Hey Bro., .223 caliber is the same as 5.56 NATO. Which is the round fired by the M-16. Mine fires either. There is a slight difference in the head spacing so that a .223 only rifle should not be used for 5.56mm. The round and the ballistics are otherwise the same.
The only real difference between the two rifles is that the AR-15 is semi automatic and the M-16 has a selector that fires a 3 round burst or semi automatic. They were full auto when I was in the Corps but some genius sitting on his ass somewhere decided that full auto eroded accuracy, which it probably did if your main job was in the motor pool ;).
Otherwise you can't tell the difference. I own a Colt AR that will fire either 5.56 or .223. I feel perfectly armed in the event of civil unrest. BTW body armor is a must if the SHTF.
The point is that the fact that it is a "military style" weapon should be irrelevant. If the checks don't go out one month or if the stores run out of food, or any number of things happen that lead to civil unrest and necessitate self defense, I should be able to be armed with the most effective means of defense going. Short of full rock and roll a semi-automatic AR is the way to go.
#YouNeverHaveAMachineGunWhenYouNeedOne
If the checks don’t go out one month or if the stores run out of food, or any number of things happen that lead to civil unrest and necessitate self defense,
I know all that; my post was a bit of propaganda to point out the absurdity of calling it a weapon of war, as I said in my conclusion: no battle-tried soldier would depend on an AR-15 in battle. Hopefully home defense would not have to face 50 caliber Gatlins, etc. - or enemy coming in by the 100's.