Let's talk ammo(5.56/.223).....

[mindonmatter]

What do you shoot? Why do you like it? And what ammo have you had bad experiences with?

1.) For weekend practice/plinking/fun?

2.) Self defense?

3.) Getting those sub MOA groups/match ammo.


Personally, the only thing I've ever shot out of my AR as of yet, is Wallyworld White Box .223. I already had a FTF out of 200 rounds. The primer blew and cracked in half, but the round didn't go off.

I'm going to pick up a couple of cases of XM193 in the near future.

[THOF]

I mostly shoot Q3131A and love it never had any kind of burp with it.
I'v had bad experiences with Olympic SS109 my Bushy just will not feed it

[mindonmatter]

Originally posted by THOF
I mostly shoot Q3131A

Sounds like good stuff. I'm going to go pick up a couple hundred rounds of it this weekend. I'll see if I like Q3131a or M193 better.

[Quack]

Lake city for my Colt, Black Hills 52gr Match for my 24" RRA.

[Sulaco]

I think Q3131A is what Olin manufactures for Winchester to sell as the bulk pack "White Box" you can get at Wal-Mart. In fact, if the box says "Made In Israel" on the bottom, I know it is. It is supposed to be really good stuff. I have been shooting WWB for years (literally tens of thousands of rounds of various calibers) and never, ever had a malfunction. I know some people seem to have problems a lot. mindonmatter, Maybe you just got a dud and the rest will be ok?

I also have been comparing prices online to the WWB stuff and the only thing I have found cheaper is Wolf. I still haven't decided if I am going to shoot Wolf, but I may order 1,000 rounds and see how it does.

CJan said the newer Wolf does not use the lacquer coating on the steel case which is why people did not like it (gums up the works).

[Jodevilgod1]

Its true, Wolf has switched to a new polymer coating. Which has been getting reviews, I recently shot a few hundred rounds of it, not in .223, but it is very nice even when price isnt considered. If the .223 is as good as the 9mm I say load up and blast away!;I

[CJan_NH]

1.) For weekend practice/plinking/fun?

2.) Self defense?

3.) Getting those sub MOA groups/match ammo.
1) 55gr Lake City M193

2) 75gr Hornady TAP

3) My own reloads, usually 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets sitting on top of IMR powder, Lake City brass, and Federal or CCI primers.

[G23Adam]

1)Black Hills 68 gr. Match Hollow Points, and 60 gr. soft point, both "reman" if avaliable.

2)Hornady TAP

3)Black Hills 60 grain V-Max Match Molly

[DJ Niner]

1 -- American Eagle (Federal) 55 gr. FMJ or 50 gr. flat base JHP.

2 -- 55 gr. FMJ or 64 SP.

3 -- 55 gr. Ballistic Tip; my handloads or a small local company's reloads.

[w30olds]

For just plinking I use mainly the Winchester .223 white box stuff. I've shot Wolf .223 as well and had pretty good results with it. I love shooting the 5.56 NATO stuff though. Packs a good punch and is very powerful. You can tell a big difference in the 5.56 and the .223 when you shoot it. Just make sure your rifle is chambered for 5.56 before shooting it;P

[Point Blanks]

Federal XM193 55g (factory)

Tap 60g (reload my own)

M855 (reload my own)

Steel Core / Tracers (reload my own)

[wishywashy]

I use Q3131A for everything. I like the bigger BANG it makes, I'm also very easily amused.;a

[tjpet]

Use Wolf exclusively - whatever version (bullet weight) is the cheapest. My Armalite shoots them all reliably and equally well.

[CJan_NH]

Originally posted by wishywashy
I use Q3131A for everything. I like the bigger BANG it makes, I'm also very easily amused.;a
Ha! Me too ;f

[mindonmatter]

Originally posted by Sulaco
I think Q3131A is what Olin manufactures for Winchester to sell as the bulk pack "White Box" you can get at Wal-Mart.

I think you're right that they are both manufactured by Olin. But Wallyworld White Box is .223. Q3131A is 5.56, which is much hotter. :)

I'm going to pick up some Q3131A this weekend. I'll see if there is a noticeable difference. I have a feeling there is.

[Savage]

1) Q3131A

2) Q3131A

3) Roll my own. 69 SMK, 24.5 grains of Varget, Winchester Brass.

[Timothy658]

If you have a rifle chambered for .223 is it a good idea to shoot 5.56 out of it? How about vice versa?

[mindonmatter]

Originally posted by Timothy658
If you have a rifle chambered for .223 is it a good idea to shoot 5.56 out of it? How about vice versa?

I'm not absolutely positive, but I don't think you're supposed to shoot 5.56 out of a .223 barrel. If you have a 5.56 barrel you can shoot either.

Check the 2nd and 3rd questions here: http://www.ammo-oracle.com Lot's of good info on 5.56/.223 ammo in that faq.

[One Ragged Hole]

Has anyone tried PMP? I shot some 56gr out of my A3, and was very pleased with the groups I get. It was pretty cheap ammo, but it seems to work great for me.
O-R-H

[RepublicanMan]

XM193 and Q3131A.....both shoot to the same POI in my Colt and there's not a notable difference in felt recoil or sound when I use them. The 3131a is (for me) about $.40 cheaper so that's been by favorite as of late.

Everything I've read says 5.56 only in 5.56 marked chambers, .223 in either.

[jwilli]

winchester white box for playing around.But when i want to shake things up xm193+ bushmaster m4 with mini-com muzzle brake=noise;P

[wishywashy]

DO NOT shoot 5.56 out of a .223 barrel unless it is so designated. The AR 15 throat is designed to handle both safely, where as a .223 barrel is too snug and not rated for the 5.56 pressure. ;f

[BoogerSnax]

Wolf all the way.
Never a single problem that wasn't magazxine related.

It's the cheapest I've found.

I do have a box of, uh, believe it's Enforcer. Soft points.
I fired a few to see what they felt like, and they snap like a sum*****.
I suppose I'll keep them as some form of SHTF ammo.