New Saiga ownerwith questions.

Purchased a Saiga .223 few weeks ago.Brand new in the box $375.talked dealer into side scope mount 100rds.thrown in.Being of frugal nature I am on the lookout for good buys on ammo.Recently have seen ads on federal 5.56x45FMJ 62 gr. on 10rd strippers 420rds green tip PENATRATOR.Looks like good buy for $140.plus frt.So whats the question? Will my Saiga handle this mil surp ammo.Saiga clearly marker .223 My friends all two of them say Dont worry about it. Would appricate any advice,commetts,Thanks folks.

A 223 marked rifle should definitely not use 5.56 ammo. Those that do are risking the life of their barrel. It will not blow up (probably not anyway) but the pressures of military spec 5.56 ammo is the same as firing the proof test round time after time. The life of the barrel will be shortened. You can also experience primer separation. There is a nice article in the current issue of Rifle Shooter explaining the differences between the two rounds. They say in the article that you can get a reamer to change the chamber dimensions to that of a 5.56 but you should check with a qualified gunsmith before doing so.

You may however safely use 223 ammo in a 5.56 marked barrel with no detrimental effects.

Oddly enough, in AR style rifles, there are only a few brands that consistently install 5.56 barrels even if they are marked 5.56. There are a lot of 5.56 marked barrels on AR style rifles that are actually 223 barrels. Makers you can count on to be 5.56 when marked as such are CMMG, Colt, Daniel Defense, LMT, Noveske and Stag. If you have a rifle brand other than those six, you should get the chamber checked.

As an example of this, the author of the article checked twenty-four 5.56 rifles. Twenty-two were marked 5.56. One was simply unmarked, the other was an M16A1. of the 22 marked rifles, six were actually 223 and three of these were already showing excess pressure signs. So for the 223 rifles using 5.56 ammo, 50% were showing problems with the excessive pressure.

I wouldn't do it myself.

Many thanks,was on the verge of buying the Federal 5.56 ammo.Your the second to give me this advice.Kept me from screwing-up the Saiga & having to dispose of unwanted ammo.I will print ur msg.and use to inform my Dont Worry About It friends. ThanksAgain Skyking

You also need to know the rate of twist of your barrel. If it's one in ten or less the you can use the heavier bullets like the 62 grains but if more then ten then you have to use the 55 grain or less bullets.

The Saiga I have is chambered for 5.56. but it's marked .223. It has a 1:9.5 twist.

You can use this to check your chamber. CERROSAFE CHAMBER CASTING ALLOY - Brownells


A lot of people have been shooting 5.56 in these guns for years. If it was a problem I think we would have heard about it by now.

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Originally Posted by Vincent

A lot of people have been shooting 5.56 in these guns for years. If it was a problem I think we would have heard about it by now.

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We have heard about it. There are articles written about it and there are countless warnings out there to not fire 5.56 ammo in a 223 barrel. The most recent article that I'm aware of I made reference to in my first post.

A few of the reasons that there have not been as many problems with them can be attributed to a variety of things. Some rifles such as yours are marked 223 but actually chambered for 5.56. The most common is that much of the 5.56 ammo on the market is not to mil spec. It is underpowered and thus does not produce the extreme pressures mil spec 5.56 ammo will produce.

Firing 5.56 ammo in a 223 barrel is a risk, a higher risk than firing the correct ammo. Similar risks are taken by individuals who shoot the low serial number 03's despite the warnings not to. Or those that shoot 308 rounds out of NATO marked Spanish Mausers. Nothing may happen for hundreds or even thousands of rounds but it only takes that 101st round or 1001st round. When 3 out of 6 rifles firing 5.56 rounds out of 223 barrels are tested and proven to be experiencing pressure issues, that cannot be seen by looking at them, it is a problem.

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A few of the reasons that there have not been as many problems with them can be attributed to a variety of things. Some rifles such as yours are marked 223 but actually chambered for 5.56.

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Yes. It a Saiga, the same as original poster is asking about.

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Originally Posted by Vincent

Yes. It a Saiga, the same as original poster is asking about.

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Yes it is a Saiga. It is not a CMMG, Colt, Daniel Defense, LMT, Noveske or Stag. Saiga is not recognized as a company which consistently installs correct barrels as marked as yours may prove. You have a 5.56 barrel which is marked 223. He may not. Your barrel might have been re-chambered (reamed) aftermarket. It may also be from a different manufacturer than the barrel on his rifle or even a different lot number. Most of these companies do not make their own barrels, they subcontract them, thus the inconsistencies in markings.

You should never fire 5.56 ammo out of a 223 marked barrel without having it checked to see if it is actually chambered for 5.56. It will produce excessive wear on your barrel and shorten it's life.

I bought my Saiga new in the box. I am pretty sure nobody re-chambered it on its trip from the factory.

If he wants, he can do what I did and check the chamber with CERROSAFE. Then he will know if his Siaga is chambered for 5.56 or .223.

I wouldn't have bought this Saiga, but a gunsmith friend told me his was chambered for 5.56. So I picked one up and checked it.

CERROSAFE is very easy to use and the chamber specs are easy to find.