mm NATO. As always, use appropriate
ammo, equipment, and practices to ensure an optimal and humane hunt.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the
5.56x45mm NATO is an incredibly versatile and popular rifle cartridge. Its viability in various applications allows it to appeal to a wide range of shooters. Both new shooters and experienced, specialized shooters appreciate the many benefits of the
5.56x45mm NATO. We here at True Shot Ammo offer
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition for sale in various loadings for popular use cases such as hunting and defense. Whether you want to
buy 5.56x45mm NATO ammo or
buy ammunition of another type that we stock, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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