AR-15 "test drive ammo"?

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CZ52GUY

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I recently acquired an AR-15. I'm trying to cheat the calendar (and my budget) to have a chance to get in some practice with it before they close the outdoor range at my club.

Any suggestions for decent ammo' I can get quickly in moderate quantities (e.g. 500 rounds or less) without breaking the bank?

Thanks in advance,

CZ52'
 
I only have limited experience in trying to (seriously) sight in AR-15 rifles, but I like to use Winchester ammo, generally the white box military Q3131 stuff. In my limited experience this seems to be a cost-effective yet quality choice and seems to be readily available. And it gives me a standard reference.

I strongly recommend AGAINST using cheap ammo unless you know it is well-made. You might not get an accurate picture of how your rifle shoots.
 
Thanks

Our club is somewhat limited...longest rifle range is 100 yards. It also closes down for the cold weather season up here.

This was kind of a "surprise acquisition". My friend mentioned he was looking for an AK variant, specifically...a SAR-1. I happened to have one I was willing to part with. His old 20" A3 Bushmaster had lost it's "sex appeal" since he bought an M4ish model several months ago. I throw in about 70lbs of mag's/ammo'/accessories and we have a trade :D.

I expect to try to sight in a cheap red dot I had laying around and just try to get a general feel for it before the snow flies. I may try to pick up a box or two of WWB at Wally World just for the sighting in, and maybe a 1/2 case of the Russian stuff just to get the feel of the trigger in IDPA style practice (we have an active IDPA program and have occasional carbine shoots in the IDPA bays generally following or adapting IDPA rules).

Over the winter I should have time to improve the optics, stock up on some decent ammo', and get ready for the '05 season.

I just wanted to get some ideas on what my best options might be.

Thanks again,

CZ52'
 
CZ52GUY,

Where do you live in New England where the weather gets so bad they close down the range? Northeast Kingdom, VT or somewhere in Maine? ;) At my club we've been known to shovel out the firing points just to get some practice in! (And shovel between strings to stay warm, but that's another story.)

Okay, enough of the good-natured ribbing. Get yourself some Federal Gold Medal or Black Hills Remanufactured (the Federal should be 69gr Sierra MatchKings, Black Hills loads both the 69gr MatchKing and the 68gr Hornady match bullet, either is a good one in a rifle with a 1:9 twist or faster barrel) ammunition to see what the rifle is capable of. As for ammunition to just break-in the rifle, good quality 55gr FMJ will work fine. Just don't expect tack driving accuracy from the FMJs.

HTH and good luck.
 
re:Wanderinwalker

I shoot over at Pioneer in Dunbarton. I don't make the rules, I just abide by them :).

Stay safe,

CZ52'
 
Winchester White Box from Wally World. Fast, cheap, and plenty reliable. If your gun can't shoot that, something's wrong with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah,

I just want to get the red dot sighted in and play with it a little before I lock it up for the winter...I'll have plenty of time during my "hybernation period" to research alternatives. I'll see if I can get somebody paged to help me out in Sporting Goods...

Stay safe,

CZ52'
 
I agree with Zak Smith. Winchester Q3131A (made in Isreal by IMI for Winchester), Federal Lake City XM193, or IMI. These are NATO loads and much hotter than anything else you can buy. Check out the ammo man, www.ammoman.com fair prices, fast shipping, no shipping charges, and good customer service if needed.

Shabo
 
FWIW I suggest you get the iron sights on target first. Then get the red dot sighted in.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to sight in your irons with the red dot mounted. ;)

Federal XM193 is what I shoot, mostly, but if I needed some decent ammo right this weekend without waiting for shipping, it's Winnie White Box all the way. :)
 
Why close a range in winter? It's a lot nicer shooting prone or sitting in the snow than it is in mud.

A 500-pack of PMP (South African) ammo won't break the bank, and it shoots pretty good.

Regards.
 
responses

I'm not sure why I'd need to do "irons first"? It's an A3 setup, the rear sight is integrated with the handle, the Red Dot zero'd just fine with the laser boresighter...just need to range test it to verify elevation at 50-yards (I've found that Red Dots will fool you with elevation settings...I always try to boresight it a little low, then verify). I'm considering the stand-alone rear sight anyway, so I'll probably forego taking off the risers to attach the handle for now.

I'm not sure why they close it down for the winter...this will be my first winter as a member...I'll check with the Chief Range Officer when I see him.

I'm pretty much in the...I need to find something right this weekend mode...we race the calendar and the weather man around here :). I expect to pick up some WWB for that purpose, then research like mad and stock up for next year.

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed the "try-before-we-trade" session we held this past weekend. I told somebody that the thing I like best about my "new" AR is that I can actually hit something with it ;).

Safe shooting,

CZ52'
 
re: Bibedo

Got a timer, an absolutely essential tool in my IDPA training.

I'll think about a conversion kit...I just need to get some .223 downrange out of it to wring her out while I still have the opportunity.

Stay safe,

CZ52'
 
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