The two most common AR-15 calibers on the U.S. market are the .223 Remington and the 5.56×45mm NATO. Eugene Stoner developed the .223 Remington, based on the .222 Remington sporting cartridge, in cooperation with Sierra Bullets. In September 1963, the U.S. military type-classified the .223 Remington cartridge, using a 55-grain bullet, as “Cartridge, 5.56mm Ball, M193.”
In 1964, Remington introduced the .223 cartridge to the sporting market. Several companies now manufacture sporting, and tactical carbines and rifles chambered in both cartridges. But which round is more suitable for your purposes?