What is the 5.56 mm Nato?

The 5.56 mm Nato is a factory rifle cartridge, introduced in 1960.

What bullet diameter does the 5.56 mm Nato use?

The 5.56 mm Nato uses a bullet diameter of 0.224 inches.

What is the case type of the 5.56 mm Nato?

The 5.56 mm Nato has a Rimless, Bottlenecked case type.

What primer does the 5.56 mm Nato use?

The 5.56 mm Nato uses a Small rifle (.175") primer.

5.56 mm Nato

Rifle Factory

Year	1960
Case Type	Rimless, Bottlenecked
Primer	Small rifle (.175")

Dimensions (inches)

Bullet Ø	0.224
Case Length	1.76
Neck Ø	0.249
Shoulder Ø	0.349
Base Ø	0.373
Rim Ø	0.375
Total Length	2.26

Muzzle Velocity across 49 loads: Avg 3047 fps Min 2723 fps Max 3611 fps

Community Load Data

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77.00gr Sierra Match — 26.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2883 fps

2.2550 OAL"

N/A Case

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75.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 27.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2937 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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69.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 28.20gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3046 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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69.00gr Sierra Match — 27.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2996 fps

2.2550 OAL"

N/A Case

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77.00gr Match — 23.40gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2775 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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75.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 23.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2810 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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69.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 24.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2923 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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69.00gr Match — 24.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2941 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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62.00gr Other — 25.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3130 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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55.00gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 26.40gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3322 fps

2.2450 OAL"

N/A Case

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75.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 24.30gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2904 fps

2.2500 OAL"

WCC Case

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69.00gr Sierra Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 24.70gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2925 fps

2.2450 OAL"

WCC Case

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62.00gr MSSS Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3249 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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62.00gr MSSS Other — 25.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3239 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr MSSS Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 26.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3440 fps

2.2200 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr MSSS Boat Tail (BT) — 26.30gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3425 fps

2.2100 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr Hornady Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 27.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3460 fps

2.2450 OAL"

WCC Case

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45.00gr Ervin Other — 28.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3533 fps

2.2300 OAL"

FIO Case

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80.00gr Sierra Match — 25.30gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2793 fps

2.5600 OAL"

WCC Case

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77.00gr Sierra Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2723 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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75.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2829 fps

2.2500 OAL"

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73.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.30gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2838 fps

2.2500 OAL"

WCC Case

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69.00gr Sierra Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 26.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2901 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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62.00gr MSSS Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 26.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2849 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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62.00gr MSSS Other — 26.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2875 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr MSSS Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 26.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2886 fps

2.2200 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr MSSS Boat Tail (BT) — 26.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2878 fps

2.2100 OAL"

WCC Case

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69.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 26.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3045 fps

2.2450 OAL"

LC Case

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68.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 27.20gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3046 fps

2.2450 OAL"

FIO Case

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80.00gr Sierra Match — 24.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2792 fps

2.5000 OAL"

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77.00gr Sierra Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.80gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2811 fps

2.2450 OAL"

LC Case

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75.00gr RMR Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.70gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2901 fps

2.2450 OAL"

LC Case

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69.00gr Sierra Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 27.20gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2975 fps

2.2450 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr Hornady Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 28.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3411 fps

2.2450 OAL"

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65.00gr Boat Tail (BT) — 26.10gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3116 fps

2.2283 OAL"

Sellier & Bellot Case

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55.00gr Soft Point (SP) — 19.80gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3182 fps

2.2283 OAL"

Sellier & Bellot Case

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55.00gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 19.80gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3214 fps

2.2283 OAL"

Sellier & Bellot Case

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55.00gr Hornady Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 21.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3130 fps

2.2450 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 20.70gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3191 fps

2.2450 OAL"

FIO Case

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62.00gr Other — 19.70gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2995 fps

2.2550 OAL"

FIO Case

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77.00gr Sierra Match — 23.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2783 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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75.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 23.60gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2822 fps

2.2600 OAL"

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70.00gr Nosler Match — 24.90gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

2981 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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68.00gr Hornady Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP) — 25.30gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3071 fps

2.2500 OAL"

WCC Case

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62.00gr MSSS Other — 25.80gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3148 fps

2.2600 OAL"

WCC Case

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60.00gr Sierra Hollow Point (HP) — 24.00gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3069 fps

2.2600 OAL"

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60.00gr Hornady Round Nose (RN) — 25.80gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3152 fps

2.2500 OAL"

WCC Case

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55.00gr Hornady Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) — 26.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3333 fps

2.2100 OAL"

WCC Case

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45.00gr Ervin Other — 28.50gr

by imported_data · Aug 12, 2026

3611 fps

2.2300 OAL"

FIO Case

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Cartridges with the same bullet diameter (0.224")

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.218 Ackley Improved Bee