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Common uses: Varmint, Target, Tactical
.223 Remington, also written .223 Rem. or 223 Rem, is a centerfire rifle cartridge. SAAMI’s cartridge drawing lists a maximum case length of 1.760 in (44.70 mm) and an overall length from 2.125 to 2.260 in (53.98–57.40 mm). Case length ends at the case mouth; overall length reaches the bullet tip. These are drawing limits, not identical measurements for every factory load.
Source: SAAMI Z299.4-2025, p. 71; cartridge drawing revised September 25, 2023| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 55gr Federal Power-Shok |
| Muzzle velocity | 3240 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1282 ft-lb |
| Stored G1 ballistic coefficient (source unresolved) | 0.222 |
| Case length | 44.7 mm |
| Overall length | 2.26 in |
| Listed maximum pressure | 55000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:8" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3240 | 1282 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2793 | 952 | 0 |
| 200 | 2389 | 697 | -3 |
| 300 | 2019 | 498 | -12.2 |
| 400 | 1687 | 347 | -30 |
| 500 | 1401 | 240 | -60.1 |
At 1,000 yards, .223 Rem. (55gr at 3240 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 59.1 MOA / 17.2 MIL, retaining 823 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2020 | Supersonic | -12.1 | 3.9 | 1.12 |
| 400 | 1688 | Supersonic | -29.9 | 7.1 | 2.08 |
| 500 | 1402 | Supersonic | -60.0 | 11.5 | 3.34 |
| 600 | 1181 | Transonic | -108.0 | 17.2 | 5.00 |
| 700 | 1037 | Subsonic | -180.9 | 24.7 | 7.18 |
| 800 | 946 | Subsonic | -286.1 | 34.2 | 9.93 |
| 900 | 879 | Subsonic | -430.1 | 45.6 | 13.27 |
| 1000 | 823 | Subsonic | -619.2 | 59.1 | 17.20 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Published BCs depend on a reference drag model and stated velocity conditions. A source review does not independently measure a BC. Understanding BC sources
Manufacturer item 223A · Sources checked
Federal lists 55 gr jacketed soft point, 3,240 fps and 1,282 ft-lb. Its 2024 catalog gives a 24-inch test barrel. The published coefficient 0.222 has no explicit G1/G7 label in the reviewed sources.
Still unresolved: The stored coefficient model and sectional-density attribution remain unresolved.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .223 Remington is prized for flat trajectory, mild recoil, and modest report, which make it easy to shoot accurately and inexpensive to feed. It is a mainstay for varmint and predator hunting, high-volume target and plinking sessions, and defensive and tactical use, and it feeds the enormously popular AR-15 platform. Bullet weights commonly run from light 40-grain varmint loads to heavier 62-77 grain projectiles that need faster rifling twists to stabilize, with a 1:8 twist offering a versatile middle ground. Its main limitations are limited energy on larger game and wind drift with lighter bullets at extended range, so it is best regarded as a varmint, small-to-medium game, and general-purpose cartridge rather than a big-game or true long-range round. Note that while .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO share external dimensions, 5.56 is loaded to higher pressure and should not be fired in rifles chambered only for .223.
The .223 Remington grew out of the U.S. military's late-1950s search for a small-caliber, high-velocity infantry cartridge, developed by Remington from the earlier .222 Remington case lengthened to hold more powder. Remington introduced it commercially in 1964, and it became the civilian counterpart to the military 5.56x45mm NATO round adopted for the M16 rifle. It has since become one of the most widely produced and chambered centerfire rifle cartridges in the world, standard in the AR-15 platform and countless bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles.
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