Cheap ammo for my new AR help

[DoubleTapDrew]

UMC bulk .223
American Eagle 5.56x45

They are the exact same price. Which would you pick?

American Eagle. AFAIK that's federal's "commercial" M193-spec stuff. The last time I shot UMC .223 it seemed quite underpowered, along the lines of wolf.

 

[acmax95]

I shoot some Tula and Wolf out of my DPMS w/o issue, although my rifle mostly sees the Federal bulk pack .223 from WalMart ($40/1000). It is fairly accurate and not nearly as dirty.

 

[wally]

although my rifle mostly sees the Federal bulk pack .223 from WalMart ($40/1000).

We wish!

I do remember when I could leave $80 + 6.40 sales tax at a gun show and come home with 1000 rounds of Wolf.

 

[cossak]

if you want to fire cheap ammo for practice, buy a second barrel and clean the hell out of your weapon. wolf ammo isn't even aloud on most ranges these days. it sucks, but you cant put a price on reliability and safety.

 

[bigfatdave]

"allowed" "can't"
and that is incorrect - perhaps the ranges near you don't "allow" it, but in general most ranges don't care what ammo you light off so long as it goes into the backstop.

 

[TxSoldier]

I know lots of people shy away from the Russian stuff, but my M&P 15 has had TONS of it through it. It's usually what I shoot when I do get to go out and shoot. I buy it when Academy has it on sale and can pick it up cheap.

I figure if I ever actually "NEED" my rifle, it's good to know it'll run as good on the cheap stuff as the more expensive brass cased ammo. You do give up some accuracy though with the Russian ammo, as well as it being much more dirty, and smells like piss when you shoot it lol.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Not sure about the other steel cased ammo, but Wolf ammo is just fine for shooting. Just remember that if you plan on shooting more than 300 rds in a range trip, clean your chamber close to the 300. This should help you avoid stuck cases, found this out the hard way. Did a range trip and between 2 AR's fired over 1000 rounds. My comp. rifle eating brass case and the other gnawing away with wolf till that dreaded failure to chamber. Had to rod out the stuck case and brush the chamber out. Just a little food for thought!

 

[taliv]

$300/1000 delivered for re-loadable brass is not easily found these days, but I buy it when I can find it.

prvi m193 is $299/k again. hopefully heading lower.

although, i have heard some people complain that the brass isn't great for reloading but it is technically reloadable

 

[wally]

Haven't seen the Privi at that price, but AIM has PMC in-stock again for $290/1000 + shipping. I'd got some at this price last time they had it, will buy more if they still have some left after Xmas, I'm a tad tapped out at the moment, having taken advantage of their recent "black Friday" sales to stock up on Privi .308 ammo and a great price on some Privi 10mm JHP.

Steel case is still my first choice, 1/3 cheaper and accurate enough for my steel plates at the distances I shoot. "Quantity has a quality of its very own"

 

[jsimmons]

I use Tula for practice, and for more serious usage, I use M855.

 

[jsimmons]

if you want to fire cheap ammo for practice, buy a second barrel and clean the hell out of your weapon. wolf ammo isn't even aloud on most ranges these days. it sucks, but you cant put a price on reliability and safety.

Not allowed? I've been shooting for a number of years (almost every weekend) and I've been to at LEAST a dozen ranges in my area, and not a single one has implemented a ban (or even a warning on usage) on Wolf ammo, or even steel in general.

I think you're blowin' smoke up our collective keesters...

 

[reppans]

Going rate for Federal military surplus seems to be:

55gr XM193 > $150 per 500
62gr XM855 > $150 per 420 (but incl. ammo box & stripper clips)

I just picked up some of both at a retail store yesterday.

 

[JoeMal]

Federal .223 55 gr brass, $5.89 per box of 20 everyday @ WalMart.

This. It's cheaper to buy per/20 box than by the 100