5.56 ammo for home defense
- Thread starter Ray F
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Are you defending a house in an urban or suburban setting? Do you have others in your house, do you wish to limit collateral damage?
77 grains is very heavy for .22 centerfires, such weight is usually reserved for long range match ammunition and some hunting rounds when ill advised people refuse to take the better advice of medium game hunters and INSIST that they MUST use their AR 15 to hunt everything because they have a point to prove or some uneducated kid who doesn't know any better.
Are you intending to defend a large yard or farm? Unless you are using the rifle to defend against threats at potentially long range, 77 grain match would be the worst choice possible. Such match ammunition has poor effect on flesh compared to soft points and hollow points actually designed for expansion. In many cases, match hollow points only have a hollow tip as a part of the design, not as the hollow point most people think of for expansion. Such bullets are made for competition or long range precision.
Then let's take the weight issue. I'm of the old, old, old, old school of big weight and energy vs. velocity. But that being said, the .22 centerfires rely on velocity and sheer energy to do its damage, and do fine against thin skinned animals such as human attackers with smaller bullets. The standard weight 55 and 62 grain bullets are explosive at short combat ranges, and do excellent damage. The medium weight bullets have enough weight and sectional density, and they carry plenty of heat, and will do just fine.
And my mocking of the use of .223 for deer hunting carries an important point in collateral damage as well. The small, fast bullets of the .22 centerfires tend to explode on everything, hard and soft, making it a terrible choice for hunting anything bigger than raccoon, with a reputation for bullets exploding against bone and failing to deliver fatal shots. On the other hand, many .223 proponents say this is the best feature of the round for home defense, as the bullets will tend to disintegrate into attacking targets and into nearby obstructions lessening the chance of others being hit by misses and shootthroughs. Again, a big heavy match grade bullet will tend to over penetrate, keeping its integrity through targets and other objects, making it more dangerous to others in the bullets path.
Are you going to face down an attacker trying to run you over with a truck? Maybe that 77 grain match would be a great choice. Trying to shoot a man in your house, in town, with your kids int he next room? 62 and 55 seem to be the choice among those who use that caliber.
77 grains is very heavy for .22 centerfires, such weight is usually reserved for long range match ammunition and some hunting rounds when ill advised people refuse to take the better advice of medium game hunters and INSIST that they MUST use their AR 15 to hunt everything because they have a point to prove or some uneducated kid who doesn't know any better.
Are you intending to defend a large yard or farm? Unless you are using the rifle to defend against threats at potentially long range, 77 grain match would be the worst choice possible. Such match ammunition has poor effect on flesh compared to soft points and hollow points actually designed for expansion. In many cases, match hollow points only have a hollow tip as a part of the design, not as the hollow point most people think of for expansion. Such bullets are made for competition or long range precision.
Then let's take the weight issue. I'm of the old, old, old, old school of big weight and energy vs. velocity. But that being said, the .22 centerfires rely on velocity and sheer energy to do its damage, and do fine against thin skinned animals such as human attackers with smaller bullets. The standard weight 55 and 62 grain bullets are explosive at short combat ranges, and do excellent damage. The medium weight bullets have enough weight and sectional density, and they carry plenty of heat, and will do just fine.
And my mocking of the use of .223 for deer hunting carries an important point in collateral damage as well. The small, fast bullets of the .22 centerfires tend to explode on everything, hard and soft, making it a terrible choice for hunting anything bigger than raccoon, with a reputation for bullets exploding against bone and failing to deliver fatal shots. On the other hand, many .223 proponents say this is the best feature of the round for home defense, as the bullets will tend to disintegrate into attacking targets and into nearby obstructions lessening the chance of others being hit by misses and shootthroughs. Again, a big heavy match grade bullet will tend to over penetrate, keeping its integrity through targets and other objects, making it more dangerous to others in the bullets path.
Are you going to face down an attacker trying to run you over with a truck? Maybe that 77 grain match would be a great choice. Trying to shoot a man in your house, in town, with your kids int he next room? 62 and 55 seem to be the choice among those who use that caliber.
shawn mccarver
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For home defense, the varmint type hollow point rounds will penetrate less than many 9mm loads, making them safer for bystanders in other parts of the house. Gunsite did a test on this using drywall and common construction materials many years ago. At the time, the 40 grain Blitz round (I believe it is now discontinued in favor of a heavier 50 or 55 grain hollow point load) was the round of choice for inside home use.
Doug M.
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Use any of the duty rounds recommended by Doc Roberts and you can't go wrong.
Sailfish 40
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Completely agreed.
OP, you'll get your best info here: Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo
I've never heard of Silver State Armory. The round in question is SSA's MK 262 clone. That round has demonstrable capability in self-defense, but who knows how they're loading it or with what -- their site doesn't say; might be great, might be lesser.
The 77 grain Open Tip Match bullet is actually quite a good round for home defense, in part because of its tendency to tumble and fragment rather than overpenetrate, and for a while were the tactical and home defense bullet of choice.
Over the last few years, however, the winds have shifted over to barrier blind rounds that will keep their energy and integrity through solid objects; there are obvious ramifications here, positive and negative, for home defense.
I've no doubt varmint rounds -- and some of the home defense rounds based on them -- can do serious damage and get many jobs done, but they're very shallow penetrators and I'm not sure I'd stake everything on them unless I had to.
Read the link and make an informed decision from it. Good luck.
With due respect for Doc Roberts, the 69 gr Sierrra Match King is a lousy choice for defensive use. I used to use it quite a bit on ground hogs until I realized it would blow up on the rib cage. If it's not going to go in one side and out the other on a 20-25 lb critter at better than 150 yards, it certainly isn't going to do what I want it to on something larger and more stoutly built at double digit foot ranges.
The 77 gr SMK was intended for match use at extended ranges. It apparently does pretty good for anti-personnel use at extended ranges. The Hornaday 75 gr HPBT (not A-Max) has a pretty good rep also. Both these bullets will tumble on impact with denser material. No idea if they will exit a body at close range. Some tests with M193 ball at 30 feet were interesting, but ballistic similants do not predict behavior in bodies.
The FBI tests suggested 40-55 gr varmint type bullets limit penetration (to less than that of service pistol JHP rounds) of building materials should you miss your target. They also inflict shallow wound cavitites, but that was what the HRU went with.
On the other hand, the 64 gr Winchester Power Point was designed to hunt white tail deer. It does very well. It also seems widely available locally. Check Wally World.
What are your priorities?
BTW, I avoid the products of boutique ammunition manufacturers. Stick to the products of major makers: ATK (CCI, Speer, Federal), Cor-Bon, Fiochhi, Hornaday, Remington, Winchester. I may have forgotten a couple.
The 77 gr SMK was intended for match use at extended ranges. It apparently does pretty good for anti-personnel use at extended ranges. The Hornaday 75 gr HPBT (not A-Max) has a pretty good rep also. Both these bullets will tumble on impact with denser material. No idea if they will exit a body at close range. Some tests with M193 ball at 30 feet were interesting, but ballistic similants do not predict behavior in bodies.
The FBI tests suggested 40-55 gr varmint type bullets limit penetration (to less than that of service pistol JHP rounds) of building materials should you miss your target. They also inflict shallow wound cavitites, but that was what the HRU went with.
On the other hand, the 64 gr Winchester Power Point was designed to hunt white tail deer. It does very well. It also seems widely available locally. Check Wally World.
What are your priorities?
BTW, I avoid the products of boutique ammunition manufacturers. Stick to the products of major makers: ATK (CCI, Speer, Federal), Cor-Bon, Fiochhi, Hornaday, Remington, Winchester. I may have forgotten a couple.
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MichiganScott
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SSA makes good ammo. They are the premier manufacturer of 6.8 SPC ammunition. ATK, Hornady, and Remington are also rans.
I'd have no problem using their 77gr. OTM 5.56 ammunition
I'd have no problem using their 77gr. OTM 5.56 ammunition
Florida J Frame
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Hornady's 55 gr TAP URBAN is usually available on line at places like sgammo.com
I first started using the 223/5.56 as a work gun in the early 1980's.
Ammo was the Winchester 55gr Spft Point. It worked well in actual shootings. I used it outside and on entries.
Most everyone else used the MP5 in 9mm.
Several years later when the Sierra 69gr match load became in vogue, we used it. It was very accurate, and worked OK in actual shootings.
When everyone began using the 223/5.56 on entries I and some of my team mates did some extensive testing.
Our favored bullet became the Nosler 55gr Ballsitic Tip.
Both the Federal factory and the Winchester performed well.
We went with the Winchester because of the nickle plated cases.
It has performed excellent in actual shootings.
We also used in in our Sniper set up 223's. [Half carried 308's the other half the 223's.]
The Winchester 55 GR Ballistic Silvertip was very accurate to 300 yards and even beyond. Most days it shot as good of groups at 300 yards as the Accuracy Internatiional 308's.
Also I have shot a bunch of coyotes and bobcats with it.
On a coyote or even a bobcat, on a straight on shot within 100 yards you will not get complete penetration.
The Hornady TAP would also be some 223/55.56 ammo to take a look at, but I have not used it.
Ammo was the Winchester 55gr Spft Point. It worked well in actual shootings. I used it outside and on entries.
Most everyone else used the MP5 in 9mm.
Several years later when the Sierra 69gr match load became in vogue, we used it. It was very accurate, and worked OK in actual shootings.
When everyone began using the 223/5.56 on entries I and some of my team mates did some extensive testing.
Our favored bullet became the Nosler 55gr Ballsitic Tip.
Both the Federal factory and the Winchester performed well.
We went with the Winchester because of the nickle plated cases.
It has performed excellent in actual shootings.
We also used in in our Sniper set up 223's. [Half carried 308's the other half the 223's.]
The Winchester 55 GR Ballistic Silvertip was very accurate to 300 yards and even beyond. Most days it shot as good of groups at 300 yards as the Accuracy Internatiional 308's.
Also I have shot a bunch of coyotes and bobcats with it.
On a coyote or even a bobcat, on a straight on shot within 100 yards you will not get complete penetration.
The Hornady TAP would also be some 223/55.56 ammo to take a look at, but I have not used it.
Also let me add that when we needed more penetration [like through glass, into cars, and other barricade materials], from a 223/5.56 we used the Federal Tactical 62gr load, also in nickle cases.
Very accurate and great performance. Enhanced penetration, but still not too much for City use.
For the utmost on penetration through barriers, but still getting expansion on impact use Barnes X Bullets.
If I was to hunt deer with a 223, I would use one of those two bullets.
They are also good for varmints if you want to not blow a big exit hole in the hide on side shots...
Very accurate and great performance. Enhanced penetration, but still not too much for City use.
For the utmost on penetration through barriers, but still getting expansion on impact use Barnes X Bullets.
If I was to hunt deer with a 223, I would use one of those two bullets.
They are also good for varmints if you want to not blow a big exit hole in the hide on side shots...
