.223 ammo question.

[Nick5182]

Alright, well, I finally took my DPMS AP4 out to shoot it. I only had 100 rounds of Ultramax .223 re-manufactured rounds, but a friend of mine brought 80 rounds of PMC Bronze.

The Ultramax ammo performed flawlessly through all 100 rounds- no malfunctions, accurate, etc. However, out of the 80 rounds of PMC, about a dozen or so didn't fire. The firing pin hit the primer, but the round wouldn't fire. Of all of the rounds that happened to, (we re-loaded them into a mag and tried again) only one fired.

I was just wondering what everyones' thoughts are on those two brands of ammo? Has anyone had similar or dissimilar experiences with either brand?

I really like the ultramax, but I don't think I'd buy the PMC. The PMC has a much nicer looking box, but the performance just wasn't there.

Any opinions are welcome.

Thanks,
-Nick

 

[eastbank]

try some remanufractered blackhills ammo, its fantastic. in my ar and 700 rem v. eastbank.

 

[matrem]

I've shot a bit (several hundred rounds) of PMC Bronze within the past year, and haven't had a single issue.
All of the rounds were at least two years old though. I have some newer rounds that have a different headstamp, no red around the primer, and don't have the the "temper mark" below the neck.
Have no idea if they changed primer supplier, which seems to be your issue.

All in all, I've considered PMC good, at least until trying their newer stuff?

 

[BADUNAME37]

Do you have the lot number? Was it all from the same box?
You should call the manufacturer - they will want the lot number, I'm sure.

Did this PMC ammo ever get wet that you are aware of?

Did you search Google and other search engines for PMC Bronze .223 FTF?

I say try some other ammo and check the trigger & firing pin to make sure there is nothing holding back the hammer and/or the firing pin. Carbon on the FP can result in light strikes. Was the gun perfectly clean? Is it a new gun? Did this same PMC lot of ammo NOT work in anyone else's gun besides yours?

 

[tactikel]

Since your AR shot the Ultramax fine I would definitly call and see if you can get your money back. One misfire maybe, but whay you experienced is just wrong. Good luck!

 

[matrem]

I say try some other ammo

Wouldn't 100 rounds of Ultramax qualify?

 

[Mags]

try some remanufractered blackhills ammo, its fantastic. in my ar and 700 rem v. eastbank.

Black hills makes good ammo but is a bit pricey for plinkin' ammo in my opinion.

PMC has been good to me I probably have shot around 2k without any malfunctions. Either the primers have made contact with gun lube neutralizing the primers or your firing pin did not make contact with enough force to set off the primers.

Or you just had some duds.

 

[Nick5182]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I would definitly call and see if you can get your money back.

I'm not out any money since it was my buddy who brought the PMC, so it's all good. I, personally, don't think I'd buy it.

Did this PMC ammo ever get wet that you are aware of?

I have no Idea how the ammo was handled or stored prior to me using it.

Was the gun perfectly clean? Is it a new gun? Did this same PMC lot of ammo NOT work in anyone else's gun besides yours?

The gun was brand-new, never fired. I cleaned and lubed the gun prior to the range trip. I think I was the only one using the PMC. My buddy was using Wolf in his M&P15 and only had one malfunction. I used the PMC intermittently with the Ultramax, and the Ultramax still ran flawlessly, So I don't think the cleanliness was the problem, but I'm completely new to AR-platform rifles.

Again, thanks for all of the responses.

If anyone has any other suggestions for some great, inexpensive plinking ammo, I'm all ears!

 

[arizona98tj]

Walmart often times has .223 Federal in 50 round bulk packs. The price isn't too bad and the ammo is about average when it comes to grouping. (it isn't match grade)

My shoots a fair amount of PMC in his RR and I've shot enough to know how it does in my M&P15. Neither of us have had any issues. For that matter, neither of us have had any misfires, regardless of the brand (that includes both brass and steel cases).

 

[TonyAngel]

Did you try the PMC in both rifles? I've gone through thousands of rounds of PMC without issues.

 

[MoDerN_WarRioR]

As many on here, i have shot a ton of PMC in my AR and the only problems i had was failure to feed. But that was because of my magazines. Like some have said on here... I have never had a Fail to Fire. Its great cheap ammo i have bought some of the recent batches and no problems. Hope you get to the Root of this! You might want to contact the manufacture and let them know your batch number! Good Luck!

-Chris