Kent, the best way to explain the 5.56mm/.223 is to think .357mag and .38 spl. The chamber pressure for the 5.56 is between 55,000 and 60,000 psi where the .223 is around 45,000 psi. You can fire the .223 and 5.56 out of the 5.56 chamber while it would be unsafe to shoot the 5.56 out of the .223 chamber.
I am a certified armorer on the M16/AR15 rifles as well as a licensed manufacture. I haven't been building many since I came back from asscrapistan 2 years ago but if you are local to the Woodstock/Canton area I would love to sit down with you and teach you how to put them together. Two to three hours and you can know most of the basics of the rifle, including how to handle most field repairs if something were to happen.
The lowers can be assembled with basic tools, most of which you probably have in your Jeeps tool kit. It's the uppers that really require the special tools.
Thanks. I'm in snellville and am still wondering if i should take the 499 deal as a starter, maybe tweek it some with a scope or better flip sights... for now. until i understand and learn more. i dont have the skill to assemble one, but i dont mind paying someone to do that for me.. i also dont have the skill to know/buy all the parts needed! i have a look i want, but my concern is quality and not wanting to toss 499 into the can.
For me, its less about the look and more about sound quality , something that will last, wont let me down when needed and has the power to do what i want.
example. buy the 499 , but upgrade the barrel to something of better, upgrade the sights to better flip sights or add a scope for a few hundered bucks.. the other thing is i dont know what other parts on the 499 would be a smart upgrade .. not so much for looks but for quality... a fear i have is taking something like the list bobby gave on parts.. and once its all together take it to someone and get told, the parts wont work together or im missing stuff.
sorry for the ramble.. I am still looking at the 499 because its thru Cherokee Gun and Pawn, Canton where i got my two 38's and Bobby trusts them, and that goes a long way .. in my book.. they seem to be a quality honest outfit. so i would hope they would not offer a deal thats sub-par...
any advice/you can offer is greatly helpful. and now that I know you have a super power. .
about guns. I shall be bugging the piss out of you about these matters. thanks again. and I may take u up on that offer. alwasy looking to learn...