Good defensive ammo in .223 Rem?

[Deleted member 66305]

I just bought a Bushmaster Optics Ready Carbine, and am planning to make some bulk ammo purchases. Ideally, just one type, to be used at the range to zero in the sight, and for home defense against varmints of the two-legged variety.

All other things being equal, how does a heavier projectile fare compared to a lighter one both in terms of wounding and penetration of drywall in the event of a miss?

I am considering boattail hollow point match (in 52gr and 68gr), FMJ (55gr), and Hornady V-Max (55gr and 60gr). I am not considering the soft point in 55gr because I read that can cause leading problems after just a few rounds -- but if it's otherwise significantly superior for SD, I'd consider it. They range in price from $345 to $495 per 1000 plus $45 shipping: http://georgia-arms.com/223rem-1.aspx

What is recommended, and should I be looking elsewhere, too?

 

[gvnwst]

For home defense ammo, the best is Hornday TAP FPD. if sp ammo caused leading in just a few shots, enough to matter, it wouldn't be used. If you don't want to shell out the money for tap, the HPBT should work. Not nearly as good, but it will work.

 

[Frog48]

The Hornady TAP is what most recommend. An inexpensive alternative is Wolf Gold (brass case) 75 grain BTHP.

But really, even basic 55 grain soft-points should work fine. What wont be good is light varmint loads, like 45 grain HP's.

 

[browningguy]

I shoot a lot of Black Hills 55 gr. SP in my AR's and SU's and have never had a leading problem. I don't know how anyone could come up with that story for you, that's just purely made up crap. I keep mine loaded wth what they really like, Remington 50 JHP in one, Black Hills 52 gr. Match HPBT in another, and Black Hills 55 gr. SP in the other two. In the house I believe any one of those would work, but I do like the 55 gr. SP, no facts to back that up, it's just what I like.

 

[earlthegoat2]

A lot of LE I know of use Winchester Ballistic Silvertip.

 

[Bill_G]

+1 on the hornady TAP

 

[Roadwild17]

About 3 months ago my friend got a password for one of those ballistic testing sites and said the TAP and TAP FPD both scored like a 9. and a 9.3 respectively. Then was the winch ester silver tip and the speer golddot at about 8.9. He said suprisngly some federal urban tactical round that CTD sold for like 9.99 a box about 6 months ago scored an 8.5. SS109 overpentrated and only scored a 4.something and M855 scored a 4 something with the round didnt fragment and a 7.5 when the round did fragment.

I cant remember the site he told me, and I have no clue how accurate there testing is. The info is at least as credible as what you paid for it.

 

[rhinoh]

ArrogantBastard said- "I am not considering the soft point in 55gr because I read that can cause leading problems after just a few rounds"

How could a softpoint cause a leading problem? That makes no sense to me since the lead isn't actually touching the bore, someone correct me if I'm wrong

 

[rbernie]

http://ammo.ar15.com/ammo/

 

[Water-Man]

Federal Premium V-Shok

 

[Rampant_Colt]

you MAY only get one shot - make it count!

Save the varmint ammo for varmints! Too shallow penetrating...
For self-defense you need .223/5.56 bullets with some sectional density

Check out the 69gr, 75gr, & 77gr SMK match ammo made by R-P, W-W, Fed, Hornady

W-W 64gr Power Point SP <----my first choice
Corbon 55gr DPX
Federal 55gr Partition
Federal 55gr & 64gr Tru
Federal 62gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Federal 62gr JSP Tactical (LE223T3)
Hornady 75gr TAP
55gr M193

please check out this link:
http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

ArrogantBastard said- "I am not considering the soft point in 55gr because I read that can cause leading problems after just a few rounds"

How could a softpoint cause a leading problem? That makes no sense to me since the lead isn't actually touching the bore, someone correct me if I'm wrong

The feed ramps on an AR may get heavy lead deposits built-up from using softpoint bullets, causing FTF's and malfunctions

 

[jaholder1971]

At close range, there's faster velocity. Any bullet used short of a FMJ should come apart fast, do lots of damage and probably won't overpenetrate. I'd just go with whatever non FMJ feeds/functions best in your rifle and work on practice.