I have no authoatative data, but I have read numerous times that you generally sacrifice about 50fps of velocity for every inch of barrel removed.

that is generally referenced at 100 yds.

I have had good luck. I have the fluted barrel 22″ I am getting great groups with .223 Federal Premium V Shok 55 grain Sierra BTHP. Hits where I aim it….Man great big hole in the Coyote too….Love it. Keep it clean, works like a charm…..Great gun.

For 300, I don’t see why not. This past weekend I was able to shoot easy .5 groups @100 with hornady 55gr vmax ammo with my 22″ R15 with an 80 dollar scope on it.

I had no problem smacking the 220 yard gong(which is a 12″ plate) round after round with federal bulkpack ammo as well. That ammo prints between 1.25 to 2.00 groups at 100.

With quality ammo and proper optics I believe 300 yds is an “easy” shot for the 22″ R15.

You both had issues with brand new rifles, just call Remington, they’ll make it right.

thanks

I contacted Remington, and as expected, there answer was “only feed the rifle what is stamped on the barrel”.

Others have contacted bushmaster, who is the apparent parts sources…

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=424307&page=5

I got a email from bushmaster regarding using 5.56 ammo in the remington R-15 VTR and this is a copy of the response. I thought this should end the discussion and controversy surrounding the matter:

Hello,

Subject: Chambers

The barrels have a custom match hybrid chambering that uses the tighter .223 SAAMI Spec headspace from the shoulder of the chamber to the bolt face. It has the longer “Leade” or throat that will accommodate the 5.56mm ammunition so it can be used without developing higher pressures as in a .223 caliber chamber that have a shorter “Leade” or throat.
Both 5.56mm and .223 caliber ammunition can safely be used in the rifles.

The 1:9 twist barrels will stabilize bullets from 40 to 75 grains.

Thank you,

Jim Eden
Technical Support
Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC
Office: 1-800-883-6229 ext. 277
Fax: 207-892-8068

I just wondering if anyone had feed problems with the remington r-15 factory magazine? I loaded the factory magazine with 2 snap caps and when I insert the magazine into the rifle with the bolt closed and then chamber the rifle it feeds wrong and jams. But when I insert the mag. with the bolt open and then hit the bolt release it chambers fine. This only happens with the factory mag though. For kicks I changed the magpul follower that comes in the factory mag with an old black GI follower and this corrected the problem. Just to make sure it wasn’t the factory mag, I put the magpul follower into the old G.I. mag that I got the black follower from, and it jammed on me. Does anyone know of problems with the magpul followers?

-Peix

If the barrel is stamped multi, then your good I guess.

The receiver is stamped as multi because the R15 is available as .204 ruger and .223.

Does this mean it will accommodate .223 or 5.56 mm cartridges?
Bill

RPersse, You’ve probably already found this, but it you haven’t, Leupold makes a quick release set of rings for that 50mm scope with the 30mm tube. The models are 49864 (gloss) and 49865 (matte). http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/mounting-systems-and-accessories/mounting-systems/qrw-mounts/

I hope to find my Leupold VX-3 4.5-14 x 40mm LR (30mm, varmint) in the mail this week.

If you were looking to buy your first AR, where would you start? My desire to own an AR is the likely bans on any semi automatic rifles in our near future. I own several rifles for hunting purposes. I would not be described as a shooting enthusiasts just a hunter. I just do not want to be wishing I had purchased an AR when I had the chance. A local major firearms dealer has a Bushmaster .223 priced at $1020. I have several friends that suggest all AR’s are similar, and they find all work well. None of them own the Remington. I have found Remington firearms are as fine as they come for the price, but my definition of fine comes from accuracy and durability not reliability in successive round shooting. I will be purchasing an AR for personal defense not hunting. Any help and direction will be greatly appreciated.

If you want compatibility go with the models chambered in .223 Remington.

Regarding the pressure threads above, you can’t load any round beyond 2.26-2.27 C.O.L. and still fit in the magazine so the bullet is still sitting miles off the lands for pressure concerns. Any handloader knows that it is the last couple thousands that count with accuracy and pressure. I find it hard to believe that a .223 hand load in a bolt gun just kissing the lands and pushing 3200 fps delivers less pressure than a NATA 5.56 in the same gun.

For those of you wondering about accuracy of the R15. I just tried some handloads on the range and shot some factory rounds too.
Results in 5 shot groups at 100yds, 5 mph, 50 deg:

-Federal bulk .223 55gr. FMJ, you get what you pay for (1 1/2″ groups at best and two duds in 30 rounds).
-Hornady factory 55gr Vmax (3/4 – 1″ groups).
-55gr Vmax bullets with 23.2 gr Benchmark at 2.250 COL, Federal match primers & winchester brass(1/2″).

The barrel & action still need to get broken in, I am assuming the groups will stay the same or get slightly tighter over the next 100 rounds.

As a side note, I was told by a local gunsmith, that the receivers and lowers are made by Bushmaster and the barrels are Remingtons.

I would never put a 5.56 cartridge in a barrel stamped .223. I was just looking for a statement from remington directly, as usual on every board on the net all the gurus made claims that someone are rem told them 5.56 was fine.

The exact response from Dan@remington was “The R15 should not be used with 5.56 NATO ammunition, whom ever informed you of this was unfortunately mistaken. We have cut a true 223 Remington chamber into the R15 and therefore use of 5.56 NATO could potentially cause damage to the gun or injury to the shooter.”

All the Bushmaster rifles I’ve seen can shoot 5.56. I’ve been told Bushmaster made the R15 for Remington. Did they build the entire rifle for them? I’m not sure. I was thinking that if Bushmaster made the rifle, then most likely it can shoot 5.56. I also think that Remington wants to be seen as a company that makes hunting rifles, not self-defense rifles. Even if the rifle could shoot 5.56 they won’t admit it.

That’s just a theory and I don’t know for sure. Is there some way to tell by looking at the rifle? Some measurement you could take that would tell you? I am not an expert, so any help would be appreciated. Oh yeah, I was also told by a local gun shop that it could shoot 5.56, but who knows if they are just trying to make a sale.

text me 8179966625

great gun

1. Does anyone know what the MOA spec are for this rifle…I am specifically interested in the Collapsable stock version.

2. If the MOA is better for the 20″ barrel….probably, but not sure – can the collapsable stock fit the 20″ barrel version?

From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56×45mm_NATO)

While the 5.56 mm and .223 cartridges are very similar, they are not identical. Military cases are made from thicker brass than commercial cases, which reduces the powder capacity (an important consideration for handloaders), and the NATO specification allows a higher chamber pressure. Test barrels made for 5.56 mm NATO measure chamber pressure at a the case mouth, as opposed to the SAAMI location. This difference accounts for upwards of 20,000 psi (140 MPa) difference in pressure measurements. That means that advertised pressure of 58,000 psi (400 MPa) for 5.56 mm NATO, is around 78,000 psi (540 MPa) tested in .223 Rem test barrels. The 5.56 mm chambering, known as a NATO or mil-spec chambers, have a longer lead, which is the distance between the mouth of the cartridge and the point at which the rifling engages the bullet. The .223 chambering, known as SAAMI chamber, is allowed to have a shorter leade, and is only required to be proof tested to the lower SAAMI chamber pressure. To address these issues, various proprietary chambers exist, such as the Wylde chamber (Rock River Arms)[1] or the Armalite chamber, which are designed to handle both 5.56 mm and .223 equally well.

Using commercial .223 cartridges in a 5.56-chambered rifle should work reliably, but generally will not be as accurate as when fired from a .223-chambered gun due to the excessive lead.[2] Using 5.56 mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223-chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and the SAAMI recommends against the practice.[3] Some commercial rifles marked as “.223 Remington” are in fact suited for 5.56 mm, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14, but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56 mm ammunition.[4]