looking for decent .223 ammo

[wpshooter]

I am looking to purchase some decent (read that as reliable, but don't need expensive/high quality target ammo) .223 ammo to shoot in my AR-15s.

I see some negative comments regarding PMC & Fiocchi ammos being on the dirty side. Are these comments justified or is this possibly just from those people that don't like to/want to clean their guns as often as they should ?

What decent .223/5.56 ammo would you recommend if not PMC or Fiocchi & why ?

Thanks.

 

[Erich]

Winchester USA's Q3131 and Q3131A loads are wonderful. I saw an enormous mound of it in my friendly neighborhood Wal Mart this weekend. Can't believe it's up to $9.75/box - I paid $2.75 back in the olden days.

 

[Rule 303]

Federal Bulk 100 round Paks at Waldo World.
I always buy the same lot # if possible.
Its the same round as the M193 according to Federal.
Cost is $39.95 + Tax......about $.403 cents a round.
I'm sure there is cheaper out there, but for good quality ammo, I pay a little more.

Eric,
I can remember paying $149.00 a thousand round case back in the 80s.....

Jungle Work

 

[tpd223]

PMC has always ran fine in my guns.

 

[Pisgah]

The Winchester Wally-World stuff is decent. And although I am sure someone will gasp in horror at the suggestion, I have had fine results with the Silver Bear Russian ammo -- the loads that come in zinc-plated cases.

 

[buster342]

Please don't all flame me at once ... but I am no ammo snob when it comes to plinking ... and I have never had a problem with Wolf poly coated steel case ammo at about .25 a round at Sportsmans Guide. Gotta love those $10 off coupons.
Some say it is dirty ... maybe it is, but heck, you're gonna clean your weapon after the range anyway, right?
Buster342

 

[shotguntom]

Can honestly say, the only ammo I wont put thru my Ar or Mini 14 is WOLF. It is just , in my experience, Very Dirty. As for every other brand I have used. No issues at all. PMC, Federal, Winchester, Sellier and Bellot, etc. etc.
YMMV,
Tom

 

[zercool]

Best bet is to find a case of XM193 or M855. (55gr and 62gr, respectively.) Probably looking at $350-400 depending on supplier and shipping. I picked up a case of Federal "bulk" XM193 last year and it's been great in my AR. I had two rims ripped off steel-case Wolf so won't use that anymore. PMC and Remington UMC have also been just fine for me.

 

[NE450No2]

The Winchester "White Box" or Federal 55 gr Ball are both good 223 ammo.

 

[Gunhacker]

+1 on the Federal bulk XM193.... ammoman.com currently has (Lake City produced) 400rd cases for $179 shipped.

 

[kennyb]

reload and get what you want,when you want,and save a lot of $$

 

[Harrison]

A word of caution on the Federal XM-193. It is 5.56 nato ammo and at nato specs. No problem as long as you have a 5.56 chamber. It could raise chamber pressure in a rifle that had a .223 chamber that was slightly on the tight side.

Best is to get a Dillon progressive loader and load your own.

 

[MTKTM]

I've had good luck with most factory ammo, but don't like Wolf. I have some old PMC purchased in the '80s, as well as some similar vintage Norinco stuff that seems to work okay in most guns, but not so well in 'match' ARs with tighter chambers. Newer PMC works fine in those, however.

 

[jkc]

It may be worthwhile to check w/Thunderbird Cartridge Co. in metro Phoenix. They recently had 55gr FMJ @ $333/K --- remanufactured...

 

[one eye joe]

Check out AMMOMAN. He's got some mil-spec Lake City and some other brands..........

 

[cptdco]

I have yet to find ammunition that doesn't shoot well in both of my AR-15s. Granted, I'm mostly an off-hand plinker, and when I stand up and punch paper at 50 yards, the Wolf ammo does just as well as the military spec stuff and the American made brass-cased rounds. Your needs may be different. Is the Wolf or foreign made stuff dirtier? Beats me...they seem to clean up the same no matter what I've been shooting that day.

 

[WILDPIG]

PMC is fine.

WILDPIG

 

[crofoot629]

Here you go, stack it deep.

Much cheaper and better than Wally World Federal .223.

You absolutely can’t beat the quality of IMI and M193 is very versatile for shtf and plinking.

Widener's Reloading and Shooting Supply INC

Emory

 

[R. G. Amos]

Wideners IMI M855 @ 453$/1200 Rds. This 62 grain stuff is excellent if you have a 1/7 twist AR.

 

[m1gunner]

Wideners IMI M855 @ 453$/1200 Rds. This 62 grain stuff is excellent if you have a 1/7 twist AR.

Works just fine in the 1/9 barrels also. Not so in the 1/12 barrels.