Gregory Kielma • October 21, 2023
223 Remington/5.56 x 45mm NATO Cartridge
223 Remington/5.56 x 45mm NATO Cartridge
Hey Gregory,
Today's workbench is written by guest contributor and AGI Certified Gunsmith and GCA Moderator Robert Dunn:
There isn’t a day of my life that goes by that I don’t work with, reload, think or write about the .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO cartridges. Those cartridges are what a couple of my favorite and most used rifles are chambered for.
When I worked in an ammunition factory, I would sometimes get paid in .223 ammunition. When I was growing up in the early 1970s I became familiar with the .223 Remington cartridge, as it was the new round being used by our Armed Forces.
Warfighters throughout the world had realized the advantage of automatic firepower, but finding the perfect firearm and cartridge design is a huge challenge. In the case of the .223 Remington, many sources helped bring this cartridge into use by both civilians and the military.
Eugene Stoner of ArmaLite (then a division of Fairchild Industries) had gained the attention of the Military with his 7.62 x 51mm chambered AR-10 rifle. Like many high powered rifles, the AR-10 was hard to control during automatic fire.
Consequently, Fairchild Industries and Stoner were asked to scale down the AR-10 to fire a smaller caliber cartridge. Stoner came up with a prototype AR-15 and after a demonstration for the army, he was asked to produce more rifles for testing in 1957.
Select engineers and other companies like Remington Arms, Winchester as well as ArmaLite were asked to take part in developing this project. Springfield Armory’s Earle Harvey lengthened the .222 Remington case to the required specifications and it became the .224 Springfield, which was commercially known as the .222 Remington Magnum.
Frank Snow (of Sierra Bullets) and Eugene Stoner calculated the ballistics data for the .222 Remington to find the best bullet for the project, which ended up being a 55 grain bullet. Meanwhile, the Technical Editor for Gun and Ammo magazine, Robert Hutton, worked up a propellant recipe that could attain a velocity of 3,300 fps. Ultimately, Remington came up with the .222 Special cartridge, which was later renamed the .223 Remington because there were so many .222 designations.
Just a few of the military requirements for the firearm and cartridges were that they needed to be able to penetrate one side of a US Steel helmet at 500 yards, had to be able to exceed supersonic speed at 500 yards, had to be .22 caliber and select fire. From years of research and development of the AR-10 and AR-15, ArmaLite was facing financial difficulties and sold the rights for the rifles to Colt in 1959.
The AR-15 and the T44E4 rifle that would later be known as the M14 were being testing at the same time. To make a long story short, it was found that the AR-15 had far less failures per 1,000 rounds fired and that riflemen had a higher hit probability when firing Stoner’s rifle.
After Air Force General Curtis Le May test fired the AR-15, he ordered a batch of AR-15s to replace some of the M2 carbines that the Air Force was using. As the trials and testing continued, it was found that during marksmanship testing that many more men were achieving Expert shooting status with the AR-15 than they were with the M14. With these findings and the failure rate of the AR-15 going down even further, General Le May placed an order for 80,000 rifles in 1961.
In 1962, Remington filed the specs for the .223 Remington cartridge with SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute) and the cartridge was later marketed commercially as a chambering for the Remington 760 rifle in 1963.
At this point in time, the United States was embroiled in the conflicts arising in Southeast Asia. It was politically decided that contracts for rifle manufacturing could be bid on by the private sector and Colt was awarded the contract to provide AR-15 rifles to fill orders for the Vietnam War.
The AR-15 rifle and the .223 Remington cartridge were formally adopted in 1964 and designated the XM16E1 rifle, commonly referred to as the M16, and the 5.56 Ball M193 cartridge. It was decided that the South Vietnamese troops would be supplied with the M16 rifle. Eventually, the Air Force, the US Army, Special Forces, the Coast Guard, the US Navy, the Marines as well as the SEAL teams had orders in for M16 rifles and cartridges. In 1965, Colt received orders for 800,000 M16E1 rifle and over 28,000 M16 rifles.
The M16 and the 5.56 Ball ammo would go through some major growing pains as the rifles and cartridges were issued to troops in Vietnam. Besides not being trained on how to properly clean the gun, the rifle suffered from many types of jams and failures.
Broken extractors and extractor springs accounted for many ejection failures and through more research, it was found that the propellant being used in the cartridges was creating horrific fouling of the gas and bolt system. The ball powder that was being used also created a longer pressure spike, which caused the case to expand in the chamber but it would not contract enough to be extracted.
The extractor would simply tear through the case rim, leaving the stuck case in the chamber. By using a different propellant, chrome plating the barrels and replacing the buffer with a new design that slowed down the cyclic rate, along with some other design changes, the problems were gradually sorted out. Unfortunately many American lives were lost because of these errors.
The process of selecting a smaller cartridge for use by NATO forces began in 1960. The cartridge design was based on the .223 Remington cartridge and its development was placed in the hands of FN Herstal. The rimless bottlenecked cartridge was named the 5.56 x 54mm NATO cartridge.
In 1980, the 5.56 NATO cartridge became the standard NATO rifle cartridge (known as the SS109 for NATO and the M855 for the United States). The 5.56mm cartridges allowed the soldier to be able to carry more ammunition, which equated to more firepower and logistically many more rounds could be transported to hot spots around the world by weight than the larger 7.62 NATO cartridges. On a global scale this can equal a savings of millions of dollars.
The number of firearms that are chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge is too numerous to list here. Just think about all of the different squad automatic weapons, rifles, carbines and machine guns that each NATO country uses…that is a lot of different weapons!
The Frankford Arsenal, Remington and Winchester produced the first lots of .223 ammunition for the United States Armed Forces. During the trials and testing of the AR-15, 19 Million .223 cartridges were purchased. When a cartridge does well for the military, the Law Enforcement and civilian communities usually follows their lead. If you have ever read the 27 page document for the military specifications for the M855 cartridge (5.56 x 54mm), you can see that heavy scrutiny has already been applied to the 5.56mm round!
The .223 Remington cartridge has become one of the most used cartridges in the United States. It is a great varmint and predator cartridge and could be used for larger game if need be by loading a heavier bullet like a Hornady GMX or Barnes TSX 70-grain projectiles. These slower moving heavier bullets seem to do quite well in windy conditions. The above attributes make the 5.56mm round a flexible survival cartridge too.
You may have noticed or even been annoyed by the interchanging .223/5.56 terminology, here are of the important similarities and difference between the two cartridges. The case dimensions are exactly the same, though case thickness/propellant capacity can vary significantly between manufacturers which will have an effect on the resulting pressures.
The 5.56 x 45mm NATO or other military 5.56 ammo tends to be loaded hotter, so chamber pressures will be greater than the typical .223 Remington load. For this reason, .223 Remington rounds can be safely fired in a 5.56 chambered gun but 5.56mm ammo should not be fired in a .223 Rem chambered gun.
The reason for this really comes down to the differences in the chamber dimensions between .223 and 5.56 barrels. The throat/free bore and leade of a 5.56mm chamber is longer. The throat of the chamber is the unrifled section of the chamber just forward of the neck and gives the bullet a place to sit. Leade or lead is the section of the bore of a rifled barrel located just ahead of the throat of the chamber. It is a conical shaped transition from end of the throat to the fully rifled part of the barrel.
In an effort to gain more accuracy from the 5.56mm NATO cartridge, Bill Wylde created the .223 Wylde, which is a chamber design that utilizes the same external dimensions and lead angle of a 5.56 NATO cartridge and the freebore diameter of the .223 Remington cartridge. Another company that uses a proprietary chamber design to achieve better accuracy from the 5.56mm NATO cartridge is Noveske. A Noveske barrel is not cheap but they are known for their precision and high quality products.
SAAMI specs are followed by manufacturers in the U.S. loading .223 Remington ammo but those same manufacturers who also load 5.56 ammo do not follow SAAMI specs because the 5.56 rounds are loaded to military specifications and thus not held to SAAMI specs. In Europe, the international organization C.I.P. tests and sets the safety standards for firearms and ammunition. In countries that are regulated by the C.I.P., .223 Remington ammunition is proof tested at the same maximum service pressure as the 5.56 x 54mm NATO cartridges.
There have been a lot of challenges that had to be met throughout the history of the AR-15 and the 5.56 x 54mm cartridge. The twist rate of a barrel and the chamber dimensions greatly effect performance and accuracy. The shorter barreled M4 carbines and the requests for even shorter barrel lengths coming from the Special Forces communities have kept firearms and ammunition engineers busy. At this point in time, the AR-15 style rifles and the .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO cartridges offer a very reliable and accurate shooting platform.
The AR-15 rifle and .223/5.56 cartridge combination have gone through many changes together. They are still being used by our Military/Law Enforcement and civilian populations to good affect every day. This combo is a must for 3-gun competition. The .223 Remington cartridge is not overly expensive and there is always a wide variety of ammunition to choose from. There is a lot of surplus ammo to select from as well. Many other firearms are chambered in .223 Rem besides the AR-15 type guns.
The 5.56mm round is a good cartridge to reload for, as there is a huge variety of quality components to choose from as well. In 1964, the year I was born, these cartridges were the new warfighting cartridge and the US Armed Forces began using them. It’s easy for me to remember how many years these cartridges have been in use!
Become an American Gunsmith and continue to preserve our Firearm’s Heritage!
Robert Dunn,
Gunsmith & Community Moderator
American Gunsmithing Institute
Gunsmithing Club of America
National Concealed Carry Reciprocity: What Gun Owners Need to Know By Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms March 15,2026 Congress may soon vote on national concealed carry reciprocity. Let's Take a LOOK! Understanding Current LawsConcerning Reciprocity Travel in the United States: Why It’s Your Responsibility to Know the Law Traveling while armed is a reality for millions of responsible gun owners across the United States. But the moment you cross a state line, the rules change — sometimes dramatically. That’s where reciprocity comes in. Understanding reciprocity travel isn’t optional; it’s a core part of responsible firearm ownership. As an instructor, I remind every student: your permit doesn’t travel unless the law says it does. And it’s your job to know where it does — and where it doesn’t. What Is Reciprocity? Reciprocity refers to the agreements between states that recognize each other’s concealed carry permits. Some states honor many permits, some honor only a few, and others honor none at all. This patchwork of laws means that a permit valid in your home state may be completely invalid the moment you cross into another jurisdiction. Ignorance of the law is never a defense, and mistakes can carry severe legal consequences. Why Reciprocity Matters When You Travel Every state sets its own rules for: • Who may carry • How they may carry • Where they may carry • What training is required • Whether out of state permits are recognized When you travel armed, you are responsible for complying with the laws of every state you enter — even if you’re only passing through. A state that honors your permit may allow you to carry concealed. A state that does not honor your permit may require you to store your firearm unloaded, locked, and inaccessible. Some states have magazine restrictions, ammunition restrictions, or location based prohibitions that differ from your home state. Safe Passage Isn’t the Same as Reciprocity Federal law (FOPA) provides a “safe passage” provision for travelers transporting firearms through restrictive states. But this protection is limited: • The firearm must be unloaded • It must be locked away and not accessible • You must be traveling from one lawful location to another • You cannot make unnecessary stops Safe passage does not give you the right to carry. It only protects lawful transport. Your Responsibility as a Gun Owner Reciprocity travel requires preparation. Before you hit the road: • Check the reciprocity laws for every state on your route • Understand each state’s carry restrictions • Know prohibited locations • Review transport requirements • Keep documentation with you Laws change frequently, and relying on outdated information can put you at risk. Responsible gun owners stay informed — every trip, every time. Kielma’s Final Thoughts Reciprocity is a privilege, not a guarantee. When you choose to travel armed, you take on the responsibility of knowing and following the laws of every state you enter. That responsibility protects your rights, your safety, and your freedom.
SAF, FPC File SCOTUS Brief In Challenge To Illinois’ Public Transportation Carry Ban Mark Chesnut - Two major gun-rights organizations have filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case challenging Illinois’ ban on the carry of firearms on public transportation. On March 3, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed the brief in support of the cert petition in the case Schoenthal v. Raoul, which was originally filed in 2022 and challenges the state’s complete ban on carry on public transportation. According to the SAF, in order to legally carry a firearm in Illinois, residents are required to obtain not only a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID), but also a concealed carry license. However, even with both the FOID card and a carry license, Illinois still bans carrying a firearm on “…any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds.”
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Violent Home Invasion Robbery Wednesday, March 11, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyrek Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe to 15 years in prison for his role in a violent home invasion robbery targeting a local business owner and his family. In September 2025, a federal jury convicted Byrd of conspiring to commit armed home invasion robberies, Hobbs Act robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As proven at trial, in December 2019, Byrd and two co conspirators carried out a violent home invasion robbery targeting business owners whom they believed kept large amounts of cash at their homes. The conspirators researched their victims and businesses and used a GPS tracking device to determine where the victims lived before carrying out the robberies. On the night of December 31, 2019, Byrd and two accomplices confronted the owner of a Delaware County nail salon as the victim returned to the business. The robbers forced the victim inside, zip tied his wrists, covered his mouth with duct tape, and beat him while demanding money. The men then forced the victim to take them to his home, where they encountered the victim’s wife, children, and nanny. Inside the residence, the robbers zip tied the family members, ransacked the home, and continued assaulting the victim while demanding cash. During the ordeal, the assailants threatened the family and stated that they had been watching the victims for weeks. After terrorizing the family for approximately 40 minutes, the robbers fled with thousands of dollars in business proceeds, jewelry, and other valuables. Byrd’s coconspirator, Shaquan Brown, was previously sentenced to more than 22 years’ in prison for his role in this and other robberies. Another coconspirator, Willie Singletary, received a sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment for this role in the conspiracy. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives the Haverford Police Department, Uwchlan Township Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Montgomery County Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Carissimi, Brian Doherty, and J. Jeanette Kang. Contact USAPAE.PressBox@usdoj.gov 215-861-8300 Updated March 11, 2026
Honduran National Illegally In The United States Sentenced To Over Eight Years For Trafficking Firearms, Including A Machinegun, And Drugs Thursday, March 12, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Honduran man illegally present in the United States was sentenced to prison yesterday for trafficking guns, including a firearm fitted with a machinegun conversion device known as a “switch,” and drugs, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. Michael Naun Antunez Vasquez, 22, was sentenced to 101 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to trafficking in firearms, possession of a machinegun, transfer of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. After serving his prison sentence, Vasquez will be removed from the country and is forbidden from returning to the United States. “Vasquez was in the country illegally and profited by putting dangerous guns on our streets—including a firearm converted into a machinegun,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “When someone traffics guns and drugs and utterly disregards our nation’s laws and public safety, federal prison is the appropriate punishment.” “Firearms trafficking makes our communities less safe by putting guns in the hands of prohibited and possibly dangerous individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF, along with all of our law enforcement partners, is committed to stopping the illegal exchange of firearms and making sure that those who threaten our communities are held accountable.” According to court documents, Vasquez was a Honduran national who was in the United States illegally. On July 9, 2024, Vasquez sold a Romarm/Cugir pistol with a 30-round magazine to an individual working with the ATF. Vasquez also told the individual that he was able to sell additional firearms, machinegun conversion devices, and controlled substances. On July 18, 2024, Vasquez met with an undercover ATF agent, who told Vasquez he was purchasing guns to resell in another state for profit. Vasquez sold the agent two firearms: a Glock Model 30, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a 25-round magazine, and a Glock, Model 19, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. The Model 19 was assembled from different parts that were stolen. Court documents show that on August 1, 2024, the ATF agent bought two more firearms from Vasquez. The first firearm was a Glock, Model 19, 9mm pistol that had been converted to a machinegun. The second firearm was a Glock, Model 48. During that meeting, Vasquez told the agent that he could also obtain pounds of methamphetamine. Vasquez agreed to sell the agent a machinegun, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, and a pound of methamphetamine. According to court records, Vasquez was riding in the front passenger seat of a car on the way to meet with the undercover agent when the vehicle was stopped by Union County Sherriff’s deputies. The deputies seized from the vehicle a machinegun conversion device, a Romarm/Cugir pistol, a Glock pistol, a Beretta pistol, a Palmetto State Armory pistol, several high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and approximately 28.7 grams of methamphetamine. Vasquez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Updated March 12, 2026
Virginia Man Charged with Illegally Selling the Firearm Used in the Campus Shooting at Old Dominion University Friday, March 13, 2026 Kenya Mcchell Chapman, 32, of Smithfield, Virginia, appeared in federal court today and was charged by criminal complaint with dealing in firearms without a license in connection with the March 12 shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU), and with three counts of making false statements during purchases of firearms. View complaint here. View affidavit here. “The Biden Department of Justice declined to prosecute this man and let him off easy with a warning,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Left-wing soft-on-crime policies cost lives — but this Department of Justice doesn’t tolerate crime, we punish it.” “Chapman allegedly stole a firearm and illegally sold it to a convicted terrorist, who murdered a decorated American veteran, and he will finally face the full weight of justice,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated ATF and FBI agents, in partnership with state and local law enforcement officers, we have arrested and charged this safety threat and removed him from the community.” “If you steal firearms, lie on federal forms, and put weapons in the hands of convicted terrorists, this FBI will find you,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “I want to thank our Norfolk Field Office and partners who continue to work 24/7 to bring to justice those responsible for yesterday’s attack. In the meantime, we continue to keep the victims, their families, and the entire Old Dominion community in our prayers.” On March 12, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, committed a shooting at ODU in Norfolk during an Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corp (ROTC) class, killing one victim and wounding two more. Today, law enforcement searched Chapman’s residence and located ammunition consistent with the firearm recovered from the ODU shooting. Chapman allegedly stole the firearm from a vehicle in Newport News one year before the ODU shooting and sold it to Jalloh days before the ODU shooting. Jalloh was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. As a previously convicted felon, Jalloh could not legally purchase or possess firearms or ammunition. In addition, according to court documents, in 2021, Chapman allegedly purchased three firearms that were recovered from crime scenes shortly afterward. Two were recovered from the scene of a homicide and another recovered from a drunk in public incident. If convicted, Chapman faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Bresnahan and Rebecca Gantt for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Chapman Affidavit.pdf Updated March 13, 2026
PENSACOLA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING MACHINE GUN CONVERSION DEVICES Tuesday, March 10, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Alaisjah Dayshawn Perkins, 22, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt, possession, transfer, and making of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration & Transfer Record and not identified by a serial number. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America was launched to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward protecting our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and this successful prosecution delivers on that mission. Our brave state and federal law enforcement partners are on the front lines of the fight against violent criminals, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with aggressive prosecutions to keep our citizens safe.” Court documents reflect that on April 26, 2025, law enforcement officers observed posts on a Facebook profile advertising the sale of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). Subsequently, an undercover officer began communicating with the defendant. Between April and May 2025, law enforcement conducted multiple undercover purchases of several MCDs from the defendant. Pursuant to a search warrant for the defendant’s home, officers located tools and supplies for manufacturing MCDs. T he defendant was arrested and a bag of 13 MCDs was located in his pocket. The MCDs were sent to the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for technical examination, and were determined to be designed to convert AR-style firearms from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Perkins faces up to ten years’ imprisonment. If Perkins is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, such term could be followed by up to a three-year term of supervised release. Thus, if Perkins were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl. Contact United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Florida USAFLN.Press.Office@usdoj.gov X: @USAO_NDFL Updated March 10, 2026
Are Machine Guns Legal for You to Own? (Florida + Federal Law) Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 3/13/2026 Kielma’s Known Short Answer Yes — but only under very narrow federal rules. In Florida, you may legally own a machine gun only if it is a federally registered, transferable machine gun made before May 19, 1986, and you complete the full ATF approval process. Anything made after that date is illegal for civilian possession under federal law. What Counts as a Machine Gun? Under federal law, a machine gun is any firearm that fires more than one round per trigger pull, including: • Fully automatic firearms • Frames/receivers of such firearms • Any part or combination of parts designed to convert a gun into a machine gun (e.g., auto sears, switches) US Federal Law (The Big Gatekeeper) Legal for civilians ONLY if: • It was manufactured and registered before May 19, 1986 • It is listed in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) • You complete the ATF Form 4 process • You pass the federal background check • You pay the $200 NFA tax stamp Illegal for civilians if: • It was made after May 19, 1986 • It is unregistered • It is a conversion device (auto sear, switch, etc.) not registered before 1986 Penalties for illegal possession can include up to 10 years in federal prison. Florida Law Florida’s laws mirror federal law almost exactly. Florida allows machine gun possession ONLY if: • It is lawfully owned under federal law • It is a pre 1986 transferable machine gun Florida prohibits: • Possession of any machine gun that is or can be made operable unless federally registered • Possession of conversion devices (switches, bump stocks, etc.) Florida does not have its own machine gun registration system — it relies entirely on federal approval. What You Must Do to Legally Own One 1. Find a pre 1986 transferable machine gun (prices often $20k–$50k+) 2. Submit ATF Form 4 3. Provide fingerprints, photos, and background check 4. Pay the $200 tax stamp 5. Wait 6–12 months for ATF approval Only after approval may you take possession. What You Cannot Do • Buy or possess a post 1986 machine gun • Make your own machine gun • 3D print or possess an auto sear / Glock switch • Possess an unregistered machine gun All of these are felonies under federal law. Kielma’s Known Bottom Line for You As a Florida resident and firearms instructor, you can legally own a machine gun — but only a pre 1986, federally registered one, and only after completing the full ATF NFA process. Anything else is a serious federal crime.
No Automatic Glock Switches — It’s Against the Law Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 3/13/2026 At Tactical K Training and Firearms , I teach responsible firearm ownership, and that starts with understanding what is legal and what is not. One point that cannot be overstated: Glock switches (auto sears) are illegal under federal law and in the State of Florida. A Glock switch is a conversion device that forces a semi-automatic Glock pistol to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Because of that function, federal law classifies a Glock switch as a machine gun all by itself — even if it’s not installed on a firearm. That means: • Possession is a felony, even if the device is not attached • Manufacturing, buying, selling, or 3D printing one is illegal • Penalties are severe, including federal prison time…10 plus years. • There are no exceptions for civilians, none…ZERO Do not do it! Responsible gun owners stay far away from illegal conversion devices. They put lives at risk, undermine the firearms community, and give lawmakers ammunition to push for broader restrictions on lawful gun owners. At Tactical K Training and Firearms , we stand for safety, legality, and professionalism. There is no place, currently, for Glock switches in responsible firearm ownership. It’s the law. Gregg Kielma
Man breaks into Parrish home, attacks woman in garage By Danielle Zulkosky Published March 12, 2026 6:12am EDT Manatee County FOX 13 News Husband protects wife from intruder A Parrish couple is trying to put a dangerous situation behind them after a brazen home invasion. A man attacked the wife in her garage, but the couple fought back. FOX 13's Danielle Zulkosky reports. The Brief • Eric Shea is accused of breaking into a Parrish home and attacking a woman inside the garage. • Doris and Eric Brust say they were in their garage when Shea got inside. Eric ended up saving Doris from the attack. • Doris said Shea lives in a neighboring subdivision and warns her neighbors to always be aware of their surroundings. PARRISH, Fla. - A Parrish couple faced an attack at home after a man broke into their garage on Sunday night. Eric and Dorris Brust said it was a freak attack on Sunday night in their Parrish home. "We started to come down our block, and we saw a gentleman on the road that was kind of staggering," Dorris said. "And then all of a sudden, this gentleman kind of runs up our driveway yelling things we just didn't really understand." That man was Edward Shea. Things took a turn when he got into their garage. "My husband, Eric, ran into the house to get a weapon because he had warned him, you need to get off my property," Dorris said. "And in that short amount of time, he ran into me, grabbed me, and started choking me." Instincts then kicked in for her husband. "I've never heard her scream like that before and when I came out here, and I saw him pushing her against the car, it took everything in my body not to severely hurt him," Eric said. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said the two worked together to restrain Shea until deputies arrived at their home. "I'm grateful I didn't get our gun because I think I might have used it on him and I wouldn't want to live with that," Eric said. After the attack, Doris went to the hospital and only had a few bruises. She calls her husband ‘superman’ to come to her rescue. "It humbled me because I consider myself a pretty strong individual as a woman," Dorris said. "And it just, the reality was that I was easily overpowered and that part was scary." She said Shea lives in a neighboring subdivision and warns her neighbors to always be aware of their surroundings. "Be more aware of who's around you, who's acting strange, to keep your distance from somebody who might be acting strange," Dorris said. But hopes that Shea gets the help he needs. Th e Source: Information in this story comes from interviews done by FOX 13's Danielle Zulkosky.
Dennis Rader: The People Who Suffered Because Of This Bastard. Paula Dietz's Unsettling Tale of Her Marriage to Dennis Rader Gregg Kielma Says Gregg Kielma, Firearms Instructor, Safety Instructor, First Aid Fundamentals Instructor and Gunsmith: Friends, this is why I carry a firearm and teach firearm use and situational awareness. Bastards like Rader can be stopped. It should have never taken 17 years to get this bastard. Please let me show you how to stay safe. Please protect yourself and family. Paula Dietz lived with the BTK killer for 34 years without knowing who he was. Dennis Lynn Rader is an American serial killer who goes by the nickname "BTK," which stands for "bind, torture, kill." Between 1974 and 1991, he killed ten people in Wichita and Park City, Kansas, and then sent letters to the police and the media, bragging about what he had done. Rader stopped sending letters for ten years, but he started again in 2004, which led to his arrest in 2005 and his guilty plea. Paula Dietz Paula Dietz had known her husband for 34 years as a loving husband, church council president, and Cub Scout leader. Nevertheless, she was shocked to discover that he was also a serial killer. On February 25, 2005, Dietz's husband was taken into custody, shattering everything she had previously believed to be true. Authorities abruptly identified the man who had been her children's adoring father and the head of their church council as the BTK Killer, The cognitive whiplash that Dennis Rader's wife went through was undoubtedly indescribable. In 1970, she fell in love with the retired US Air Force officer, and a few months later they were married. After they settled into their Park City, Kansas, house, Dietz took care of their two kids, and Rader went to work as an electrician. Dietz had no idea that he was using his electrical skills to break into homes at night and murder innocent people while wearing a mask. Despite a trail of clues left in her husband's wake, Dietz only learned Rader's true identity when he was apprehended. Paul Dietz Love Story Paula Dietz was born in Park City, Kansas, on May 5, 1948. Most of what is known about her came to light after her husband was arrested, as she lived a relatively quiet life with her family until the BTK Killer was exposed for his crimes. Dietz, on the other hand, was raised in a religious household by devout parents. Her father worked as an engineer, and her mother as a librarian. Paula Dietz attended the National American University of Wichita after graduating from her local high school in 1966 and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1970. That same year, she met Rader at church, and the two fell in love quickly. Living With The BTK Killer On the surface, Rader appeared to be a kind U.S. Air Force veteran. But Rader had grown up torturing helpless women and killing small animals, and Dietz had no idea that side of him existed. Dietz married Dennis Rader on May 22, 1971, unaware that he liked to photograph himself in women's underwear or engage in autoerotic asphyxiation. When Paula Dietz discovered she was pregnant in 1973, she was overjoyed, and on November 30, she gave birth to her and Rader's son Brian. Six weeks later, her husband committed his first murders. He broke into the home of Joseph Otero, 38, and his wife Julie on January 15, 1974, and strangled them in front of their children. He then dragged Josephine, 11, and her brother Joseph, 9, into the basement. He suffocated young Joseph before hanging her and masturbating as she died. Before fleeing, Rader took gruesome photos of the scene, which he kept in a lockbox filled with mementos from his victims, including Josephine's underwear. Over the next 17 years, Rader murdered six more women while portraying the ideal family man by day. In 1978, Dietz gave birth to her second child, a girl named Kerri. Rader enjoyed taking his kids fishing and even led his son's Cub Scout troop. Dietz was completely unaware of her husband's secret double life. The Shocking Discovery Rader was finally caught in 2005, almost 15 years after his last murder. He sent letters to local news outlets with photos and information about his past crimes. He kept the photos, the underwear, and the IDs of the women he had killed in a lockbox at home, and Paula Dietz had never thought to open it. When the FBI searched Rader's home after he was arrested on February 25, 2005, they found these strange items. Dietz had no idea what was going on. She told police that her husband was "a good man and a great father." But after he admitted to killing 10 people and pleaded guilty on June 27, 2005, Dennis Rader's wife stopped talking to him. She never wrote him another letter, and she never went to see him in jail or to any of his court hearings. Kielma's Parting Shot: Rader you two-bit piece of shit....rot in hell you deranged bastard. Gregg Kielma
