.223/5.56 ammo question

[cmdc]

What grain weight do you shoot predominantly for range ammo?

[DMK]

Nearly 99% 55gr M193 (Federal, Winchester and Guatemalan Surplus). Not a fan of M855 at all.

I wish there was a low cost option for 75gr or heavier, other than Tula.

[Charlie98]

Like DMK said... the 55grn FMJ is going to the best bargain for blasting ammo, with 62grn M855 a close runner up. For general range shooting, anything else is a waste.

[Kreyzhorse]

55 grain FMJ seems to be widely available and cheap and flies down range pretty well.

[marine6680]

55gr in 5.56 or 223 spec...

I rarely use anything else for general plinking.

I use 69gr and 77gr OTM in my rifle that is set up for longer range.

[bfoosh006]

55gr for run and gun or general blasting...

Find what 55gr shoots the most accurately from your firearm, and buy a bunch.

I have seen inexpensive 55gr FMJ accuracy from 3.5 MOA to 1.1 moa... so trying a variety, to see which one your barrel likes, is a very good idea.

If the 1.1MOA ammo costs the same... why would anyone waste money on the less accurate ammo.

[kraigwy]

I love playing with 223 ammo. I use all sorts of weight bullets, 52s to 90 grs. I have 6 Rifles, 3 ARs and 3 Bolt guns..............well only two real bolt guns, the 3rd is a Mann Accuracy device that the Army used for testing ammo.

Two of my rifles are 1:12, one is a 1:8, and two, plus the Mann is a 1:7, so I need different bullets.

I do use a lot of bult 55 gr FMJs for 3-Gun, they are cheap, and we normally dont shoot past 50 yards. They are plenty accurate for that. High Power would be the 69-77, 80s & 90 gr pills.

PDs its hard to beat the 52 gr match bullets, even in the faster twist guns.

I'll post this just for kicks: Army testing ammo in a Mann device.



I've tried that 3031, 52 gr bullet load, its a smoker in all my 223s.

[cmdc]

Thank. I have a fair amount of ammunition but just ordered a bunch of IMI in 55,62 and 77 grain weight.

[cmdc]

I also ordered some from Creedmoor Sports. Anybody used their.223 stuff?

[ms6852]

I like to keep things simple and at the beginning I bought and loaded all types of bullet weights, and in the end my rifle loves the 75gr HPBT by Hornady. So I stock up on this bullets every chance. Eliminates guess work and powder types as well as clutter. Use this for deer hunting too as well as range ammo.

[Metal god]

I guess 55's but 69gr smk are shot a good amount along with 77gr smk . I'm not to big on blasting away so the 55gr bullets ( Hornady & Winchester ) don't give the accuracy I enjoy shooting for and is why I shoot match grade bullets as often as I do .

Next year I anticipate me shooting more 55gr bullets though . I now have access to the range when closed and plan on running drills and other types of skilled shooting that is not allowed when the range is open . This will include run & gun multiple target type shooting that involves shooting more rounds then I generally shoot each time out . For that reason I'll likely use the cheaper bullets .

[Mobuck]

The only range shooting I do is zero checking so whatever the rifle likes that is appropriate for the game I'm pursuing.

[DMK]

Originally Posted by kraigwy

I'll post this just for kicks: Army testing ammo in a Mann device.

That's an interesting piece of data. I wonder why they were testing 52gr HPBT against the contemporary 5.56 USGI rounds? And why weren't they testing M193 as well?

Presumably this would have used a 1/7 twist barrel.

[doofus47]

55 grain Wolf Gold is my go to. (although there's a special on today at Palmetto for american eagle 1k/$250-shipped...).

It works in all my rifles and seems pretty accurate. I have some Turkish 62gr green tip, but it's not allowed at the range where I usually shoot b/c of the steel penetrator.

[Holman]

55gr fmj

[Guilty]

I reload and use 77gr BTHP for range ammo. My AR's all have 1/7 twist rate and the 77gr is noticeably more accurate. I figure that if I am going to spend the time to reload, I might as well reload whatever works best in my rifles. In addition, my cost to reload 55gr ammo is $0.21 per each and my cost to reload 77gr ammo is $.30 per each, so not too much of a cost difference there, might as well use the good stuff!

[Danoobie]

55 grain 5.56. Try to stay with 1000 round batches, for uniform
accuracy.

[kraigwy]

I wonder why they were testing 52gr HPBT against the contemporary 5.56 USGI rounds?

The 52 gr match bullets, after testing was use to check the Mann for accuracy as it seemed to be the most accurate rounds loaded.

When Lake City had difficulties producing ammo to meet Army standards the blamed the Mann Device that they were issued. Checking the questioned with the 52 gn pills they found no problem with it. In the case I read, the LC Ammo problem was traced to the seating of the bullet, and not the Mann.

If one was to study THE SECRETS OF THE HUSTON WAREHOUSE, it deals with how critical bullet seating is to accuracy.

[DMK]

The 52 gr match bullets, after testing was use to check the Mann for accuracy as it seemed to be the most accurate rounds loaded.

Thanks. I thought they might be a control shots.

Sometimes it is cool to see how the sausage is made.

[ed308]

68 gr and up. Mostly 68 and 77 gr Nosler Custom Competition bullets. Accurate and cheap.

[drbill]

I use 52 gr Sierra BTHP’s in my Rem M700V for varmints.
I use 69gr, 75gr & 77gr for service rifle.
55g M193 for informal target shooting.

[BWM]

I have one set up to shoot the 52-55gr and one to shoot the 62-64gr and one to shoot the 68-69 that way it is on target all the time.

[jugornot]

In my bolt gun I use 80grain SMK. In my AR I use 77 grain SMK.

[jimbob86]

I handloaded Winchester 55gr FMJBT for awhile ..... but discovered they don't demolish water filled milk jugs with near the alacrity that varmit bullets do ..... Cabela's had a fire sale on their 50gr "Zombie Max" .... I bought a few thousand. That's my range ammo now.

[Troy800]

55gr