building ammo reserve

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rlfrye

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So i am in the process of starting to build up our ammo reserve. I have built up our HP reserve for our handguns recently, but have not started for 5.56 ammo.

Some friends from work say to stock up on green tip ammo. My home defense plan for the AR is pointing it at the bedroom door until 911 arrives. I dont plan on chasing bad guys outside,and we live in town so even 25 yards is off our property.

My thinking is try some different HP or SP to find what the rifle likes and build up that, and buy a box of green tip to shut up the buddies.

Am I thinking wrong on the usefulness of green tip in my situation? Thanks
 
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I've never considered my ammo as any kind of reserve. I handload everything I shoot and, ask anybody who does that, they'll tell you exactly what a process that is. My supply has been built up simply due to the fact that handloading takes time. I do as many as I can when I sit at the bench because I don't feel like 50 at a time is worth the effort. If I do it, I do it right. Most times till I run out of whatever component comes first. If that's building up a reserve, I guess I'm guilty.
 
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My ammo reserve includes 200-500 rounds of my favorite brand SD rounds in each "carry" handgun caliber. Likewise I keep a couple hundred of several "types" for the AR and Shotgun. This reserve is all about future ammo scares, not an end of the world scenario. I just don't want to be out of my chosen loads while looking or paying crazy prices for the good stuff. After that, I've been slowly building my plinking stores for the same reasons.

For the AR, I like to keep ballistic tip/soft point, FMJ, and some Green Tip. I bought a handful of 3 colors of Pmags. I load each type in a different color so I can tell, at a glance, what the mag holds. For HD, I can't see the need beyond a couple hundred rounds (and even that is pushing it). IF the zombies ever come, I'll dig into my FMJ pile and make it work. ;)
 
rlfrye said:
So i am in the process of starting to build up our ammo reserve. I have built up our HP reserve for our handguns recently, but have not started for 5.56 ammo.

Some friends from work say to stock up on green tip ammo. My home defense plan for the AR is pointing it at the bedroom door until 911 arrives. I dont plan on chasing bad guys outside,and we live in town so even 25 yards is off our property.

My thinking is try some different HP or SP to find what the rifle likes and build up that, and buy a box of green tip to shut up the buddies.

Am I thinking wrong on the usefulness of green tip in my situation? Thanks
Click to expand...


Green tip is the cheapest 55gr. ammo. Not sure but perhaps your AR likes heavier bullets. You should try it out and don't just rely on what your buddies say.

I'm also not sure why you would want to use an AR as HD weapon if you live in the city. I'm not telling you what to do but I would consider using a full size handgun instead. Caliber doesn't matter and some like having a light/laser attached to it.

Stocking up on ammo is never wrong so just buy what you can get.

This is my personal opinion and I hope I didn't sound like I was giving a lecture.
 
Military AR ammunition wounds by the bullet yawing and breaking apart in the body. Green tip yaws, but at a point too late to break apart. It leaves an ice pick type of wound. The lower velocity from an 16" barrel makes the problem worse. Plenty of Somalis, Jihadis, and Muj have taken several rounds and remained in the fight. That's why the .gov has been looking for a more effective ammunition.

You need penetration, but have to be careful about over penetration. 77gr OTM bullets are used because they fragment in flesh and create a nasty wound. If your gun will not shoot 77gr accurately, you can drop down to 69gr OTM for the same effect but to a lesser degree. The OTM bullets come apart if they hit any sort of solid object like a wall stud. Black Hills is a great brand and loads the 77gr OTM for the .gov.

You can use HP or soft point bullets, but have to consider the vast majority are created for varmints and will lack penetration. I live in the country with the nearest neighbor 100 yards away. I keep a magazine loaded with Nosler 60gr Partitions. Any good deer bullet would work as well, but choices are limited. They also will fragment if they hit anything solid. Federal loads the Nosler, a 62gr Fusion, and the OTM bullets. Winchester also loads a 64gr soft point.

If I lived in the city, I'd use the OTM.
 
JJEH said:
Green tip is the cheapest 55gr. ammo. Not sure but perhaps your AR likes heavier bullets. You should try it out and don't just rely on what your buddies say.

I'm also not sure why you would want to use an AR as HD weapon if you live in the city. I'm not telling you what to do but I would consider using a full size handgun instead. Caliber doesn't matter and some like having a light/laser attached to it.

Stocking up on ammo is never wrong so just buy what you can get.

This is my personal opinion and I hope I didn't sound like I was giving a lecture.
Click to expand...

No problem, I have a M&P9C with 3 12 rounders and 3 17 rounders, but I also have the AR. All I have for the AR at the moment is 55gr FMJ, and was looking for feedback, so thanks for your feedback.
 
My reserves arnt reserves they are early buys at discount prices. In order words I'd rather pay $10 now than $15 later.

To the OP. Green tips are "penetrators" they are ment to penetrate hard surfaces better than typical full metal jacket. It's not designed for self defense. It can be used as such of course but there are better options. In human tissue they will act like a toothpick and that's not what you want. You want the energy dumped into the body and self defense ammo is good at that

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I own a lot of ammo. But I'm more concerned now with buying stuff that Hillary is going to ban "when" she wins. �� I've lived through ammo shortages but I believe most of us are fairly well stocked up. She isn't going to ban any ammo other than the Greentips IMHO. And I am set on that. And I don't plan on using my Greentips for home defense. I don't plan on shooting through any solid oak doors at Gus wearing body armor.
 
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I also think if you hit a bad guy from room length distance with any 223 Hollow Point they are gonna be toast. And then you still have 29 left in the mag. I have a mag full of Hog Hammer in each of my ARs. But I think it's mostly wasted money to pay for that.
 
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There's a world of difference between combat and home/personal defense. Virtually any .223/5.56mm ammo will do a good job in the latter role. Personally, I think the older GI M193 round is ideal for most any defensive purpose. The idea behind the M855 round (Green Tip) is increased longer range effectiveness and greater penetration on hard targets, neither of which is a consideration in home/personal defense. The M855 was originally developed for use in the M249 SAW, NOT for the M16 or M4, and was adopted as a replacement for the M193 in rifles principally for logistics supply standardization purposes. Note that the M855 needs a 1:9 twist barrel (at least) to stabilize the longer heavier bullet. If you want to stock up on anything, your best bet by far is the M193. Or any soft point load, NOT the M855 Green Tip.
 
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With all that's going on in this country, I would suggest to the members of this Forum, to continue to build up on your ammo stocks. Election season is almost here, and prices could rocket after November. Buy what you can afford now. I'm not predicting another run on ammo, ( who knows what the future holds). But this is the time to be the wise ant...
 
thanks for the responses, my ar has a 16 inch, 1:8 barrel. I checked on the LGS website, and it says 500 rounds of .223 55 gr. hollow point is only $10 more the 500 rounds of FMJ. For that small of difference, I might just start buying the HP and use it for range ammo too. I plan on getting some green tip, just not as much. My wife is disabled, so we gotta live on what I make, overtime pays for ammo when I can.
 
At "across the room" distances any .223 ammo is going to be sufficient and like noscivic mentions the blast is going to be substantial inside your house.
 
I would stack it up till the floor sags. Can't have too much ammo in my opinion. As to guarding the bedroom door ......Winchester M12 12 gauge is the ticket to back up my 1911 at my house. At across the room distance a load of #7 shot leaves a hole in a man you can stick your hand in and usually won't kill one of my kids in another room from over penetration .


Eddie
 
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I don't own a .223, but I'd pick the ammo I felt I needed, not what my buddies were razzing me about.

There going to razz me about something anyway, and I just razz them back. :)
 
JJEH said:
Green tip is the cheapest 55gr. ammo. Not sure but perhaps your AR likes heavier bullets. You should try it out and don't just rely on what your buddies say.
Click to expand...

"Green tip" is M855, a 62 grain slug.

There's a LOT of cheaper 55 grain stuff available, relative to M855. If you're just looking for a contingency stash, 55 grain FMJ/M193 type ammo is dandy.
 
Other than 22LR I probably only have around 3000 rounds or so split between 6 calibers - 380acp, 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, 44spl, & 44 mag.

Fortunately I probably have enough components to load another 10,000 rounds or so.

I need to get busy. Currently my plan is to loading up a good stockpile over the winter.

I probably need to stock up on some more components before November too.
 
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As far as the supply issue goes here's my take on it. When I'm out at the LGS's searching for the elusive vintage revolvers, if none are found pick up some ammo instead. You would be surprised how it adds up over time.
 
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