Stevens Model 200 ammo

[Beef52751]

Hey guys, I figured you guys could shed some light on my confusion. I have a Stevens model 200 with a .223 Rem caliber. Some people claim I can shoot 5.56 ammo through it and some say no way. Any input? The only reason I ask is I bought 100 rounds of 5.56 ammo because .223 ammo is so hard to find.
Thanks for any input you can offer

 

[The Jester Race]

The simple answer is no.

.223 Remington and 5.56mm refer to the cut of the chamber. Visually the two cartridges are identical. You can put either round in either chamber, and you can fire either round in either chamber, but It is unsafe to fire a 5.56 cartridge in a .223 Rem chamber.

The 5.56 chamber is cut a little looser then the .223 chamber to allow for the brass to expand more under higher pressure. The 5.56mm cartridge is loaded to shoot at a higher pressure then the .223 Rem.

 

[mn_smokeater]

5.56 is higher pressure as well as having a longer Throat in the chamber. .223 Wylde Chambers will shoot both 5.56 and .223 and longer match rounds.

 

[88_Eddie]

dont worry beef, i'm sure you can find someone to sell the ammo to maybe at a profit lol

 

[Beef52751]

dont worry beef, i'm sure you can find someone to sell the ammo to maybe at a profit lol

Yeah, thats why I wasn't concerned about buying it. I can probably trade it off to a buddy to has an Ar since they have the wylde chamber.
Thanks for the input guys

 

[lone-wolf]

Can you take a .223 chamber and have it reamed to .223 wylde?

 

[Beef52751]

I believe so. I'm going to look into it

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I believe so. I'm going to look into it

You might ask Savage if it will work without mods, sometimes they will even if they are not marked for it.

They won't do any more than laugh at you.

 

[Beef52751]

I'm so used to getting laughed at. It wont make any difference to me lol

 

[matt4068]

http://www.savageshooters.com/forum.php

All your savage/stevens questions, answered multiple times here. A bunch of awesome and very very knowledgeable people. Some of which are Savage employees, and have been for years.

If I had a Stevens 200 I wouldn't be afraid to fire 5.56 in the .223 chamber. The action holds anything from .220 swift - .30-06 and bigger without flinching. I have a model 25, the action is not nearly as equipped/beefed up as the model 200/savage10/110 action. I will not cross over to use 5.56. Common sense always applies. If you even come close to feeling a sticking bolt, you've got an over pressure situation, bad headspace, or some other problem that I would not fire the weapon with again until the rifle is checked out.