223 Surplus (cheap) ammo - any good for defense?

[brufener]

I am not trying to start a 223 vs. 7.62x39 debate, but I have been looking at 223 ammo and the AR-15 and have a question.

Most people say that the 223 round is effective due to fragmentation, and that proper fragmentation depends on ammo. Is the cheap surplus ammo (wolf or equivalent) any good for defense? Does it fragment?

I have heard that Wolf Military Classic HP in 7.62x39 does expand reliably.

Would it be correct to say that the 223 vs. 7.62x39 (or 308) debate is similar to the 9mm vs. 45 debate? That is, many say that the 9mm is just as good as the 45 if you have the right bullet. Many say that the bullet is less important with 45s. Does the same thing apply to military rifle calibers?

Before I get told to stop being a cheapskate and buy the best 223 ammo out there, this question is purely academic. I'm just trying to understand the 223 a little better.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The cheap Wolf ammo does not fragment due to the lower initial velocity and thicker jacket. It just yaws, flips over once and travels base forward until it exits like most other spitzer FMJ bullets. I forget how deep the yaw point is.

 

[DMK]

Wolf isn't surplus. It's new production.

Real M193 ammo (Federal XM193 or Winchester Q3131A is about the only M193 you'll get these days) is likely to fragment at high velocities (read that as "close range").

However, a better quality OTM (open tip match) or BTHP (boat tail hollow point) like Hornady or Black Hills is much more likely to fragment consistently due to tighter tolerances and thinner jackets.

If you want to stock up some M193 for some cataclysm, that's fine. You'd be better served by a mag or two of some Hornady TAP or Black Hills OTM for home defense though.

 

[MechAg94]

What DMK said.


I used Wolf and Radway as primarily range fodder. They will put holes in bad guys also, but not likely as effective as better self defense ammo like Hornady TAP. .223 soft point ammo is probably better than Wolf.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Does anyone have velocity numbers on Wolf 55 grain .223? It's advertised as 3200 FPS, but I find that hard to believe.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

Wolf also makes HP's in 55 and 62gr varieties. Don't know much about it. I hope to try it in the future for cheap fodder.

Most of my 5.56 is H335 behind a 62 gr M855 bullet.

 

[Jenrick]

I agree with your initial comment about it being about the right bullet. I would also add shot placement. Regardless though a 30 round mag of either caliber is going to be enough to take care of most problems (muntant-zombie-grizzly's excepted of course).

-Jenrick

 

[mc223]

I would prefer even bad surplus ammo for my AR over a rock.