Need a definitive answer: ok or not to shoot 5.56 through pre-ban Galil?

[Batty67]

I've have received equally strong YES and HELL NO to shooting 5.56 out of a Galil. My new to me Galil is an Action Arms pre-ban import circa 1986 or so with a 1-in-12 twist and stamped .223. Jeff Miller of Tenngalil fame says, GO FOR IT, others also knowledgeable say NOPE, could be risky given higher pressures shooting 5.56. Why risk your pre-ban Galil? Which is a good point when .223 is available and getting cheaper by the week/month.

So, I've been sticking to .223 in 55 grain. I have watched enough videos and enough reviews to be convinced the 1-in-12 twist will not preform well (consistently/accurately) for bullet weights above 55gr, so that eliminates much modern 5.56 anyhow.

Please chime in and ideally, cite your sources.

 

[kanewtervalve]

I always thought the Galil was overbuilt, never known an israeli gun that was dangerous to shoot higher pressure ammo but if you want to keep it a safe queen it's only
going to go up in value.

 

[boscoman]

Absolutely you can run 5.56 through the Galil. That is what it was made for. As far as I'm concerned the only reason they marked them 223 was because they thought that was what American gun owners would comprehend.

While the US models were semi auto, the receivers and barrels were initially not made on a US & then an IDF assembly line at IMI. They were all made to military specs to run 5.56.

I have run well over a thousand rounds of 5.56 through mine with not a single issue. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

 

[Uncle Billy]

ALL military produced barrel are chambered for 5.56 NATO. the only thing about a 1:12 twist you're limited to shooting 55gr. the twist isn't fast enough to stabilized 62gr. bullet, you'll get "key holes"

 

[gekishibu86]

I’ve been shooting 5.56 on my AA372 since acquiring it in 1987 with no issues whatsoever. From what I remember, the receivers were marked 223 to meet export regulations as the firearms were supposed to be used for “sporting” purposes. So all export Galil chambers are actually cut for the 556 chambers dimensions that have a longer throat compared to 223 chambers. To confirm which chamber you have is actually quite easy. Remove everything (cover, recoil assembly, bolt and carrier) to expose the barrel. With the rifle in the upright position, insert a 556 round into the chamber. If it falls out freely, then you ha a 556 cut chamber. If it doesn’t fall out, then it’s 223 chamber. The reason behind this is the 223 chamber has a shorter throat and the 556 round bullet ogive engages the barrel lands which creates a higher than normal pressures when fired. So, you can safely use 223 rounds on a 556 rifle but not the other way around.

 

[AGG]

".223" probably some import, sporting nomenclature.
The older MR's and AA's (transitional) were marked "CALIBER 5.56/223"--- the AAL's were marked "CAL.223REM.".

Tony

 

[Batty67]

Thanks for all the responses. These boards usually are pretty quiet. My AA is clearly marked .223 REM. At this point, I've got about 1800 rounds of 223 and 1600 5.56 (for my Sig M400), so I'm good to go either way. I'll check the chamber sizing per gekishibu86.

 

[jetskrtal]

I've ran 556,223....even used Valmet magazines...no problems, its a Galil!!!!

 

[dubagel]

The IMI Galil’s are 5.56 m193 55gr. Spec chambers. There was no “.223 economy spec.” I’ve been running m193 IMI ammunition and others as well as commercial 55gr and .223 for 30 years on my Galil ARM model 392 and FN FNC. And no, do not use 62gr ss109 or M885. The IMI guns are 1/12 twist specifically for m193 55gr. Fmj. The only difference between the civilian semi-auto guns and the select fire IDF guns was the IDF issued guns had the lightening cut on the RH side of the receivers. So in reality the civilian IMI imports had a thicker, heavier receiver. The only thing you want to do is make sure you keep a good recoil spring. The .223 printing on the side of the Galil and FNC were more for import/export “sportability” purposes designations due to ATF/UN reasons.

 

[Deerhurst]

It's IWI so it'll be chambered in 5.56. Lots of imports such as the Galil and the Saiga were marked .223 but chambered in 5.56 because they could juck more the the sporting boxes and less.of the restrictive "military" boxes. Made.it easier to.imprt.


I was under the impression that IWI barrels were 1:7 though. I know the ones iny SAR kit is 1:7.

 

[Batty67]

It's IWI so it'll be chambered in 5.56. Lots of imports such as the Galil and the Saiga were marked .223 but chambered in 5.56 because they could juck more the the sporting boxes and less.of the restrictive "military" boxes. Made.it easier to.imprt.


I was under the impression that IWI barrels were 1:7 though. I know the ones iny SAR kit is 1:7.

Mine is an Action Arms IMI import, so it is labeled .223 REM and definitely has 1:12 twist rate.

 

[Deerhurst]

Mine is an Action Arms IMI import, so it is labeled .223 REM and definitely has 1:12 twist rate.

Wonder why they changed the barrel twist. I'll have to check my AR kit. I know my SAR kit is 1:7 as is my new barrel for the SAR.

My Saiga is also labelled 223, it's 5.56. I've been shooting 5.56 in a 223 marked R700 for a decade too. You'll be fine. I you are concerned about it just load to 223 pressure specs or run 223.

 

[nklf]

If you are really concerned, take it to a local gunsmith and have him run a 5.56 chamber reamer in it. Or you can buy a 5.56 chamber reamer and do it yourself. Shooting 5.56 in a barrel chambered for .223 will not blow up the gun. However, I do not recommend it. Back in the day, before the internet, I used to run 5.56 through a mini-14 chambered in .223. Occasionally I would have a primer blow out of a case. No a huge problem except those loose primers tend to end up bouncing around in your rifle's action and jam things up. I have never heard of catastrophic damage from running 5.56 in a .223. Of course it screws up your time if a loose primer jams the rifle during a competition.

 

[dubagel]

The later military export IMI Galil’s were offered in other barrel rifling options depending on customer requirements because the 62gr ammunition was becoming available. Indumil of Columbia was manufacturing licensed versions of the Galil I believe starting around the early 1990’s so they may have changed their barrel twist from 1/12.

 

[Deerhurst]

I can't find any info on the barrel twist changes over the years. Any good resources?

I havnt had time to check my AR kit yet. It'll be a guess as it's kinda slagged. Bastards.

I do know my SAR is 1:7. Not sure how to date it though.

 

[AliYahu]

I can't find any info on the barrel twist changes over the years. Any good resources?

I havnt had time to check my AR kit yet. It'll be a guess as it's kinda slagged. Bastards.

I do know my SAR is 1:7. Not sure how to date it though.

The loose IMI barrels marked '12-88' seem to be 1:7, the earlier ones 1:12 - not sure about military barrels.

Eli

 

[Paul Kersey]

Hell YES. It's IMI!

 

[Pavia]

FNC is also marked .223, but they were built for 5.56. Same with Galils.

 

[Vlad_boho]

Is this a serious question?

first: with a 1/12 twist are you sure you are not mistaken about being concerned with bullet weight? 55gr stabalizes better out of a 1/12 tist barrel, where 62 and higher wont.

second. Its a galil, aka its a Kalashnikov variant. What more is there to say.