07 Jan
Paint & Finishes

Cerakote Finishing vs Anodized Finishes

There are many colors and finishes to choose from, when building and accessorizing a custom AR15. With over 13 different colors to choose from, 9 cerakote colors and 4 anodize colors, a lot of customers do not know where to start. First determine what colors you like, then choosing anodize or cerakote will help you narrow it down.

Cerakote finishing is a paint , that is sprayed then baked on. By baking it, it does allow the paint to become hardened, which makes is somewhat scratch resistant. It will hold up over time with normal wear and tear. However, it can be scratched or scraped, so hard use will show if the rifle is dropped or damaged. The paint has to be applied evenly, but the finished product is usually very smooth.

Anodize Finishing is a chemical finishing, that is embedded in the material. A standard AR15 rifle is a anodized black finish. So now instead of black, you can get that same factory finish in a variety of colors such as green, purple, blue, and red. Benefits of this finish is that it will withhold against cleaning chemicals well, and there will not be any possible scratching , paint run marks, or chipping. Sometimes the anodize colors will vary on each part, depending on the type or grade of aluminum that is being used. That is the only possible downside.

06 Jan
Ammo & Calibers

.223 Remington vs 5.56 NATO (5.56 x 45mm)

We have alot of customers that ask us what is the difference between the .223 Remington caliber and the 5.56 Nato caliber. They are concerned about which ammo to buy and which they can shoot safely in their rifle. We are going to explain the difference.
The common mistake people make is that they think the two are the same.  5.56 Nato and .223 Rem are in the same family, but still different. This can be a problem and lead to a dangerous situation. The case dimensions are the same, but there are enough other differences that make the two not completely interchangeable.
One big difference is pressure. Another big difference is length. 5.56 Nato , or 5.56 x 45, is slightly larger than a .223 Remington.

Customers ask what is safe? It is safe to shoot .223 Remington cartridges in any safe gun chambered for 5.56×45 mm. But also, it is not recommended and it is not safe to shoot 5.56×45 mm cartridges in a firearm chambered for .223 Rem.

When shooting .223 Rem. cartridges in a firearm chambered for 5.56×45 mm, it’s likely the shooter will lose accuracy and muzzle velocity.

What does this mean to you? If you have an AR-15 rifle chambered in 5.56×45 mm, you can shoot either .223 Remington or 5.56×45 mm safely. If your barrel’s twist rate is 1:7″ you should use bullets weighing 60 grains or heavier. If you have any rifle with a 1:12″ barrel twist you should use bullets of 60 grains or less for best accuracy. If you have a .223 Rem. rifle of any type, it is not recommended and not safe to use 5.56×45 mm ammo.