223 Ammo: What is the difference?

[Nightwing]

Please explain the difference of the two to me. PLEASE!

223 RUSSIAN 55 GRAIN SOFT POINT
WOLF MILITARY CLASSIC
JACKETED SOFT POINT
NEW POLYMER COATING
BRAND NEW - WOLF MANUFACTURE
20 ROUND BOXES
100% NON-CORROSIVE

and

223 RUSSIAN 55 GRAIN FMJ
MILITARY CLASSIC
BRAND NEW - WOLF MANUFACTURE
FULL METAL JACKET
NEW POLYMER COATING
20 ROUND BOXES
100% NON-CORROSIVE

Seriously.... explain. I wanna know the reason to buy either of them

 

[K3]

Soft point vs FMJ. That's a big one.

You could hunt with those soft points. Not sure if the accuracy would be good enough, but a 55gr SP would work on game up to deer that aren't overly large.

 

[taliv]

yeah, soft points are designed to expand. FMJ in 223 is usually designed to maximize wounding by fragmentation

 

[pgeleven]

military classic?!?!?! run away!!!

(in my opinion, of course)

 

[dracphelan]

Aside from what others have said, the military classic is more likely to have a steel core. Many ranges do not allow it to be used because it will penetrate berms/backstops more easily.

 

[Soybomb]

Also if this is for an AR you might want to try a small quantity before you buy a case. Many people find it doesn't work well in their guns.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Earliest models had a 1:14 rate of twist, which was changed to 1:12 for original 55 grain (3.6 g) bullets. The 1:14 rate of twist showed to be unstable in colder temperatures. Most newer configurations use 1:9 and 1:7 twist rates. There is much controversy and speculation as to how differing twist rates affect ballistics and terminal performance with varying loads, but heavier projectiles tend to perform better with faster rifling rates. Additionally, the various non .223 / 5.56 calibers have their own particular twist rate.

The 55 grain as it says is a "classic military". This round you are asking about was the one used for quite some time until they went heavier in the bullet and faster in the rifling twist of the barrel.

Why should you get either? I am not sure but it is shootable in most guns made with a fair degree of accuracy where the heavier bullets only perform welll in fast twist barrels.

One you can hunt with the other is for target only, both are a 3rd or 4th choice as to what you want in todays rifle market IMHO...

 

[GigaBuist]

The 55 grain as it says is a "classic military". This round you are asking about was the one used for quite some time until they went heavier in the bullet and faster in the rifling twist of the barrel.

Uhm, the 55 grain loads that the US military went with for years were NOT:
- Made by Wolf
- Steel Cased
- Laquer Coated
- Steel jacketed / copper washed

They were 55 grains though. That's about the only thing they have in common.

This explains a bit better why they're called "military classic."

Military Classic is made at Ulyanovsk Machine Tool Plant. Regular Wolf is made at the Tula Cartridge Plant. Ulyanovsk has been branded as "Sapsan" in the past.

Someone who tested them said the Classic HP ammo expands reliably, whereas the Wolf HP does not.

 

[longdayjake]

Aside from what others have said, the military classic is more likely to have a steel core. Many ranges do not allow it to be used because it will penetrate berms/backstops more easily.

The 55 grainers most likely did not have steel cores. Some did, but they were marked with black tips. Its the 62 grain ones that you should worry about steel tips.

If the price is right buy them and shoot them. The only difference I can see is the FMJ versus soft tip. Others have already commented on the uses of the two so I will leave it at that.

 

[Steve in PA]

The MC stuff is supposed to be way better than the black box stuff.

I've shot about 400rds of the MC stuff out of my Bushmaster M4. Good stuff!!

 

[Harley Quinn]

Uhm, the 55 grain loads that the US military went with for years were NOT:

I was referring to the bullet only.

 

[BeJaRa]

the 55 gr bullet that the US military issued for many years was the m193 which is not nececarily the same as another 55gr FMJ. the m193 had no steel penatrator like the m855 and had a relativly thin copper jacket that allowed more reliable fragmentation as the bullet yawed inside the target. Many 55gr bullets have a thicker jacket that holds together better than the m193 bullet. I don't know for sure but I imagine the wolf or military classic 55 gr is not an m193 equivilant. Plus some 55gr bullets have slightly different bullet lengths due to slightly different bullet design. well, at least that is how I understand it.

 

[s2brutus]

"Military Classic" is simply a name that Wolf made up for their no-frills line of steel-cased ammo.

Their basic 7.62x39 is also offered in a variety called "Military Classic".

 

[GigaBuist]

"Military Classic" is simply a name that Wolf made up for their no-frills line of steel-cased ammo.

If "Military Classic" is "no frills" then what makes the black-box stuff fancy?

 

[RobertRogers]

Yeah, there are so many exceptions and but/ifs, very confusing at times