2aHawaii

Tools and Uses => Firearms and Accessories => Topic started by: 2aHawaii on January 04, 2010, 03:37:07 PM

Title: Effective range of .223/5.56 NATO?
Post by: 2aHawaii on January 04, 2010, 03:37:07 PM
From a military perspective, what is the effective range of the .223 round? By that I mean, how far out would a soldier expect to be able to disable an enemy soldier with that round?

Here I found a chart with listing ballistic energies at different distances. http://www.snipercentral.com/223.htm (http://www.snipercentral.com/223.htm)
According to that, the .223 at 300y has about as much energy as .308 at 800y. But, then again, what do these energies translate into?
Title: Re: Effective range of .223/5.56 NATO?
Post by: Teichi on January 05, 2010, 06:21:01 PM
The text book answer is M4 series 500 meters for point targets and 600 meters for area targets. M16A2/3 is 550 and 800 meters. M16A4 is 550 and 600. The big variable is the shooter. Most Soldiers are only trained to zero their rifles at 25 meters and pass a qualification course that requires them to engage 40 targets from 50 to 300 meters. 23 targets hit is considered a passing score and enables a Soldier to deploy into a war zone.
Title: Re: Effective range of .223/5.56 NATO?
Post by: 2aHawaii on January 05, 2010, 06:25:04 PM
So I guess the next question is "what is a point target and what is an area target?"
Title: Re: Effective range of .223/5.56 NATO?
Post by: Teichi on January 05, 2010, 10:46:27 PM
"Point" is generally a single mansized target. "Area" would be more than one mansized target located in a general vicinity like a road intersection, a single story structure, a truck with troops, a crew occupied position and such.