5.56 NATO

About this caliber

5.56×45mm NATO is a small, high-velocity centerfire rifle cartridge widely used in AR-15-pattern rifles. It is closely related to, but not identical to, the .223 Remington.

Commonly used for

Range / targetVarmintHome defenseCompetition

5.56 NATO is a lightweight, flat-shooting intermediate rifle cartridge developed for military service and now common in civilian sporting rifles. It produces relatively light recoil for a centerfire rifle round, which makes it easy to shoot accurately and quickly. Ammunition is widely available and generally affordable. It is commonly used for target shooting, training, varmint and predator control, and home defense in carbine platforms. One important note: 5.56 NATO is loaded to higher pressure than .223 Remington — rifles chambered for 5.56 can typically fire both, while a .223-only chamber should not be fed 5.56, so the specific chamber marking on a given firearm is worth verifying.

General information about this caliber — not a recommendation for this specific firearm.

Firearms chambered in 5.56 NATO · 192

ANDRO CORP INDUSTRIES ACI-15

Load	Type	Purpose	Grain	Velocity	Energy
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	55 gr	3426 fps	1433 ft·lb
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	62 gr	3200 fps	1410 ft·lb
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	62 gr	3200 fps	1410 ft·lb
Hornady Black	SP	Defense	75 gr	2321 fps	897 ft·lb
PMC X-Tac	FMJ	Defense	55 gr	3120 fps	1306 ft·lb
PMC X-Tac	—	Defense	62 gr	3100 fps	1323 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Defender	SP	Defense	64 gr	2800 fps	1115 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Match	JHP	Defense	77 gr	2750 fps	1293 ft·lb
Aguila Target & Range	FMJ	Hunting	62 gr	3150 fps	1366 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets VOR-TX	JHP	Hunting	62 gr	3000 fps	1239 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets Precision Match	JHP	Hunting	69 gr	2900 fps	1289 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets VOR-TX	JHP	Hunting	70 gr	2850 fps	1263 ft·lb
Barnes Bullets Precision Match	JHP	Hunting	85 gr	2600 fps	1276 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Centerfire Rifle	JHP	Hunting	55 gr	3240 fps	1282 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	FMJ	Hunting	55 gr	3240 fps	1282 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	FMJ	Hunting	55 gr	3240 fps	1282 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	FMJ	Hunting	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	FMJ	Hunting	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	JHP	Hunting	68 gr	2960 fps	1323 ft·lb
Frontier Cartridge Military Grade	JHP	Hunting	75 gr	2910 fps	1410 ft·lb
Hornady Superformance	—	Hunting	55 gr	3175 fps	1231 ft·lb
Hornady Black	FMJ	Hunting	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Hornady Superformance	JHP	Hunting	75 gr	2910 fps	1410 ft·lb
PMC X-Tac	FMJ	Hunting	55 gr	3270 fps	1306 ft·lb
Aguila Aguila 1E556155 5.56x45mm NATO 55 gr Full Metal Jacket 450 Per Box/5 Case	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3164 fps	1231 ft·lb
Aguila Target & Range	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3260 fps	1298 ft·lb
Aguila Green Tip	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3260 fps	1298 ft·lb
Federal Federal FC556F200 5.56NATO 55gr Full Metal Jacket 200 Per Box/5 Case	FMJ	Target	55 gr	—	—
Magtech Tactical/Training	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3265 fps	1302 ft·lb
Magtech Tactical/Training	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3085 fps	1306 ft·lb
PMC X-Tac	—	Target	62 gr	3100 fps	1323 ft·lb
PPU Rangemaster	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3240 fps	1282 ft·lb
Sig Sauer Marksman	JHP	Target	77 gr	2750 fps	1293 ft·lb
TR&Z Range Master	FMJ	Target	55 gr	—	—
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3180 fps	1306 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3180 fps	1306 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3180 fps	1235 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3180 fps	1306 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA Valor	FMJ	Target	55 gr	3270 fps	1306 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	62 gr	3060 fps	1289 ft·lb
Atomic Rifle	LRN	—	125 gr	—	—
Federal American Eagle	FMJ	—	55 gr	—	—
Fiocchi Fiocchi 556M193L 5.56NATO 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail 50 Per Box/20 Case	FMJ	—	55 gr	3240 fps	—
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	—	70 gr	2874 fps	—
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Range Ammo	LRN	—	80 gr	3155 fps	—
NEMO ARMS Nemo Arms 556M193NA55FO 5.56mm 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail 20 Per Box/50 Case	FMJ	—	55 gr	3250 fps	1255 ft·lb

NORMA AMMUNITION (RUAG) Range & Training	FMJ	—	55 gr	3250 fps	1289 ft·lb
NORMA AMMUNITION (RUAG) Bondstrike	—	—	70 gr	2793 fps	1212 ft·lb
Sterling M193	FMJ	—	55 gr	—	—
TR&Z TR&Z PPR556 5.56mm 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail 20 Per Box/50 Case	FMJ	—	55 gr	—	—
Winchester Ammo M193	FMJ	—	55 gr	—	—
Winchester Ammo Winchester Ammo WM193100 5.56mm 55gr Full Metal Jacket 100 Per Box/10 Case	FMJ	—	55 gr	3180 fps	—

5.56 NATO

Firearms chambered in 5.56 NATO · 192

Ammunition in 5.56 NATO · 56

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