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08-17-2014, 08:36 PM
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New 15 Sport owner...which ammo?
I'm very new to the AR 15 platform. What name brands are you using? Brass? Steel? I don't want to put junk into my new rifle.
Please share with me how NOT to screw up my new weapon.
Thanks
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40 380 15 Sport 686-4
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08-17-2014, 08:48 PM
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The sport isn't picky. Steel or brass the sport will shoot it so buy whatever you can afford/find. Point being, no need to buy premium ammo.
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08-17-2014, 09:21 PM
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What are you looking to do with your new rifle? Will you be hunting? Just target shooting?
These are a pretty good deal and reloadable.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....dir=18|830|845
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08-17-2014, 09:41 PM
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For now just target shooting, but I would eventually like to hunt with it.
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40 380 15 Sport 686-4
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08-17-2014, 10:16 PM
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Welcome aboard and congrats on your Sport. Wolf Gold seems to be very popular. It's very reasonably priced, shoots well, and uses brass cases.
Good Luck and good shooting.
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08-17-2014, 10:33 PM
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08-17-2014, 10:50 PM
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If you shoot steel cased ammo with a bi-metal jacketed projectile, be aware that it will wear the barrel faster. However, the barrel is a consumable item and with the money saved buying steel cased vs. brass, you can easily replace the barrel.
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08-17-2014, 11:21 PM
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GTG on brass & steel casings. Just depends witch you like best. Have shot pmc, ae, ppu, winchester, independence, tulammo & wolf w/ no issues.
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08-18-2014, 11:25 AM
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Federal Lake City 55 grain FMJ Ball. This is the generic AR ammo. Bulk available almost anywhere today, stacks a Gander Mountain available all over from 120 round plastic boxes to 1,000 round Cardboard. See Targetsportsusa.com or just about any online or local dealer. The experts (Example Pat Sweeney of the AR-15 books) tell me 62 grain military (also available from Federal) is not as good on ballistic effects, but may be more accurate at long range. For hunting get a good hollow point and keep the game in the varmint category. Despite the reports of SMALL deer taken with heavier .223 bullets I tend to think of .243 and up for deer. Check your local/state laws as well.
Geoff
Who needs to take his Sport to the range, but this is the hottest week of the year in NE Florida.
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08-18-2014, 11:50 AM
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No kidding, heat has kept me away from the range for the past two weeks or so... and I've really been wanting to give my new PA 1-6x a workout .
Agreed on Federal XM193 - solid, reasonable pricing when bought in bulk or mil cans, consistent, accurate. I typically buy from Target Sports, they routinely have 420+ammo can on sale for $149-ish. Much cheaper than the local box stores. It's pretty much all I shoot, no need to waste time with steel cased russian junky ammo
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08-18-2014, 04:29 PM
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It seems that everyone orders their ammo on line. Is it that much cheaper, even with shipping?
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40 380 15 Sport 686-4
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08-18-2014, 05:14 PM
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So far I've only shot brass in my Sport as I like to collect them for reloading (if I ever start to).
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08-18-2014, 05:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Expygator
It seems that everyone orders their ammo on line. Is it that much cheaper, even with shipping?
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In my experience, yes.
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08-18-2014, 05:44 PM
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For hunting, I'd use hunting specific ammo. So that it is specifically stated so on the box for hunting. My understanding of hollow points with the .223 is that they are not hollowed out for expansion, but rather to lighten the bullet up front for things like ballistic coefficient. You see much of the match ammo out there is hollow point.
...Or something like that, others may be able to help here more. I am by no means an expert.
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08-18-2014, 06:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Expygator
It seems that everyone orders their ammo on line. Is it that much cheaper, even with shipping?
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Absolutely... Federal XM193 420ct cans for $149 + $ 15 shipping vs $229-$249 + tax at the box stores - it's a no brainer. I usually order 2 at a time... You can also buy 1000 round loose pack but I prefer the mil can kits as they come on stripper clips (and with a mil can .)
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08-18-2014, 07:24 PM
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Use all ammo. The Sport is an absolute beast.
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08-18-2014, 07:34 PM
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Locally, Dunham's has the Russian steel WPA .223 55GR. FMJ on sale for $5.99/20. or under $.30/round plus tax.
I've been using it to punch holes in paper at our club military rifle matches each month with my M&P15 OR, and it's fine for that.
I've had no problems with it at all, except for finding the cases in the grass when cleaning up.
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08-21-2014, 03:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robotech
..****ssian steel ...
I've had no problems with it at all, except for finding the cases in the grass when cleaning up.
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Try a large magnet?
Geoff
Who looks for the simple solution.
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08-22-2014, 04:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Expygator
It seems that everyone orders their ammo on line. Is it that much cheaper, even with shipping?
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I buy nearly all my ammo online. For example, right now Palmetto has 1000 round box of Federal 5.56 for 299. Even with shipping that's a pretty good price.
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08-25-2014, 01:04 PM
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You could shot any but I am personally avoiding russian or any other cheap ammo for the cleaning reason. It is much dirtier and cleaning is more complex. Freedom munitions selling great one and cheap sometimes.
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08-25-2014, 09:50 PM
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Cleaning is cleaning. The direct impingement AR-15 poops where it eats. I have to scrape carbon off a phosphate bolt no matter the ammo (brass or steel). I have to clean the upper receiver and spray out the lower. Even with a NiBx or TiBx coated BCG, I'm still cleaning combustion gas fouling.
The only reason I don't shoot Russian steel case TulAmmo is because the ranges within convenient driving distance from me have banned it. I still have 500 rounds of Tul in my ammo stash.
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08-25-2014, 10:16 PM
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The public range where I shoot the most doesn't care, so I buy cheap Russki ammo by the bucket load and shoot it all day. My ARs and my Mini 14 don't care. I just hose them down good when the spirit moves me. For better quality stuff, the Federal is good, but my favorite is Independence 5.56, made in Israel by people who know a thing or two about good ammo.
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08-27-2014, 09:29 AM
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I just use the "plain brown box" Federal XM193 55 gr. FMJ. This is milspec Lake City army ammo, the real deal, and you can get it for $7 -$9 a box everywhere, a little cheaper in bulk packaging.
Last edited by Ruark; 08-27-2014 at 09:57 AM.
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09-03-2014, 01:36 AM
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I have used PMC, Independence, Winchester, Perfecta and Remington. All 55-62 Grain FMJ and all worked really well in my Sport.
Pick up most at my local Walmart, get 50 rounds of that Perfecta 223 for 18.97/box. They had a sale on the Remington 223 20/box at 9.97. I get PMC for usually 9.50/box of 20 rounds. Gander Mountain had federal brown military grade 5.56 for 8.99/box last week also where I live. This is all brass casing.
Last edited by Pinger5.56; 09-03-2014 at 01:39 AM.
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09-03-2014, 05:00 AM
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For just plinking I'd go with steel cased tula or wolf if your range allows it. Especially if your shooting at 100yds or less. I wouldn't be able to shoot half as much as I do if it wasn't for steel cased ammo. I've shot thousands of steel cased rounds through all most all of my firearms and I've never seen any kind of excessive wear and tear or loss of accuracy. When it comes to being dirty, like JePes said "cleaning is cleaning", don't believe the hype. Being able to eat anything I feed it is one of the things that drew me towards the mp line of rifles and handguns in the first place. I have noticed that 62g bullets group a little better in my sport than most 55g. Congrats on your new rifle.
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09-03-2014, 09:39 PM
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^Yup. I'd still be shooting inexpensive Russian steel case, bi-metal jacket but the ranges near me banned it. I still have 500 rounds of it in reserve.
It's not solely the steel case that will add wear to your firearm. It's not the polymer coating on the cases that will induce malfunctions. Folks complain about steel case ammo wearing out extractors. Extractors are cheap and easy to replace.
It's a combination of the bi-metal jacketed projectile and the characteristics of the steel case that will accelerate the wear on a barrel. The projectile is mild steel jacket with a copper wash. Even though your barrel steel is harder than the bi-metal jacket, the bi-metal jacket is harder than copper. The steel case doesn't expand in the chamber like brass. Accelerated throat erosion. Somewhat increased flame cutting at the gas port.
I don't understand why people freak out about it. Almost everything on an AR is a wear item, including the barrel. It's meant to be eventually replaced. Spend more $$$ on brass case FMJ, get 1/3 to 1/2 more life out of your barrel. Spend less $$$ on Russian steel case bi-metal jacket, and the savings over brass will buy you a new barrel.
Brass case FMJ v.s. Russian Steel Case for plinking is a zero-sum proposition.
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Last edited by JaPes; 09-03-2014 at 09:40 PM.
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09-03-2014, 09:51 PM
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My 15T is setup with Heavy Bolt, H2 buffer, and Blue Springco spring, and doesn't like wolf/tulla steelcase at all. I think I posted before I got so frustrated with it I gave 30 rounds away to a guy at the range, and just sold off a couple hundred rounds to a buddy...
Stock carbine buffer and spring, etc it probably would work fine, but I have mine setup specifically for XM193 as that is what I shoot and stockpile. I may try some of the Wolf Golf 223 (loaded to XM193 specs per the description? - JaPes you may know if that is correct?) if I can find some - if that works well it would be another source of decent ammo. .
Wolf Gold Specs
.223 Rem (M193) 55 gr Copper FMJ Boxer 3250 fps
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09-03-2014, 10:05 PM
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I shoot wolf steel cased 99% of the time with zero issues but I'm itching to try the new wolf gold, it is supposed to be pretty good stuff.
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09-03-2014, 10:11 PM
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What buffer does the Sport come with?
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09-03-2014, 10:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 78Staff
My 15T is setup with Heavy Bolt, H2 buffer, and Blue Springco spring, and doesn't like wolf/tulla steelcase at all. I think I posted before I got so frustrated with it I gave 30 rounds away to a guy at the range, and just sold off a couple hundred rounds to a buddy...
Stock carbine buffer and spring, etc it probably would work fine, but I have mine setup specifically for XM193 as that is what I shoot and stockpile. I may try some of the Wolf Golf 223 (loaded to XM193 specs per the description? - JaPes you may know if that is correct?) if I can find some - if that works well it would be another source of decent ammo. .
Wolf Gold Specs
.223 Rem (M193) 55 gr Copper FMJ Boxer 3250 fps
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Yup. The Russian steel case is charged light. With your set-up, I wouldn't expect Ruskie ammo to cycle your rifle.
From what I can feel, the Wolf Gold .223 is loaded to XM193 spec, military crimp on the primer and all. The feel is completely subjective. I shot a few rounds of XM193 and a few rounds of Wolf Gold, and can't feel a difference. The point of aim & impact on target is the same (in my hands).
It's cycling my home built AR equipped with a full auto BCG and an H2 buffer. It's cycling my 15-sport with it's Fail-Zero carbine BCG and AR-Restor hydraulic buffer.
It's in stock at Widener's by the 1K round case.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....dir=18|830|845
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09-03-2014, 10:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HalfStack
What buffer does the Sport come with?
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Standard carbine weight buffer.
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09-03-2014, 10:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SickMAK90
I shoot wolf steel cased 99% of the time with zero issues but I'm itching to try the new wolf gold, it is supposed to be pretty good stuff.
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If you go to ranges that allow wolf steel case, keep on shooting it. Save the $$$. I'd still be shooting wolf steel case if my range(s) allowed it.
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09-03-2014, 11:34 PM
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I shoot both Tula FMJ steel cased and brass reloads (my own) in my stock Sport. Both work fine. Much better accuracy with the reloads...
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09-03-2014, 11:45 PM
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I'm considering picking up some of the steel case stuff for plinking at my home range. That's about the only place I shoot anymore. I've ran a few boxes of Herter's through mine with no issues.
It seems like most steel case malfunctions are caused from guys who "train" with it. Stuck cases when you get the rifle screaming hot seems to be the main issue.
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09-03-2014, 11:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JaPes
Yup. The Russian steel case is charged light. With your set-up, I wouldn't expect Ruskie ammo to cycle your rifle.
From what I can feel, the Wolf Gold .223 is loaded to XM193 spec, military crimp on the primer and all. The feel is completely subjective. I shot a few rounds of XM193 and a few rounds of Wolf Gold, and can't feel a difference. The point of aim & impact on target is the same (in my hands).
It's cycling my home built AR equipped with a full auto BCG and an H2 buffer. It's cycling my 15-sport with it's Fail-Zero carbine BCG and AR-Restor hydraulic buffer.
It's in stock at Widener's by the 1K round case.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....dir=18|830|845
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Thanks, sounds like it should be fine - probably still try and find a 20 round box to be sure before picking up an entire case. I'll just add onto my next order for whatever is needed lol...
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09-04-2014, 10:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chew
It seems like most steel case malfunctions are caused from guys who "train" with it. Stuck cases when you get the rifle screaming hot seems to be the main issue.
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I hate to admit it, but I succumbed to the urge to mag dump. It was a 30 rd mag full of Russian polymer coated steel case (TulAmmo). Everything got hot. I took a 10 min break. I then ran another 30 rounds of Tul at a slower pace. No problems. No stuck case. After a range session, I'd just make sure to brush out the chamber and visually inspect the extractor.
The only way to become a better marksman is to get frequent quality practice. Quality practice and trigger time requires ammo. For shooting on a one-way range and plinking, I love steel case TulAmmo. I get to shoot more for the dollar and I'm not obsessively picking up once fired cases. I really wish the ranges near me did not ban steel case ammo.
In preparation for the improbable event that I find myself on a two-way range that instantly pops up, I'll keep a couple mags of Hornady V-Max and Z-Max on hand.
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Last edited by JaPes; 09-04-2014 at 11:00 PM.
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09-09-2014, 06:05 AM
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buy american...pmc is good too anymore.
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