Rifle · SAAMI
.223 Remington
Civilian commercial cartridge dimensionally similar to but distinct from 5.56x45mm NATO.
- Caliber
- 0.2244″ · 5.7 mm
- Introduced
- 1964
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .222 Remington
- Primary use
- Varmint, Target, Competition
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1964
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Remington Arms / Eugene Stoner
- Manufacturer
- Remington Arms
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Abundant
- Case capacity
- 28.8 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:12
- Primer
- Small Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 55,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 600 yd
- Max range
- 3000 yd
- Recoil
- 3.5–5 ft·lb
Introduced by Remington Arms
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .223 Remington. Parent case: .222 Remington.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.70 | 0.224 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.43 | 0.253 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 9.00 | 0.354 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 23° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 9.55 | 0.376 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 9.60 | 0.378 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.14 | 0.045 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 5.15 | 0.203 | ≈ |
| Case length | 44.70 | 1.760 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 57.40 | 2.260 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .223 Remington is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
58 reloading powders listed for .223 Remington, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .223 Remington
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed in 1962–63 by Remington alongside the military's development of what would become the 5.56 NATO. SAAMI standardized the civilian .223 Remington in 1963. While the cartridge fed the AR-15/M16 development program, .223 Remington has never been a military-issue designation — the military cartridge is 5.56x45mm NATO. The .223 operates at lower maximum pressure (55,000 PSI vs. 62,000 PSI for 5.56) and has a shorter leade (throat). Used for varminting, coyote hunting, target shooting, 3-gun competition, and general plinking in the AR-15 platform.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .223 Remington use?
- .223 Remington typically uses a 1:12 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .223 Remington?
- .223 Remington uses a 0.2244″ (5.7 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .223 Remington still in production?
- .223 Remington is active; typical availability is abundant.
- What is .223 Remington used for?
- .223 Remington is primarily used for varmint, target, competition, hunting.
- What is .223 Remington based on?
- .223 Remington is derived from the .222 Remington case.
- What are the best powders for .223 Remington?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .223 Remington include Alliant Unique, AR 2205, A0, Vectan A0, among 58 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .223 Remington
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 311 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
