Norma Golden Target Match .223 Remington 69gr Ammo, 20rds - 10157692

Shortly after the introduction of the .222 Remington, experiments began to create a similar cartridge for military use. The advantages were clear: a soldier could carry many more rounds of a smaller, lighter cartridge. However, this came with drawbacks, such as reduced long-range potential and lesser penetration. The first .223 cartridge appeared in 1957, primarily the work of Robert Hutton of Guns & Ammo and Gene Stoner of Armalite. One requirement for the new cartridge was maintaining a velocity exceeding the speed of sound at 500 yards. While the .222 couldn't meet this requirement, the .223, with its slightly longer case and 55-grain boattail bullet, did. The U.S. Army adopted the cartridge in 1964, using it during the Vietnam War. Since then, it has become a NATO standard, albeit with a heavier 63-grain bullet, which requires a faster twist rate (1 in 7") than that used in most civilian sporting rifles (1 in 10, 12, or 14").The dimensions of military chambers and cartridges differ slightly from the sporting version released by Remington after the .223's military adoption. Consequently, military ammunition can produce high chamber pressures in sporting rifles. Military cases often have thicker brass, requiring starting loads to be reduced by at least 10 percent.For sporting purposes, the cartridge performs best with bullets of 60 grains or less. It is suitable for the same range of applications as the .222 Remington, with an added effective range. Due to NATO's adoption, the .223 is expected to become the more popular choice among European shooters in the coming years.