Favorite 223 Ammo

JLK · February 23, 2015, 02:11 PM

What's your favorite 223 ammo what grain load do you shoot?

9x19 · February 23, 2015, 03:22 PM

Favorite for my ARs is 55gr JSP (factory = Hornady).

Favorite for my Ruger American Ranch is 69gr BTHP (factory = Fiocchi)

crane550 · February 23, 2015, 03:30 PM

Actually I have had the best luck with PMC.

Erno86 · February 23, 2015, 03:49 PM

Remanufactured {blue box} Black Hills 69 grain Sierra BTHP MatchKings, using once fired Lake City brass.

skizzums · February 23, 2015, 03:54 PM

Not sure if you are talking about standard commercial stuff or premium ammo. For commercial I like the pmc. For premium, it depends on the mission. Am I hunting, Winchester 64gr power point. Long range target, 77gr SMK. Varmint, 40gr VMAX. Personal defense, many different good options

Panfisher · February 23, 2015, 04:05 PM

My AR doesn't know what factory loads are, but does seem to like about any 55 grain decent bullet, have used Varmageddons (it likes them very well), Midway Dogtowns, Barnes HP, Nosler Partitions 60 grainers, and Barnex TSX 55 grainers. All have been good to good enough. Am looking forward to loading some 68 Hornady Match HPs or 69 Sierra Match HPs just to see if it likes them.

Bamashooter · February 24, 2015, 01:04 PM

My handloads. All Sierra bullets. 55gr,53gr,60gr,65gr, and 69gr. Cant wait to try the new 69gr. Sierra TMK. Hearing some good things about the new tipped sierra bullets.

bacardisteve · February 24, 2015, 05:34 PM

65gr sierra gamekings are my do all load for 5.56/223. Very accurate and performs well on small and medium game.

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 05:39 PM

yeah the "tipped" sierra are pretty exciting. I have always been disappointed by the consistency of the "open-tip" part of the bullet. some are anted, som are straight. the 75gr hornaday OTM's have a better tip, they are all uniform. but the sierra is a better design and I think the plastic tip will help them perform even better, not just for ballistics, but for target as well

rcase1234 · February 24, 2015, 05:52 PM

Standard 55gr XM193 or 62gr SS109/XM855 Federals do the trick for me to go out shooting! My personal favorite I don't shoot the primo $1/rnd [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] in my AR unless I'm hunting which is very rare

zach_ · February 24, 2015, 05:54 PM

Hornady 55 vmax, or Federal American Eagle 50 varmint tipped. The 69 and 77 smk no luck at all.

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 06:03 PM

the 69gr-77gr are pretty much just for the 1:7 and maybe 1:8 users. if you have best luck with 55's, I bet you are a 1:9. and the 1$ per round s#$t is, hopefully, mostly just used with handloaders. I know I would never pay that kind of money, especially with the low cost for a loading set-up these days. but I guess if you have to spend, then by all means

zach_ · February 24, 2015, 06:20 PM

Yep, the heavy 223 ammo is expensive. Maybe I subconsciously made it not work well for me.

4runnerman · February 24, 2015, 07:39 PM

60 gn Hornady V-Max
25.5 gn's Varget
CCI-BR4 primers
2.29 COL
After 2 years of loading everything else in the book I tried this on a lucky guess. Never will load anything else again.

JLK · February 24, 2015, 09:40 PM

So to make the conversation more interesting what is your favorite load with a 1:9 barrel .

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 10:05 PM

I think a 60gr VMAX woud be right up your alley. could try the 69gr match kings, but I wouldn't go heavier. your gun might also just prefer the standard, cheap and accurate 55gr hornaday soft-point. depends on what distance your trying to achieve. I would think for 200 nd under, stay with the 50-55gr offerings and see what works best. for beyond, try the 60-70gr.

Oysterboy · February 25, 2015, 12:20 AM

For plinking I get what's the cheapest which lately has been Monarch 55g steel FMJ. Used to be ZQI 556 62g FMJ but I haven't seen 'em lately.

For HD I have Federal Fusion 62g soft points.

BIG P · February 25, 2015, 02:26 AM

Barnes X 55GR. & gamekings.

JLK · February 25, 2015, 06:45 AM

The reason I ask is I am thinking about buying a Rem. 700 with either a 20 or 26 inch barrel, they both have 1:9 twist.
I would like to shoot 69 gr match ammo for maximum accuracy.
Or should I go with an ar with a 1:8 twist? Maybe I should ask this on the other sight.

skizzums · February 25, 2015, 06:57 AM

you should be okay shoting the 69gr. you'll just have to give it a try. but that extra barrel length should help reach higher velocities, helping the stabilizing over a 16" barreled ar15. but, you'll just have to give it a try and find out, there is no magic answer for what your gun is going to like. most people are well served with the 69gr in a 1:9 twist though.

February 23, 2015, 02:11 PM	#1
JLK Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2001 Posts: 135	Favorite 223 Ammo What's your favorite 223 ammo what grain load do you shoot? __________________ Rsrc

February 23, 2015, 03:22 PM	#2
9x19 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Sherman, TX USA Posts: 3,750	Favorite for my ARs is 55gr JSP (factory = Hornady). Favorite for my Ruger American Ranch is 69gr BTHP (factory = Fiocchi) __________________ Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

February 23, 2015, 03:49 PM	#4
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	Remanufactured {blue box} Black Hills 69 grain Sierra BTHP MatchKings, using once fired Lake City brass. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

February 23, 2015, 03:54 PM	#5
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	Not sure if you are talking about standard commercial stuff or premium ammo. For commercial I like the pmc. For premium, it depends on the mission. Am I hunting, Winchester 64gr power point. Long range target, 77gr SMK. Varmint, 40gr VMAX. Personal defense, many different good options __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 24, 2015, 05:34 PM	#8
bacardisteve Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: West virginia Posts: 653	65gr sierra gamekings are my do all load for 5.56/223. Very accurate and performs well on small and medium game. __________________ Kill em all and let God sort em out! USAF

February 23, 2015, 03:30 PM	#3
crane550 Member Join Date: August 13, 2014 Posts: 66	Actually I have had the best luck with PMC.

February 23, 2015, 04:05 PM	#6
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	My AR doesn't know what factory loads are, but does seem to like about any 55 grain decent bullet, have used Varmageddons (it likes them very well), Midway Dogtowns, Barnes HP, Nosler Partitions 60 grainers, and Barnex TSX 55 grainers. All have been good to good enough. Am looking forward to loading some 68 Hornady Match HPs or 69 Sierra Match HPs just to see if it likes them.

February 24, 2015, 01:04 PM	#7
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	My handloads. All Sierra bullets. 55gr,53gr,60gr,65gr, and 69gr. Cant wait to try the new 69gr. Sierra TMK. Hearing some good things about the new tipped sierra bullets.

February 24, 2015, 05:39 PM	#9
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	yeah the "tipped" sierra are pretty exciting. I have always been disappointed by the consistency of the "open-tip" part of the bullet. some are anted, som are straight. the 75gr hornaday OTM's have a better tip, they are all uniform. but the sierra is a better design and I think the plastic tip will help them perform even better, not just for ballistics, but for target as well __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 24, 2015, 05:52 PM	#10
rcase1234 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 407	Standard 55gr XM193 or 62gr SS109/XM855 Federals do the trick for me to go out shooting! My personal favorite I don't shoot the primo $1/rnd [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] in my AR unless I'm hunting which is very rare

February 24, 2015, 05:54 PM	#11
zach_ Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Location: DFW north Posts: 377	Hornady 55 vmax, or Federal American Eagle 50 varmint tipped. The 69 and 77 smk no luck at all. __________________ Z

February 24, 2015, 06:03 PM	#12
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	the 69gr-77gr are pretty much just for the 1:7 and maybe 1:8 users. if you have best luck with 55's, I bet you are a 1:9. and the 1$ per round s#$t is, hopefully, mostly just used with handloaders. I know I would never pay that kind of money, especially with the low cost for a loading set-up these days. but I guess if you have to spend, then by all means __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 24, 2015, 06:20 PM	#13
zach_ Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Location: DFW north Posts: 377	Yep, the heavy 223 ammo is expensive. Maybe I subconsciously made it not work well for me. __________________ Z

February 24, 2015, 07:39 PM	#14
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	60 gn Hornady V-Max 25.5 gn's Varget CCI-BR4 primers 2.29 COL After 2 years of loading everything else in the book I tried this on a lucky guess. Never will load anything else again. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

February 24, 2015, 09:40 PM	#15
JLK Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2001 Posts: 135	So to make the conversation more interesting what is your favorite load with a 1:9 barrel . __________________ Rsrc

February 24, 2015, 10:05 PM	#16
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	I think a 60gr VMAX woud be right up your alley. could try the 69gr match kings, but I wouldn't go heavier. your gun might also just prefer the standard, cheap and accurate 55gr hornaday soft-point. depends on what distance your trying to achieve. I would think for 200 nd under, stay with the 50-55gr offerings and see what works best. for beyond, try the 60-70gr. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

February 25, 2015, 12:20 AM	#17
Oysterboy Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 970	For plinking I get what's the cheapest which lately has been Monarch 55g steel FMJ. Used to be ZQI 556 62g FMJ but I haven't seen 'em lately. For HD I have Federal Fusion 62g soft points.

February 25, 2015, 02:26 AM	#18
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,679	Barnes X 55GR. & gamekings.

February 25, 2015, 06:45 AM	#19
JLK Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2001 Posts: 135	The reason I ask is I am thinking about buying a Rem. 700 with either a 20 or 26 inch barrel, they both have 1:9 twist. I would like to shoot 69 gr match ammo for maximum accuracy. Or should I go with an ar with a 1:8 twist? Maybe I should ask this on the other sight. __________________ Rsrc

February 25, 2015, 06:57 AM	#20
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	you should be okay shoting the 69gr. you'll just have to give it a try. but that extra barrel length should help reach higher velocities, helping the stabilizing over a 16" barreled ar15. but, you'll just have to give it a try and find out, there is no magic answer for what your gun is going to like. most people are well served with the 69gr in a 1:9 twist though. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed