I have heard that using GI ammo in a "civilian" rifle will blow up the gun. I have also heard that using civilian .223 ammo in a GI spec rifle will cause the rifle to explode like an A-bomb, complete with mushroom cloud. I have even heard that using GI 5.56 ammo in a .223 Remington 700 will destroy it - one of the strongest rifles ever made!

Now one would think that rifles blowing up right and left from using the "wrong" ammo might have come to the notice of the various gun and ammo manufacturers, and suitable warnings issued. Since I have seen neither blown up guns nor any warnings about nuclear bomb ammo, I tend to think the whole thing is nonsense, fed by ignorance and misunderstanding. (Note, I didn't say that all 5.56/.223 ammo will be accurate or even function perfectly in all guns of the caliber; I am addressing the "guns blowing up" issue, not accuracy.)

Jim