Best .223 Rem ammo?

[heypete]

I couldn't find an "ammo" group (or if there is one, I'm blind...which would explain my shooting... ), so I decided to post this here.

I recently purchased a Kel-Tec SU-16B (the scariest EBR one can buy in the PRK) and a 500 round half-case of American Ammunition 55gr .223 Rem. Finally I have a use for all the AR-15 mags I collected years ago.

I was an idiot, buying it at retail, but I didn't get hosed THAT badly.

I'm rather confused, as American Ammunition says their products are made in the US, but has major contracts with IMI. Anyone know what the deal is? Their bullets seem to have moderate seating depth variation, though I haven't measured them with calipers.

Given that, what does this august group feel is the best "all around" ammo in .223 for the Kel-Tec? Lake City XM193? XM885? (Or is it 855?) I'm not looking for match-grade stuff (I can handload that if need be), but decent, preferably American-made, ammunition to throw at paper at the range. FMJ would be perfectly adequate, but other types (JHP, SP, etc.) wouldn't be ruled out.

For a rifle with a 16" barrel and 1:9" twist, what is the optimal bullet weight? 55gr? 62gr? Heavier? Lighter? The folks at the shop said 55gr, so that's what I bought, but I figured folks here would know best.

Note that my budget isn't unlimited, and if there's something cheap and good, I'd prefer that over something expensive and great. Preferably something commonly available in bulk from an online distributor.

 

[Third_Rail]

I wouldn't even bother firing the A-MERC stuff. It's junk....

Also, you're in CA, so I don't believe you can get ammo shipped to you.

That's all I have to add, unfortunately!

 

[db_tanker]

dunno if you can get it in California Wal-Marts...but try the Winchester white box 45 gr. 40 count hollow points...3600 fps and fairly accurate.

darrell

 

[Rexrider]

Your rifle will have to tell you which is the best. Meaning you should try several different brands. With a 1/9 barrell you whould have no problems with either 55gr or 62gr.

American Eagle .223 55gr is good stuff. Nothing wrong with it. If you get good groups, no reason not to use it. However, it is not good brass for reloading according to those who reload. I use this stuff for plinking and range time.

XM93 is very good stuff also. I recommend you try it as long as you have a 5.56 chamber. It is my understanding the Kel-tec does have the 5.56 chamber but please verify with the manufacturer. I use this stuff for range time as well however I tend not to shoot it as much since it is getting expensive and harder to find. I am saving what i have and using the AE.

XM193 is what you will need should ever need to use your rifle for self defense.

Follow this link, it will tell everything you ever wanted to know about .233/5.56 ammo and then some.
Ammo-Oracle

I also recommend shopping for ammo online. Here are some links to get you started.
http://ammoman.com/
http://www.ammunitionstore.com/
http://www.outdoormarksman.com/

 

[heypete]

I wouldn't even bother firing the A-MERC stuff. It's junk....

Also, you're in CA, so I don't believe you can get ammo shipped to you.

How is it junk?

Also, mail-order ammo is perfectly legal and I've been doing it for years. Absolutely no restrictions whatsoever on that, unless this bill in the assembly passes that would serialize handgun ammo here. I suspect that many mail order distributors would simply say "No CA" period.

Your rifle will have to tell you which is the best. Meaning you should try several different brands. With a 1/9 barrell you whould have no problems with either 55gr or 62gr.

Awesome.

American Eagle .223 55gr is good stuff. Nothing wrong with it. If you get good groups, no reason not to use it. However, it is not good brass for reloading according to those who reload. I use this stuff for plinking and range time.

Bit pricey. I dunno about reloading .223 -- it's already cheap and plentiful. I might stock up on some good brass just for future use, or save the brass I shoot now.

I realize that Wolf ammo is cheap (which is why I loved it until I found something cheaper, better, and American-made for 9mm), but how well does the polymer-coated stuff work in the Kel-Tec?

XM93 is very good stuff also. I recommend you try it as long as you have a 5.56 chamber. It is my understanding the Kel-tec does have the 5.56 chamber but please verify with the manufacturer. I use this stuff for range time as well however I tend not to shoot it as much since it is getting expensive and harder to find. I am saving what i have and using the AE.

I believe that Kel-Tec does have the 5.56 chamber, so that's not a problem. Outdoor Marksman has sizeable amounts of XM193 available at a very reasonable rate. I would imagine that there wouldn't be much of a shortage, as Lake City is pumping out gobs of ammo...and there's always some that don't make mil-spec, so they sell it to us. The more ammo they make, the more not-quite-mil-spec stuff gets to us (they'll still have the same proportion of good:bad, so the more good stuff they make, the more stuff is available for sale to us).

XM193 is what you will need should ever need to use your rifle for self defense.

As opposed to SP or JHP? Why is that?

Follow this link...

*snip* Thanks. I appreciate the links. I'll be reading the Ammo Oracle one now...

 

[ocabj]

Get the Federal made XM193. It's readily available from many sources still (ammoman, miwallcorp, outdoormarksman, etc). It's milspec ammo and the brass is excellent (Lake City). Even if you don't reload, buy a case of 500 or 1000, shoot it, save your brass, sell the brass, and buy another case.

And yes, you can mailorder for ammo to California.

 

[P-32]

Just a thought, but the Black Hills 55gr re-mand stuff shoots very well. Comes in a blue box.

 

[P95Carry]

For me - reloads are best - if I can be bothered to get down to doing 'em!

A-Merc certainly is absolute junk re pistol ammo - never tried other offerings from them. American Eagle has been very good for me but overall - WWB really stands out for value. My Ruger 77 MkII loves the 45 grain varmint rounds and the T/C loves the 55 FMJ's - probably why I am still lazy reloading the .223's!

 

[BushyGuy]

wonder if the PPU Privi Ammo 55gr 5.56mm ammo is good stuff? which would be better for self defense the .223 rem or the PPU in 5.56mm?