SAF ammo: 5.56 or .223?

last SG · 2005-11-12T21:02:59+00:00

So the SAR21 being issued out has the twist rate of 1:7"? I believe that the length of the round determines the rifling required.

tvdog SG

Quick question please...

I can't remember now, but were our M-16 ammo marked .223 or 5.56mm at the base of the cartridge?

I seem to remember it as .223.

[email protected] SG

I think it should be 5.56mm now, esp if we’re using ST manufactured standard NATO rounds. I believe only the american rounds manufactured by winchester will be marked .223.

Fatum SG

actually the 5.56 x 45 came from the .223 Remington Magnum ...

the 7.62 x 51mm MG round started life as the .308 Winchester Magnum ...

Meia Gisborn SG

Differences between 5.56mm and .223 specifications.

MG

[email protected] SG

Yes I know that. But after NATO decided on a standard round to use, there are certain specifications to follow, such as grade of gun powder etc. Thats why its known as 5.56 or 7.62 NATO now. FYI 7.62 is not purely an MG round. It was the standard round for assault rifles until USA pushed for NATO to adopt the .223 as standard because that was what their newly designed M16s were chambered for. In the past, it was commonly used by rifles such as the M14, H&K G3, FN SLR/FN FAL etc.

tvdog SG

Erm... thanks for all the answers, but actually, my question is specifically:

The ammo that we used in SAF - that's made by CIS or ST Kinetics - are they marked .223 or 5.56 at the bottom?

Can anyone remember? Or can someone that's now serving take a look and tell me?

Thanks.

[email protected] SG

5.56mm

cleong SG

They are stamped 5.56mm at their base, together with the manufacturing lot number, around the percussion cap.

7.62mm rounds, in addition to being chain linked GPMG rounds, are also available in ball match rounds, possibly in sniper rifles.

Eiizumi SG

5.56mm = .223 inch. Get it? Same lah.

tvdog SG

I think you're being smart over the wrong question:

I did not ask you if 5.56 equal to .223.

I asked if our ammo are MARKED 5.56 or .223.

Now do you "GET IT"?

Eiizumi SG

Depends. Normally .223

Very rare I see 5.56mm

Sometimes, they dun rite at all.

Depends on how new the rounds is.

My unit normally use SWISS P. (Swiss made)

I work with these rounds alot... so almost every day I see.

Moonstriker SG

Just finished guard duty… and yes, our rounds are marked 5.56mm ard the percussion cap on the cartridge base.

tvdog SG

INteresting, one says 5.56 and another .223.

I live overseas for 10 already so for the life of me I can't remember if our rounds are marked .223 or 5.56mm. But I don't remember that the ammo I used were ever marked where they are manufactured.

[email protected] SG

i have to say that logic dictates that since we use the metric system, our locally manufactured rounds are marked in mm.

ChineseJunk SG

We lost our in-country capability to manufacture small arms ammo some time ago. Ditto for arty and mortar fuzes.

The odd CIS manufactured rounds were pulled from the stockpile.

cleong SG

Things change a lot since I ORDed 5 years ago!

[email protected] SG

have we? so ST no longer produces any? then where do we get them now?

in any case tho, even if we import from outside sources, I'd expect them to be printed in metric because not many places still stick to imperial units nowadays except for USA n a few other countries.

tvdog SG

Any related articles I can read about this?

I find this incredible.

ChineseJunk SG

The profit-minded types regard 5.56mm ammo as a commodity type product, which can be bought in bulk from the open arms market. If you have the cash and the necessary permits, I could order one 20-foot container crammed to the gills with ammo for you.

The loss of our 5.56 production line is no secret. All ammo suppliers know about it.

The logic is that it's cheaper stockpiling tonnes of ammo rather than maintaining the workers, machines and raw material need to make it in Singapore. What do you think is going to fill all those caverns in the UAF?

I believe the business case and the incessant push to make all units in ST Engg profit centres has overshadowed the strategic aspects of this decision..... you can draw your own conclusion what I think of the loss of the small arms ammo production.

If you visit ST Engg at Asian Aerospace'06, ask them for their brochures on 5.56mm ammo or fuzes and see what response you get.

WiNtEr'SkiLL SG

lol Mr. Green