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5.56x45mm NATO

Game information
All information listed assumes Standard FMJ (Reg/SP/FMJ)
Category				(R)ifle caliber
Recoil level				2
Cost per round				3.00
Weight per round (units)				0.01
Quantity (retail box/bulk can)				20 / 1000
Damage tables
Type	LDV	C1	C2	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5
Bullet	+3	68%	65%	54%	44%	34%	17%	5%
Handloading information
Primer type				Small rifle
Powder type				Rifle powder
Projectile type				.224, 55 grain
Cost per case				0.90
Standard load (SP)				270 pwdr
Cold load (-P)				243 pwdr
Hot load (+P)				N/A pwdr
Super load (+P+)				N/A pwdr
Real world information
Ref. barrel length (inches)				14.5 (Colt M4A1)
Muzzle velocity				902 m/s (2960 ft/s)
Muzzle energy				1451 Joule (1070 ft-lbf)
Country of origin				United States
Year				1957 (as .223 Remington) 1963 (as 5.56 NATO)

5.56x45mm NATO is a type of ammunition for firearms. It is classified as a (R)ifle caliber.

At first, there was .223 Remington, a civilian varmint hunting cartridge of identical dimensions which was originally designed for the Armalite AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle which gave birth to the AR-15 platform and all related firearms. This cartridge formed the basis for the military cartridge that became known as 5.56x45mm NATO. The cartridge started a trend of light, small-diameter, high-velocity rifle rounds, to allow for more ammunition per magazine and less recoil per shot. The trend was soon followed by 5.45x39mm and 5.8x42mm, among others.

Despite differences in real life between the two cartridges (namely that 5.56 NATO is rated to develop roughly 13% more pressure than .223 Rem, therefore making it potentially unsafe to fire 5.56 in .223 Rem firearms), as far as the game is concerned they are not significant enough to merit including both cartridges separately. It is considered that Reduced Velocity-brand 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition in the Mazes is roughly equivalent to .223 Remington.

5.56x45mm is typically pronounced five five six by forty-five millimeters. It is also acceptable to pronounce 5.56 five point five six.
.223 Remington is typically pronounced two two three Remington, though two twenty-three Remington is also acceptable.

This caliber may also be known as 5.56x45mm, 5.56 NATO, 5.56, or when using the .223 Remington designations, .223 Rem or simply .223.

Compatibility

Base weapons

There are 51 base weapons chambered in this caliber.

Class 1 weapons:

Class 2 weapons:

Barrel length groups

The reference barrel length belongs to the group listed in italics.

Group name	Barrel length range	Damage multiplier
Subcarbine	Up to 11"	0.85x
Carbine	11.1" - 16.5"	1.0x
Rifle	16.6" - 20.9"	1.15x
Precision	21" and up	1.25x

Retail information

5.56x45mm NATO ammunition can be purchased in gun shops and weapon shops in boxes of 20 rounds or bulk cans of 1000 rounds.

The following brands and projectile types are available in retail:

Brand name	Composition	Available projectile types
Standard	Reg/SP	FMJ (1.0x) Match (4.0x) JHP (3.0x) JSP (2.0x) AP (3.0x) SF (1.5x) UHS (2.5x)
Reduced Velocity (.223 Remington)	Reg/-P	FMJ (0.9x) JHP (2.7x) JSP (1.8x)
Milsurp	Surp/SP	FMJ (0.25x) AP (0.75x)
Competition	Prem/SP	FMJ (3.0x) Match (12.0x)

The multipliers listed correspond to the value multipliers to cost of ammunition provided by powder type, pressure level, and projectile type. They are included on this table as a convenience, in order to tell at a glance the cost of a given brand and projectile combination.