223 Ammo for Self Defense

[Balrog]

I am looking for a self defense round for AR. Barrier penetration is not a requirement. In fact, I would like something that minimizes risk of penetrating through walls. I am leaning towards Hornady 55g VMax or TAP.

Is there a difference between these two loads? Is there a better choice?

 

[meanmrmustard]

I can't really comment on the TAP load, but the Vmax blows up on even glancing blows. It could suffice as an HD round.

 

[chris in va]

Just recalling numerous posts on the question, the Vmax/Zmax seems to be a top suggestion. Some sort of soft point is also mentioned.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I will also note fine accuracy from a 1-7 16" barrel with DRT 55gr frangible. Look them up.

 

[justin22885]

whats the barrel length on your AR?

 

[Shipwreck]

I keep my SCAR 16 and my Rock River PDS loaded with a mag at all times.

I have 62gr Fusion MSR in my SCAR, and Hornady VMAX 55gr in the Rock River PDS. The VMAX load is probably better if you live in a neighborliness, like I do.

 

[slickone]

You may want to look at this video on this subject and his recommendation. I have it loaded in my mag for home defense. PDX1 Defender.
https://youtu.be/-XKP6sh59gE

 

[W.E.G.]

There are no 5.56 rounds (aka .223) that you are likely to encounter that will not fragment at self-defense distances.

Some say the 77-grain bullet penetrates better.
Again, inside 50 yards, that bullet is probably going to turn into confetti too.

Shot placement is everything.
Always has been. Always will be.

 

[Fla_dogman]

The least penetrating round I found was the Winchester 45 gr varmint round. It was a blistering 3600 fps and self destructed very fast. I'm sure someone makes a frag round that does what you want. I remember a shootout where 9mm we carried penetrated several walls of a mobile home and exited out the back. The point being if penetrating walls is a concern you may opt for a different weapon. Shotgun with #8 or 6 comes to mind.

 

[David4516]

55gr soft point

 

[LeonCarr]

Basically anything .223 or 5.56 will work for self defense. FMJs have been working for over 50 years.

Anything with a polymer tip like the already mentioned VMax/TAP (I think they are the same) or Nosler Ballistic Tip will best minimize overpenetration, but keep in mind most of these loads will not penetrate the FBI recommended minimum of 12 inches to reach the vitals of a two legged varmint.

IMO/IME a conventional 55 Grain Soft Point would be a better choice than one of the polymer tip offerings. The best all around indoors or outdoors would be a 62/64 Grain Bonded SP like the already mentioned 62 Grain Federal Fusion.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[theleo]

Barnes Varmint Grenades come apart pretty dang quick. My personal experiences with 55 grain V-max bullets is they don't exit coyotes when shot out of my 22-250. If you're really concerned about it maybe drop to a 45 grain bullet in your 223. You should be able to find them in packaging geared towards varmint shooters.

 

[Driftertank]

If you can spin it, it seems that field experience (as far as I've been able to research) suggests that heavier bonded, solid, or OTM rounds do a superior job of dropping an assailant in the fewest hits.

Light, explosively expanding bullets do a brilliant job on small animals, but on badguys, it seems they have a tendency to cause a gruesome shallow injury without stopping them from pressing an attack.

As a good rule of thumb, any round that stands a good chance of stopping an attacker will also penetrate a wall and retain dangerous energy. That said, the relative light weight and high speed of the .223/5.56 round does a good job of transferring a lot of energy in a body, while giving up much of that energy through barriers. Much better than, say, a heavy pistol bullet.

 

[JShirley]

The 50 grain American Eagle (Federal) HP almost completely stopped inside 2 milk jugs filled with water.

 

[benEzra]

http://how-i-did-it.org/drywall/results.html

Scroll down for the 55- to 64-grain .223 tests.

 

[strambo]

The problem with the 55g Vmax type loads is they don't penetrate enough. Only 10" in ballistic gel which is well below the FBI minimum spec and also well below what you'd typically see in tissue which will also have bone to navigate. The part that makes it 10" is also just the tiny base, the rest frags away.

I like the 62g Fusion, and the Barnes TSX line is very good, but harder to find. The 75-77g OTM rounds perform similar to the 55g Vmax but the base at least makes it 12-13" so they do a bit better (acceptable IMO).

Any of the good 5.56 loads will still penetrate less walls that a 9mm HP.

 

[rcmodel]

The problem with the 55g Vmax type loads is they don't penetrate enough

I'd suggest you don't get shot in the chest with one!!

10" is just about right to turn your heart & lungs into pink jello soup.
Without blowing on through three walls and killing your neighbor down the street.

I can GayRonTee ya you won't continue doing whatever it was you were doing.

It's about as good as it gets for home defense.

http://www.hornadyle.com/products/rifle-ammunition/223-remington/55-gr-tap-urban

rc

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have sierra 55 grain soft points in mine, and I dont worry about it.
But, i dont have neighboring houses to sweat about.
I only need to be aware of the whereabouts of myself and two others in my home.

 

[CB900F]

Balrog;

Why .223? There's much better alternatives out there, and not very expensive either.

900F

 

[strambo]

I'd suggest you don't get shot in the chest with one!!

10" is just about right to turn your heart & lungs into pink jello soup.
Without blowing on through three walls and killing your neighbor down the street.

I can GayRonTee ya you won't continue doing whatever it was you were doing.

It's about as good as it gets for home defense.

http://www.hornadyle.com/products/rifle-ammunition/223-remington/55-gr-tap-urban

rc

Did you really just use the "would you want to get shot with it" argument? Seriously?

I'd suggest you don't get shot in the chest with a .22lr. So based on your logic, why not use that for defense?

Now, I'll move on to some other false premises: "blowing through 3 walls..." Well, according to the test linked elsewhere in the thread, the more effective 5.56 rounds didn't penetrate 3 walls either.

"As good as it gets for home defense" Well, when I go to that link and look at the bare gel test, I think you must have copied the wrong link. A 24g fragment goes only 10" deep and that is bare gel, no bones, no bad angles, no intermediate barriers.

In reality, our bullets have to travel through tissue that varies from bone to highly elastic skin, dense muscle, fat, fluid organs. they have to do so from odd angles and often have to get through the wrist or arm before entering the chest, then go through the sternum or ribs, then make it to something vital. How does that 55g varmint round look with those variables? According to some autopsy photos I was looking at yesterday...not too good (the 55g TAPs didn't put the perp down).

Would the 55g TAP work fine for a perfect, well-placed frontal chest shot? I'm sure it would...but I don't train for that because I know what happens when the first bullet gets sent down range. "Perfect" goes right out the window...

 

[jmr40]

Why .223? There's much better alternatives out there, and not very expensive either.

Name one. There is nothing else that offers the balance of soft recoil, terminal effectiveness, cost, and the ability to not over penetrate.


Most any soft point ammo is gonna be pretty good. Don't overthink this.

 

[Shipwreck]

You may want to look at this video on this subject and his recommendation. I have it loaded in my mag for home defense. PDX1 Defender

I tried that in my SCAR 16. I shot a box of that at 50 yards, and a box of Fusion. The PDX didn't hit the same spot I had zeroed the gun at. The Fusion did. And, the Fusion 62gr MSR made a tighter group. I stuck with that for my SCAR because of that...

But, different 5.56 guns will like different rounds - and the barrel twist rate also plays into it sometimes as well.

 

[HankB]

There are numerous reports from the middle east of standard military ammo being less effective than desired - these seem to be based on instances where the bullet did not tumble and fragment after impact, due possibly to reduced velocity from carbine-length barrels. Even if the wound is ultimately lethal, the failure to drop a violent opponent immediately with a solid hit is seen as a negative by the soldiers involved.

So . . . since stopping the opponent immediately is a priority, it would seem that some sort of expanding bullet would be a better choice for home defense than military ammo. I lean towards a heavy for caliber (60+ grains) premium softpoint, like the Hornady TAP. And I'd get it in 5.56, since that is loaded a little hotter than .223, although it requires a proper 5.56 chamber.

So long as it's accurate and reliable in your gun, I don't think you can go wrong with just about any name brand premium ammo.

And if you're using a rifle of any type indoors . . . be aware that you'll probably cause permanent damage to your hearing unless you've had enough time to put on plugs or muffs.

 

[nathan]

I just bought 200 rds of Wolf brand MC 223 in 55 gr SP. I m sure it will suffice .

 

[CB900F]

JMR40;

Name one? Gladly. Remington home defense 12 gauge with bird shot/trap loads. There's others also.

900F