good ammo for ar-15.

[Instantbacon]

I just purchased an ar-15 from cmmg and I am searching online for some good ammunition to use for self defense. I saw http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemDetail.aspx?sku=AMM-271 and it seemed like a good deal. 55 psp remington is like $19 dollars at walmart for a box of 20. gun stores around here are usually out. Oh, my rifle is 1:7 by the way. Is this stuff good, and a good enough price that I could practice with it a lot and not break the bank? I just cannot afford a dollar a round ammunition, and trying to find something in brass to practice with for cheap.

 

[M1key]

There are many sources, but you should be able to find something at these sites:

http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm?startrow=1&dir=18|830|845

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/223-556-ammo.php

http://www.ammoman.com/index.htm

 

[thegoodlistener]

AIM surplus has some nice looking PMC .

 

[kwelz]

Self Defense the only real option is Hornady TAP 75 Grain.

 

[Destructo6]

Self Defense the only real option is Hornady TAP 75 Grain.

Why?

 

[kwelz]

Because it is the best round on the market for this application and cost no more than any of the other rounds mentioned.
It us a heavier bullet, with a ballistic tip. This gives you more reliable feeding, higher wound potential and less chance of over penetration.

 

[APIT50]

At realistic rifle self defense ranges IE. down the hallway I am assuming or even out to say 100 yds, you don't really need the 75 grain TAP. Don't get me wrong TAP is great ammo but just about any ballistic tip is going to ruin a BG's day, but TAP is designed specifically for SD with nickel cases for reliable feeding low flash signature powders which is the reason why it is $1+ a round. Plain Jane PMC is going to work fine for practice .

 

[smoothdraw]

Stay away from enamel coated steel casings. These enamel melt on high heat and getting transferred to your lug. If you chamber a round and the enamel gets colt, it will stick and you will have a very bad extraction failure. I've seen these a lot from my trainings. Defense ammo those consistent 55gr FMJ hornady TAP are good due to terminal ballistics and less susceptible to over penetrate. If you use 75gr then you will be more counting on bigger bullet hole and those huge bullets will not fragment and will surely over penetrate.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

For practice, you can use anything from Wolf to PMC. I can usually score brass cased stuff for 35 cents a round or so online, if I buy by the case. For self defense, I agree that TAP is going to be the best, but any 5.56 ammo you use will get the job done. Shot placement, and shoot till the threat stops. Right now I have a 20 round mag of 62gr green-tip locked and loaded. Might not be TAP, but I know it works..

 

[strambo]

If you use 75gr then you will be more counting on bigger bullet hole and those huge bullets will not fragment and will surely over penetrate.

Not according to all the ballistic gel tests on them. 55g FMJ over penetrate bad when they don't fragment...they don't always fragment. The 75g/77g loads are either match HPs or ballistic tips not FMJ. So they expand and fragment much more reliably while achieving good penetration and good energy retention at short and longer range. This is why the 77g M262 load is the choice of military special ops. for combat (CQB and long range).

 

[Quentin]

I'd tend to go with cheaper ammo that you're 100% sure will function reliably 99.99% of the time in a well maintained AR of good quality. Cheap PMC should fit the bill and you won't mind the expense so much practicing with it and getting a high round count to ensure your rifle is reliable.

I also use cheap steel case for practice but not for self defense.

 

[Sport45]

For store-bought ammo, I find the Wolf Polyformance 62gr is very accurate in my 1-8 and 1-7 WOA uppers. That's what I shoot when I think I may be losing a significant amount of "brass". When I'm free to pick up my brass I usually shoot reloads.

 

[Sunray]

If you're not reloading, you'll have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. The price of said ammo means nothing. Do not buy ammo in bulk until you have done so. Then look at heavy bullets.
"...for self defense..." Assuming you're in a city/town, you'll have to consider the penetration of any rifle cartridge too. You are responsible for where any bullet you fire ends up.

 

[Wesson Smith]

All but one of my ARs are 1:7, and for the money I've found that Prvi Match in 75 gr. BTHP is ideal. Accurate, cost-effective for target/plinking and quite suitable for a defensive round.

 

[taliv]

interesting. i had high hopes for the prvi match stuff, but accuracy was CRAP in my 1/7 guns. i do love their m193 though

 

[Wesson Smith]

My Colt LE6920 seems to like the Prvi match as much or more than any other (save TAP) heavier bullet ammo I've fed it. I'm certain that you are a better shot than I (doesn't take much ) but I get pretty tight groupings at 100 yds., and that's good enough for me!

 

[gb0399]

curious, has anyone ever heard of using frangible 5.56 for self defense?

 

[smoothdraw]

The problem with frangibles is that they are expensive and they may not penetrate your target. Quality 55gr is all you need. Then a get a lot of training with your carbine/rifle.

 

[benEzra]

At ~2800-3000 fps, most .223 JHP and SP is "frangible" in that it will expand/fragment when it hits something.

For HD in a suburban neighborhood, I personally like 55gr jacketed hollowpoints as a good balance of effectiveness and fragility, but that wouldn't necessarily be ideal for long-range shooting. Some people swear by the very heavy 77gr JHP's/OTM's, but I would like to see more data on (lack of) wallboard penetration.

Some gelatin data from Federal:

 

[gdcpony]

I would use a varmint bullet is the 55gr range. Not many BG's wear body armor, and these will do allot of damage without over-penetrating. Just my opinion.

 

[Ignition Override]

You might have already checked "Ammo-deals".

What really surprised me is the extent of listings on "Ammo Seek"!

They both seem to exclude Classicarms (in NC), for some reason.

 

[Harley Rider 55]

The absolute best is what's in your weapon and ready to go.

 

[Destructo6]

Because it (TAP 75 Grain) is the best round on the market for this application and cost no more than any of the other rounds mentioned.
It us a heavier bullet, with a ballistic tip. This gives you more reliable feeding, higher wound potential and less chance of over penetration.

Not with a well-documented shooting in PA. Over a dozen of these exact round went right through the badguy without causeing significant damage. One, which hit the BG's ankle put him on the ground, but not out of action. The FBI report states,

Results of Hornady 55gr. and 75 gr. TAP do not satisfy FBI standards for terminal performance.

Search for, "Defensive Systems Unit Ballistic Research Facility FBI Academy" for the slide show. Keep in mind the "NTOA Blog" slide is the error-filled internet post that this report was intended to debunk. There are some very graphic images of the dead badguy, so...

 

[possum]

hornaday 75 grain is good, accurate defense ammo. personally i shoot train, and have on hand pmc 55gr for defense.