Description
NORMA RIFLE CASES .223 Rem (100)
Shortly after the introduction of the .222 Remington, experiments began to create a similar cartridge for military use. The advantages were clear, as soldiers could carry more rounds of a smaller, lighter cartridge. However, the smaller bullet had reduced long-range potential and lesser penetration.
The first .223 appeared in 1957, mainly developed by Robert Hutton of Guns & Ammo and Gene Stoner of Armalite. A key requirement was that the cartridge retain a velocity exceeding the speed of sound at 500 yards. This was not possible with the .222, but with a slightly longer case and a 55-grain boattail bullet, the .223 met the demands.
Adopted by the U.S. Army in 1964 and used in the Vietnam War, the .223 has since been adopted by NATO as a standard military cartridge, albeit with a heavier 63-grain bullet requiring a quicker twist (1 in 7”) than most sporting rifles for the civilian market (1 in 10, 12, or 14”). Military chambers and cartridges have slightly different dimensions from the sporting version released by Remington after the military adoption. Consequently, military ammunition might produce high chamber pressure in sporting rifles. Military cases often have thicker brass, requiring starting loads to be reduced by at least 10%.
For sporting purposes, the cartridge is best with bullets of 60 grains or less, suitable for similar purposes as the .222 Remington, with added range. Due to NATO adoption, the .223 is expected to become more popular among European shooters. Norma Brass is the gold standard of cartridge cases.
