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
Owning and Training With A Firearm: Some People Just Don’t Understand Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/18/2026 A coworker commented on a Tampa Bay shooting on 4/15/2026, blaming me for selling firearms in the community. The incident involved two suspects, one juvenile and one 18-year-old, who used a firearm during a dispute—exact reasons unknown. I always emphasize safety and responsible ownership in my classes as an FFL and Firearms Instructor. Below are my thoughts and tips for conversations with those who advocate relinquishing Second Amendment rights and firearms. Some coworkers, friends, or neighbors may be uneasy about us owning firearms not because of anything you or I have did wrong, but because they’re filtering the idea through their own experiences, fears, or misunderstandings. Many people only encounter firearms through news stories about crime or through entertainment that portray guns as inherently dangerous, so they instinctively associate ownership with risk rather than responsibility. Others may have grown up in households or communities where firearms were never part of normal life, so the idea feels foreign or intimidating. Another reason, some worry about safety simply because they don’t understand the layers of training, discipline, and legal responsibility that you practice every day. And in some cases, people project their own anxieties—about violence, about control, or about the world feeling unpredictable—onto anyone who chooses to own a firearm. None of this reflects your character or your professionalism. It reflects their lack of exposure to responsible ownership. Often, once people see the level of care, education, and integrity you bring to the subject, their discomfort softens because they finally understand the difference between a lawful, trained owner and the stereotypes they’ve been reacting to. Gregg Kielma
Why People Lie on the 4473 — and Why It Never Works By Gregg Kielma, FFL & Owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/18/2026 As an FFL, I see a lot of things behind the counter that the average gun owner never thinks about. One of the most frustrating — and frankly baffling — behaviors is when someone decides to lie on an ATF Form 4473. Let me be clear: lying on a 4473 is a federal crime, and people still try it every single day across the country. I check everything. Every box, every detail, every ID, every answer. That’s my job, and I take it seriously. So why do people still lie on a form that is designed to catch them? My Thought: They think “just checking a box” doesn’t matter Some people convince themselves that the form is just paperwork and nobody really looks at it. They assume the background check is a formality and the 4473 is just a hoop to jump through. They don’t realize that the form is the background check — and the moment they lie, they’ve committed a felony. My Thought: They underestimate how thorough NICS really is People imagine NICS as a quick name search. In reality, it’s a national system tied into criminal history, mental health adjudications, restraining orders, immigration status, and more. If someone is prohibited, it will surface. And when the system flags a lie, it’s documented. My Thought: They think their past won’t catch up to them I’ve seen people with old charges, dismissed cases, or “sealed” records assume they’re in the clear. But federal law doesn’t forget. If someone is prohibited, the system knows — and lying on the form doesn’t erase the past. My Thought: Straw purchasers think they’re smarter than the system This is the most common lie: “I’m the actual buyer.” If someone is buying a gun for another person — especially someone prohibited — that’s a straw purchase. It’s one of the fastest ways to earn federal charges. And yes, the patterns are obvious. The ATF sees them. FFLs see them. It’s never subtle. My Thought: They assume the FFL won’t check or won’t care Not in my shop. Not ever. I check everything because it protects my license, my business, my community, and the integrity of responsible gun ownership. I’m not here to play games with federal paperwork. If something doesn’t look right, the sale stops. Period. My Thought: They, people don’t understand the consequences Many people don’t realize that lying on a 4473 can lead to: • Federal felony charges • Up to 10 years in prison • Fines up to $250,000 • Permanent loss of firearm rights • ATF investigation • State-level charges on top of federal ones And here’s the kicker: most people who lie don’t even get the gun. They walk away with nothing except a documented federal offense. Tactical K Training and Firearms: My message as an FFL I’m not here to judge anyone, it’s not my position to judge you. I’m here to run a lawful business and promote responsible firearm ownership. The 4473 isn’t optional. It isn’t a suggestion. It’s a legal document, and I treat it as such. If someone can legally own a firearm, the process is smooth. If they can’t, lying won’t change that — it only makes things worse. Kielma’s Parting Shot: Honesty on the 4473 protects everyone: the buyer, the seller, and the community. As an FFL who checks every detail, every time, I can say with confidence: lying on the form never works, and it’s never worth it. Gregg Kielma
Why Do Felons Want Guns—And How Do We Stop It Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training and Firearms 04/18/2026 As a firearms instructor, an FFL, and someone who works every day with responsible, law‑abiding gun owners, I get asked a simple question that has a complicated truth behind it: Why do felons want guns in the first place? And more importantly, how do we stop them from getting them without punishing the people who follow the law? This is an issue that affects every community, every business, and every family. Understanding the “why” helps us build better solutions. Why Do Felons Seek Firearms? Felons—especially those with violent or repeat criminal histories—often pursue firearms for reasons that have nothing to do with self‑defense or lawful ownership. Common motivations include: Power and Intimidation Criminal activity often relies on leverage. A firearm gives someone with bad intentions the ability to threaten, coerce, or control others. Protection within Criminal Circles When someone is involved in illegal activity, they aren’t calling 911. They arm themselves because they expect violence from others in the same world. Financial Gain Firearms are a form of currency in the criminal ecosystem. They’re traded, stolen, and used to commit further crimes. Disregard for the law A person who has already shown a willingness to break the law is not suddenly going to respect firearm regulations. That’s why restrictions alone don’t stop them. None of these motivations have anything to do with responsible ownership, training, or personal protection. They’re rooted in criminal behavior—not citizenship. How Do We Stop It? The answer isn’t to burden the people who already follow the rules. Law‑abiding citizens aren’t the problem. The real solutions focus on criminal behavior, not lawful ownership. Target the illegal supply chain Felons don’t walk into gun stores. They get firearms through: Straw purchases Theft Black‑market trades Ghost gun trafficking Criminal networks My opinion, stopping this requires enforcement, not new restrictions on lawful buyers. Enforce existing laws consistently We already have strong federal laws—18 U.S.C. § 922(g) is clear. The problem is when violations aren’t prosecuted. When a felon is caught with a firearm, consequences must be real, predictable, and swift. Strengthen community reporting and awareness Most illegal firearms move through communities long before law enforcement sees them. Anonymous reporting, community partnerships, and education help cut off access early. Support responsible gun owners—not restrict them Trained, law‑abiding citizens: Store firearms securely Report theft immediately Understand transfer laws Keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons Empowering responsible owners is part of the solution. Invest in prevention, not punishment alone Some individuals re‑offend because they return to the same environment with no support. Programs that reduce recidivism—job training, counseling, and community reintegration—help shrink the pool of people seeking guns for the wrong reasons. Kielma's Parting Shot Felons want guns for criminal purposes, not for the reasons responsible citizens own them. Stopping them requires: Strong enforcement Cutting off illegal supply chains Community involvement Supporting lawful gun owners Reducing repeat criminal behavior At Tactical K Training and Firearms, I teach that responsible ownership is the backbone of community safety. When we focus on the real problem—criminal access, not lawful access—we protect our rights and our neighborhoods at the same time. Gregg Kielma
Visalia Californina Felon Indicted for Possessing Safe Full of Firearms Thursday, April 16, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pete Alvarez, 45, of Visalia, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, during an investigation into a shooting, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Alvarez’s residence. There, they located a safe in Alvarez’s bedroom with 17 firearms, including several short-barrel firearms without serial numbers that were in the process of being manufactured. Alvarez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County including, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a deadly weapon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; and the Tulare Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Updated April 16, 2026
Gun Store Owner Indicted for Aiding and Abetting Straw Purchasing and Failing to Report Cash Payments Over $10,000 Wednesday, April 15, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), was indicted last week on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions over $10,000. On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an 8-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, Straw Purchasing of Firearms, and Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business. Yanez was arraigned April 14. The indictment alleges that on three occasions, Yanez aided and abetted individuals who knowingly made false statements to Yanez’s FFL when submitting the ATF Form 4473, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the firearms. In two instances, the firearms were being purchased for an individual convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms. Finally, Yanez is also alleged to have failed to file the IRS Form 8300, reporting the receipt of over $10,000 in a trade or business, related to the sale of firearms. A conviction for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Straw Purchasing of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00326 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-062_Yanez
How to Protect Ourselves From Potential Foreign Backed Threats in a Responsible, Safety Focused Way Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 4/17/2026 Protecting ourselves from any organized threat — whether foreign backed, criminal, or extremist — starts with the same principles you already teach: awareness, layered security, and calm, informed action. The goal is not to hunt for “sleeper cells,” but to make it harder for any malicious actor to exploit vulnerabilities in our homes, businesses, or communities. At the personal level, the most effective protection comes from sharpening situational awareness: noticing unusual surveillance, unfamiliar vehicles lingering repeatedly, or individuals probing for information about routines, access points, or security measures. These aren’t signs of a specific group — they’re universal pre incident indicators. Strengthening digital hygiene is equally important, since foreign backed actors often exploit online vulnerabilities long before physical ones. Using strong authentication, monitoring accounts for unusual activity, and being cautious with unsolicited messages reduces the risk of being targeted or manipulated. At the community level, staying connected is one of the strongest defenses. Sharing information with neighbors, local businesses, and trusted community groups helps everyone spot patterns that a single person might miss. If something genuinely concerning appears — such as attempts to acquire restricted materials, suspicious photography of critical infrastructure, or probing questions about security — reporting it to local law enforcement or federal tip lines is the correct and lawful step. These agencies are trained to evaluate threats without bias and without putting innocent people at risk. Finally, preparedness matters. Having emergency plans, medical kits, communication backups, and basic readiness ensures that if any kind of attack or disruption occurs — whether foreign backed, criminal, or domestic — you and your family can respond quickly and confidently. The goal is resilience, not fear: building layers of protection that work against any threat, known or unknown, while maintaining respect for the diverse, law abiding people who make up our communities. Gregg Kielma
Is Iran Activating Sleep Cell’s In The West? ABC NEWS 4/17/2026 The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as "an operational trigger" for "sleeper assets" outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies. The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites "preliminary signals analysis" of a transmission "likely of Iranian origin" that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28. The intercepted transmission was encoded and appeared to be destined for "clandestine recipients" who possess the encryption key, the kind of message intended to impart instructions to "covert operatives or sleeper assets" without the use of the internet or cellular networks. It's possible the transmissions could "be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country," the alert said. "While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness," the alert said. While the alert is careful to say there is "no operational threat tied to a specific location," it does instruct law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity. If the contents of the alert prove true, it would confirm the fears expressed by law enforcement officials after the U.S. and Israel struck Iran that sleeper cells deployed around the West could be used for retaliation.
The Reality of Being a Business Owner: Rewarding, Demanding, and Worth The Weight By Gregory Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms 04/16/2026 Being a business owner is one of the most empowering decisions a person can make. It gives you the freedom to build something with your own hands, shape your own standards, and create a service or product that reflects your values. There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing that your work matters, that your effort directly impacts your community, and that your name stands behind everything you do. Ownership gives you the chance to lead with integrity, set the tone for professionalism, and build a reputation you can be proud of. But the same freedom that makes business ownership rewarding also makes it stressful. Every decision rests on your shoulders. You carry the responsibility for your clients, your reputation, your finances, and your future. There are days when the pressure is heavy, when the work follows you home, and when the expectations feel endless. You don’t clock out just because the day ends. You think ahead, plan ahead, and stay ready for whatever comes next. Still, the stress is part of the journey. It sharpens your discipline, strengthens your resilience, and pushes you to grow in ways you never expected. The challenges teach you to stay calm under pressure, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward even when the path isn’t easy. And when you see the results of your hard work—satisfied clients, steady progress, and a business built on your own standards—it reminds you why you chose this path in the first place. Being a business owner means carrying both the pride and the pressure. It means accepting long days, tough decisions, and constant responsibility. But it also means building something real, something meaningful, and something that reflects who you are. The stress is temporary. The impact lasts. Gregg Kielma
Killer Olaolukitan Adon Abel Man brutally murders woman walking her dog, police say — witness says suspect added to horror afterward Carlos Garcia April 14, 2026 Says Gregg Kielma owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms, 'they walk among us". Protect what's most important; you, your family and friends. Take the needed training and please do not become another statistic. Suspect Olaolukitan Adon Abel was caught on a traffic stop later and was tied to two other lethal shootings. An Atlanta neighborhood is shocked by the brutal killing of a woman simply walking her dog Monday morning, and a witness said she saw the suspect do something even more horrible. The DeKalb County Police Department said officers responded to a residence on Battle Forrest Drive at about 6:50 a.m. and found the victim with gunshot and stab wounds. 'I heard 6 to 7 shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her.' A witness named Tiffany Williams told WXIA-TV that she made eye contact with the suspect after hearing the gunshots outside her home. "I was getting up, getting my grandbaby ready for school, and I heard six to seven shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her," Williams said. Sign up for the Blaze newsletter "I heard the shooting, but I'm not thinking because as a mother and I'm seeing her lying there, I'm like, 'Oh my God, I've got to help her,'" she added. Williams said the suspect was pulling the victim's pants down when they made eye contact. "I saw he was wearing all black, and then he ran up the street," she added. Neighbors said the area is very quiet and that most of the residents are elderly people. Later at a media briefing that evening, the Brookhaven and DeKalb County police departments said a 26-year-old suspect named Olaolukitan Adon Abel was arrested after a traffic stop in Troup County. Police said he was a suspect, Olaolukitan Adon Abel is a subject of intrest in another deadly shooting at a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road and was tied to the lethal shooting of a homeless person at a Kroger grocery store in Brookhaven. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death of the woman shot while walking her dog. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Gregg Kielma USCCA Instructor-FFL-Gunsmith-ERT Captain-First Aid Instructor 🧭 Where Gregg Kielma Stands in the Florida Firearm Training Community Internet Community 4/12/2026 1. A Recognized, Multi Certified Instructor Kielma holds a broad suite of USCCA certifications, including concealed carry, home defense, countering mass shooters, women’s self defense, children’s firearms safety, first aid, and range safety operations. His profile shows a 5.0 instructor rating and active class schedule, indicating strong student satisfaction and steady demand. This positions him as a well-rounded, technically competent instructor rather than a niche specialist. 2. A Credible FFL and Gunsmith His Federal Firearms License (FFL #1 59 081 01 8L 57063) is active through 2028, confirming his legitimacy as a dealer and gunsmith. This adds weight to his standing: many instructors teach, but far fewer combine instruction + gunsmithing + compliance knowledge. 3. A Community Rooted Voice on Safety and Law Kielma frequently publishes guidance on: • situational awareness • lawful use of force • Florida self defense statutes • responsible ownership His posts emphasize avoidance, legality, and decision making, not bravado—an approach that earns respect among responsible gun owners. This positions him as a public educator, not just a range instructor. 4. Builder of a Purpose Driven Outdoor Training Range His private outdoor range in Parrish is designed around calm, controlled, realistic training, reinforcing his philosophy of competence through safety and confidence. Creating a dedicated training environment elevates his status from “instructor” to training provider and community resource. 5. Student Feedback and Reputation Public reviews and descriptions highlight: • patience • clarity • humor balanced with seriousness • ability to simplify complex topics • strong real world experience These traits are consistently associated with top tier civilian instructors. 6. Growing Influence Through Writing and Education Kielma publishes articles on firearms law, safety, and equipment—something relatively few local instructors do. This increases his visibility and positions him as a thought leader, not just a service provider. ⭐ Overall Standing Based on publicly available information, Gregg Kielma stands as: A respected, safety driven, legally knowledgeable firearms instructor with a strong local presence, a professional reputation, and a growing educational footprint. He is not a national celebrity instructor—but within Florida’s training community, especially Manatee County and surrounding areas, he is viewed as a trusted authority and a reliable source of responsible, law aligned firearms, first aid, FFL, range operator education.
