.223 vs .308: A Caliber Comparison

August 27, 2024
223 caliber ammunition

Are you torn between choosing the .223 Remington or .308 Winchester for your next rifle? Both calibers are staples in gun shops across America, but each serves very different purposes. The .223 Remington, with its lighter recoil, is suited for light and practical rifles, ideal for practice, training, competition shooting, or self-defense. The .308 Winchester delivers the stopping power and range needed for big-game hunting, precision shooting, and long-range applications.

With a wide selection of .223 and .308 rifles and personalized advice to match your shooting style, IFA Tactical is your go-to destination for all your firearm needs.

Understanding the key differences in size, ballistics, and applications can help you make the right choice based on your needs. Explore our in-depth comparison of .223 vs .308 to determine which caliber is best for you—or why having both in your collection could be a smart move.

223 caliber AR-15 rifle with a magazine

All The Facts About the .223 Remington Cartridge

The .223 Remington (.223 Rem) cartridge debuted on the U.S. civilian market in the early 1960s. It was a collaborative development between Remington Arms and Fairchild Industries, specifically designed for use in the ArmaLite AR-15 in 1957. The cartridge entered full production in 1964, coinciding with the release of the first-generation AR-15 and M16 rifles.

History and Development of the .223 Remington

Contrary to common belief, the .223 Remington was not initially developed as a civilian hunting cartridge but was later adopted by the military. It was commissioned from the outset to meet the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) specifications.

It is a small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) cartridge and a modified version of the older .222 Remington made to accept more gunpowder and reach higher bullet velocities. The cartridge’s development is closely tied to that of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle, for which it was specifically designed. In 1964, the U.S. Air Force officially adopted the AR-15 as its new service rifle, designating it M16 and replacing the M14.

Other U.S. Armed Forces branches soon followed, and the .223 Remington gained its military 5.56x45mm NATO designation. From that point onward, 5.56 gradually replaced 7.62x51mm NATO, the military designation of .308 Winchester, as the primary service cartridge.

The .223/5.56 cartridge is the first successful SCHV due to its adoption by the United States and, eventually, the rest of NATO. Its main benefits over 7.62 NATO included comparable lethality on the battlefield in a smaller, lighter cartridge.
This design allowed individual soldiers to carry more ammunition and individual magazines to reach higher capacities. For example, the standard magazine for a typical 7.62mm battle rifle accepts 20 rounds, whereas one for a 5.56mm assault rifle accepts 30.

Following the successful adoption of .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO, other major powers developed and adopted their own SCHVs. Examples include the Russian 5.45x39mm, adopted by most Warsaw Pact countries, and the Chinese 5.8x42mm.

.223 Remington vs. 5.56x45mm NATO

Despite their shared origins and similar dimensions, gunsmithing reference materials treat .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO as different cartridges. Here’s a breakdown of the important characteristics between the two designations.

.223 Remington 5.56x45mm NATO
Origin Original late-1950s design Updated military specification
Maximum chamber pressure 55,000 psi 62,366 psi
Bullet diameter 0.224” 0.224”
Neck diameter 0.253” 0.253”
Base diameter 0.377” 0.377”
Case length 1.760” 1.760”

.223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges have the same external dimensions and accept bullets of identical sizes and weights. You can interchangeably insert either into the same magazines and firearms.

Are .223 and 5.56 Interchangeable?

The difference in chamber pressure between the two cartridges presents a potential safety risk. Loading 5.56 ammunition in guns designed to fire .223 Remington only may cause accelerated wear and tear and increase the risk of a catastrophic failure.

However, virtually all firearms with .223 Remington markings produced in the past 50 years can withstand 5.56mm ammunition safely. Specific manufacturers, such as Ruger, will specify in the owner’s manual if your .223-marked rifle can safely shoot 5.56. Many brands of ammunition called .223 Remington are made to 5.56x45mm specifications.

If you own a modern 5.56 firearm, such as an AR-15, the SIG Sauer MCX, Steyr AUG, IWI Galil, or Kel-Tec SU-16, you can typically safely shoot .223 with it. Exercise caution if you own a vintage .223 Remington gun or a precisely-tuned .223-only target rifle. Shooting 5.56 through these guns may be unsafe.

If you are uncertain whether your gun can safely shoot 5.56, consult the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer.

Applications and Suitable .223 Remington Projectiles

The .223 Remington is a bottlenecked, rimless rifle cartridge that uses 0.224” diameter projectiles, with bullet weights ranging from 40 to 80 grains.

The most popular bullet weights for .223 Remington are 55-grain and 62-grain, largely due to their common use in 5.56mm military ammunition. Heavier bullets, like 69- and 77-grain, are less common but still widely used for civilian purposes, including hunting and precision shooting.

The .223 Remington cartridge comes in a variety of projectile types. Here are some of the most common:

  • Full metal jacketed (FMJ). You can recognize FMJ bullets by their plain, solid tip. .223 FMJ bullets are inexpensive general-purpose projectiles weighing 55 or 62 grains, excellent for training or fun at the range.
  • Green tips. A type of FMJ ammunition with a small steel penetrator in the nose and a green-painted tip. These bullets are patterned after military 62-grain M855/SS109 projectiles and are commonly used for training and practice. The ATF exempted green tips from the legal definition of an armor-piercing bullet in 1981, making them legal to own and shoot.
  • Expanding ammunition. Includes jacketed soft point (JSP) and jacketed hollow point (JHP). Expanding .223 bullets mushroom into a larger diameter on impact. They are primarily designed for self-defense and hunting.
  • Match-grade ammunition. There are several types of these projectiles, including Match and Open-Tip Match (OTM). While they may look similar to hollow points, they are not designed to expand upon impact. Instead, their construction is optimized for accuracy and long-distance shooting.

Commonly Available .223 Remington Firearms

Firearms chambered in .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO have been a staple of the U.S. civilian market for more than 60 years.

After acquiring the manufacturing rights for the M16 from ArmaLite in 1963, Colt began producing civilian-legal versions of the AR-15. The first model, the Colt AR-15 SP-1 Sporter Rifle, was released in 1964. This rifle closely resembles the original M16 military rifle but is semi-automatic only. The SP1 is considered the forerunner of today’s modern civilian AR-15s.

Today, there is a wide variety of .223/5.56 firearms available in semi-automatic, bolt-action, and lever-action configurations. In the United States, AR-15 pattern models are by far the most prevalent .223 firearms. These rifles are based on the original ArmaLite and Colt AR-15/M16 designs and have become a distinct category of firearms. Hundreds of manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad produce their own versions of the AR-15, resulting in a massive aftermarket for AR-compatible parts, modifications, and upgrades.

Other common .223 firearms include:

  • Civilian versions of other military firearms. Steyr AUG, IWI Galil and Galil ACE, IWI Tavor, FN Herstal SCAR-16, CZ Bren, Springfield Hellion (VHS-2), Heckler & Koch MR556 (HK416)
  • Non-military-derived semi-automatic firearms. Ruger Mini-14, Kel-Tec SU-16, Desert Tech MDR, B+T APC223, SIG MCX
  • Bolt-action and lever-action rifles. Savage Arms Axis and Axis XP, Ruger American, Sako Model 90, Remington 700, Henry Long Ranger, Browning BLR

Hunting cartridges of caliber. 308 Win

Everything You Need To Know About .308 Winchester

The .308 Winchester (.308 Win) cartridge is one of the quintessential American rifle cartridges. Jointly developed by Winchester and the Frankford Arsenal, it has enjoyed widespread popularity among sport shooters, hunters, law enforcement agencies, and military units since its introduction in 1952.

History of the .308 Winchester

Most shooters today know the “three-oh-eight” cartridge, which is derived from the lesser-known .300 Savage. Its origins are traced back to the T65 experimental military cartridge.

The goal of the T65 project was to match the ballistics and performance of the .30-06 Springfield—the standard military service cartridge at the time—but in a more compact design. It was developed in conjunction with an experimental rifle, the T44.

Following the conclusion of the T65 project in the early 1950s, two separate entities used its results to begin production of a new cartridge:

  • ,308 Winchester: The first was Winchester, who saw the potential of the T65 cartridge on the civilian market and began production of the .308 Winchester in 1952.
  • 7.62x51mm NATO: The other was NATO and the U.S. Armed Forces. The T65 met the military requirements of a light .30-caliber rifle cartridge, prompting its adoption in 1954. The E4 version of the T44 experimental rifle was also formally adopted and designated M14 in June 1957. It replaced the WW2-era M1 Garand and remained in service until the introduction of the M16 in 1964.

Popularity and Modern Usages of the .308 Winchester

Both cartridges gained long-lasting popularity in their respective fields. The .308 Winchester became a top choice for sport shooters and hunters, well-suited for hunting nearly all medium-sized game in North America. 

Meanwhile, its military counterpart, the 7.62x51mm NATO, was adopted by armed forces in over 50 countries. Rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO, such as the FN FAL, H&K G3, and M14, became iconic symbols of NATO and Western forces throughout the Cold War. 

However, the cartridge’s accuracy and effectiveness at long ranges make it a popular choice for precision shooting. Today, rifles chambered in .308 Winchester or 7.62 NATO are widely used by military and police snipers for high-precision tasks.

.308 Winchester vs. 7.62x51mm NATO

Although the .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO are technically different cartridges, they both originate from the T65 project, have identical external dimensions, and can be used interchangeably in the same firearms and magazines.

.308 Winchester 7.62x51mm NATO
Origin 1952 design created for the civilian market 1954 cartridge adopted by the military
Maximum chamber pressure 62,000 psi 60,191 psi
Bullet diameter 0.308” 0.308”
Neck diameter 0.343” 0.343”
Base diameter 0.470” 0.470”
Case length 2.015” 2.015”

Are .308 and 7.62 NATO Interchangeable?

The .308 Winchester was developed first and has slightly different specifications, but these variations are minor. According to SAAMI standards, the .308 Winchester can reach up to 62,000 psi, compared to 60,191 psi for the 7.62x51mm NATO—a difference of less than 4%, which is smaller than the pressure difference between 5.56 and .223.

.308 Winchester ammunition produced in Europe under CIP specifications produces the same maximum pressure of 60,191 psi as its military counterparts. European-made .308 can be considered functionally identical to American 7.62 NATO.

You can safely shoot .308 Winchester or 7.62 NATO ammunition in rifles marked for either caliber, provided both the ammunition and the rifle are in good condition.

Applications for the .308 Winchester Cartridge

While the .308 Winchester is a bottlenecked, rimless cartridge like the .223 Remington, it is noticeably larger and accepts heavier projectiles. Ammunition manufacturers produce various bullet weights and projectiles depending on the intended application.

  • General-purpose. If you primarily shoot .308 rifles for fun, plinking, or training at the range, stick to inexpensive 147-grain or 150-grain FMJ ammo.
  • Varmint hunting. You may prefer lighter, shorter bullets if you need to use a .308 rifle on smaller game. Consider 110-grain expanding bullets for coyotes, prairie dogs, and foxes. You can step up to 125 grains for antelope, smaller whitetail deer, or predators like bobcats.
  • Big game hunting. Heavier 168-grain and 180-grain expanding projectiles are available if you hunt elk, wild hog, or moose. They’re also powerful enough to deal with large predators like bears.
  • Precision shooting. You can find some of the world’s most accurate projectiles in .308 Winchester ammunition. They are the top choice for competition between long-distance shooters and police snipers. Examples include Sierra MatchKing 168-grain and 175-grain, Hornady ELD Match 178-grain, and Federal Gold Medal Match 175-grain.

Types of .308 Winchester Firearms

The .308 Winchester cartridge has been around for over 70 years and remains popular. If you’re considering adding a .308 firearm to your collection, plenty of models are available. Here’s an overview of some of the most common .308 firearms on the market today, along with the makes and models you can find:

  • Bolt-action hunting and precision rifles. Remington 700, Winchester Model 70, Sako 100, Savage Arms Model 110, Browning X-Bolt, Ruger Precision Rifle, Tikka T3, Mossberg Patriot
  • Semi-automatic rifles. AR-10 pattern rifles, IWI Tavor 7, FN Herstal SCAR-17, Heckler & Koch MR762, Springfield Armory M1A, DSA SA58
  • Lever-action rifles. Henry Long Ranger, Browning BLR, Winchester Model 88

Performance Breakdown of .223 vs .308

The .223 Remington and .308 Winchester cartridges serve different purposes. Knowing the pros, cons, strengths, and weaknesses of .223 vs .308 can help you select the right firearm to suit your needs. The table below provides a quick comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of each cartridge.

Performance Factor .223 Remington .308 Winchester
Bullet diameter
  • 0.224”
  • 0.308”
Bullet weights
  • Ranges from 40 to 77 grains
  • 55- and 62-grain are the most common
  • Ranges from 100 to 180 grains
  • 150- and 168-grain are the most common
Muzzle velocity
  • 2800 to 3000 ft/s from a carbine (16” barrel)
  • 3000 to 3200 ft/s from a rifle (20” barrel)
  • 2600 to 2800 ft/s from a full-length rifle (24” barrel)
  • 2400 to 2600 ft/s from a shorter rifle (18”)
Muzzle energy With a typical 55-grain bullet:

  • About 1,000 foot-pounds force from a carbine (16” barrel)
  • Approx. 1175 foot-pounds force from a rifle (20” barrel)
With a typical 150-grain bullet:

  • About 2,400 foot-pounds force from a full-length rifle (24” barrel)
  • Approx. 2,100 foot-pounds force from a shorter rifle (18” barrel)
Power and terminal effectiveness Less powerful More powerful
Recoil Lighter and easier to control Heavier and less comfortable
Effective range Accurate at up to 300-500 yards Accurate at up to 800-1,000 yards
Cost of ammunition Usually lower, about $0.50 to $0.55 per round (.223 FMJ practice ammunition) Usually higher, $0.85 to $1 per round (.308 FMJ ammunition)

Find Your Next Rifle at IFA Tactical

When considering .223 vs .308, the real question isn’t “Which is better?” but rather, “Which is best for my needs?” Both cartridges and their respective firearms excel in different tasks and applications, so the choice ultimately depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want a lighter, more compact rifle with less recoil, the .223 Remington might be your best choice. But if you need a rifle for long-range accuracy or hunting, the .308 Winchester is ideal. Both calibers offer enjoyable shooting experiences, so you can’t go wrong with having one of each in your collection.

Are you a gun enthusiast in the Detroit area? Stop by IFA Tactical and explore our new and pre-owned firearms range, including the latest .223 carbines, .308 hunting rifles, ammunition, and accessories. Unsure which firearm suits you best? Reach out to our team—we’re here to answer your questions and help you navigate the world of firearms and shooting.

×
Call Now Button