Does having a rifle chambered for NATO 5.56 mm, automatically mean it can fire .223 as well? I bought a bolt action that was set up to take 7.62 x 51, and handles .308 WIN just as easily. I thinking of getting a basic S&W, for a semi-auto carbine. Thanks
A rifle chambered for 5.56 will handle .223 just fine. However, it's not a great idea to shoot 5.56 NATO in a rifle chambered for .223 due to the higher pressures in the 5.56. Some may disagree, but that is what I have seen to be the prevailing wisdom.
Thanks Acera! I didn't know that! I haven't ventured into the 308/762x51 world yet, and I would have assumed that they were like the 223/556 round, in that a rifle chambered in the NATO round could easily fire the non-nato counterpart.