Congrats! You've discovered an in-depth look at 223 ballistics from all the major ammo manufacturers.

Whether you're a competitive marksman, a dedicated hunter, or a firearms enthusiast, the .223 caliber round stands out as a versatile and widely favored choice. In this guide, we'll delve into the ballistics information of .223 ammo from some of the top manufacturers, providing you with a detailed understanding of its performance, capabilities, and optimal applications.

How Do 223 Ballistics Compare to Other Rifle Cartridges?

The 223 Rem is often chambered in bolt-action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, short-barrel rifles, and AR-15 handguns. It's used for a variety of applications, including self-defense, hunting and target shooting, which is why it's comparable to rounds like the 204 Ruger, 22 Creedmoor, 222 Remington, 22-250 Remington, 243 Winchester, 5.56 NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor, and even the 308 Winchester to some extent.

223 Velocity

A bullet's muzzle velocity is the rate at which it exits the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps).

Generally, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as it gives exploding propellant more time to exert energy against the base of the projectile. This is why a 223 rifle with a 22-inch barrel will deliver a higher velocity than an SBR with a 12-inch barrel, even when they're firing two rounds from the same box.

Bullet weight and design also significantly affect how much velocity a projectile will exhibit downrange.

For example, heavier bullets tend to have lower muzzle velocities than lighter ones. Polymer-tipped hollow point boat tail projectiles tend to conserve velocity more efficiently than traditional soft point bullets as well.

Handloading allows you to design ammo with higher velocities than factory loads, which is just one reason why reloading is so popular among dedicated shooting enthusiasts. We always recommend following the advice in your reloading manual, because we don't want anything to explode in your hands – least of all your rifle.

The muzzle velocity of 223 factory ammo ranges from about 2,700 fps to 3,700 fps. It primarily depends on the weight of the bullet you're firing.

223 Energy

A projectile's energy is measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). Muzzle energy reflects the force with which a bullet exits the barrel. Heavier projectiles tend to have higher muzzle energy, although velocity is also a significant contributing factor.

A higher muzzle energy usually means the round has more recoil. Since the 223 Rem fires lightweight projectiles, it naturally has little recoil, making it an excellent cartridge for introducing someone to the joys of shooting.

Lightweight projectiles carry less energy downrange, which means their stopping power drastically drops off the farther the target is from the shooter. When harvesting game animals and varmints, shot placement becomes increasingly critical as you increase the distance from the target.

The muzzle energy of 223 factory-loaded ammo typically ranges from 1,100 ft-lbs to 1,400 ft-lbs.

223 Effective Range

Though it doesn't have the knockdown power of many other rifle rounds, such as the relatively new 224 Valkyrie, the trusty 308 Win, or the powerful 300 PRC, the 223 Rem still has a respectable effective range when target shooting and varmint hunting.

You can expect up to 600 yards out of your 223 Remington, depending on the rifle and round you're firing.

For ballistics charts from all of your favorite manufacturers check out the full 223 ballistics tables guide.