decent .223 ammo?

[Ed from Maine]

Took my new (to me) Tikka T3 lite .223 to the range today, toughed out the cold for over an hour, and came away with some ammo questions. I started out with a box of UMC and it was pretty bad. Switched to two boxes of Fiocchi, and I began to see the Tikka accuracy I had read about. I liked it. Then I tried some Hornady Training ammo, and things fell off, although to be fair, I was getting pretty cold and tired, could have been on me to some extent.
So without getting into really expensive competition ammunition ( I am not thinking of competing), what is commercially available at a halfway reasonable price which will give me decent accuracy and consistency? Would appreciate advice on stuff to stay away from as well, such as the UMC I mentioned. Also, I won't be purchasing any steel case stuff.
thanks, Ed

 

[Docmedic]

XM193 will usually land u 2MOA if you do your part. but just a warning it is 5.56 NATO so its a much higher pressure then normal .223 rem. So you may want to call Tikka to see if your barrel can shoot 5.56 NATO without exploding

 

[wanderinwalker]

Black Hills blue box. This is their "remanufactured" line, it comes in 50-count boxes (far superior to buying in smaller quantities) and can be had in a wide range of bullet weights. It's costlier than the M193 ball ammo floating around, but should get you down to the 1-MOA range or under reliably.

 

[Jon_Snow]

Today is the last day but, Midway is having a huge sale on Fiocchi .223 ammo. Pick some up while you can.

 

[LiveLife]

+1 for Black Hills blue box (remanufactured). My recent trip to the range to do factory baseline tests produced the best just over 1" shot groups with Black Hills 55 gr FMJ. BTW, Cabela's got them on sale.

 

[Ed from Maine]

more questions..

Unfortunately my local Cabela's was out of stock on the Black hills blue box. But I have time, it is too darned cold to hit the range right now. and I need snowshoes to get down to set targets.
regarding the pressure warning on military ammo: here is a quote from a recent AmmoMan email:
"FEDERAL LAKE CITY .223 / 5.56
XM193CBP 55 GRAIN - FMJ = FULL METAL JACKET
BRASS CASED - BOXER PRIMED - BOAT TAIL AMMO
100% NON-CORROSIVE
Muzzle Energy: 1,270 ft lbs - Muzzle Velocity: 3,250 FPS

This Ammo is manufactured by Lake City to US Military M193 specifications and considered to be the BEST .223 that money can BUY !"

My rifle is a Tikka T3 Stainless Lite...the twist is 1:8"...which I take to mean I can shoot heavier bullets OK, as well as lighter...any opinions on whether it will handle the Lake City ammo referred to above? Or should I stick with the Black hills Blue Box?

 

[PCFlorida]

A 1:8" twist should handle a 55 gr .223/5.56 fine. Mine does.

 

[husker]

With out a doubt Fiocchi V-MAX. I to found it on sale 2 weeks ago for 18 dollars a box of 50.