Need help selecting 5.56 Ammo

[WRGADog]

I recently purchased S&W M&P15X, 5.56, 1/9 twist, 16 inch barrel, and frankly know little about ammunition for this weapon. The LGC recommended Federal XM193F, 55g, M193 ball, metal case Boat tail Bullet. I use the gun for HD and at the range. I would appreciate any advice/help you can offer regarding ammunition selection. Thanks in advance.

 

[hillbillydelux]

Winchester 5.56 FMJ shoots well in my AR and gives about 3200 FPS

PMC .223 bronze 55gn FMJ shoots well and gives about 2800 FPS

Blackhills 68gn match shoots best groups for factory ammo at about 2700 FPS

All the above are from a Bushmaster 20" barrel 1/9 twist

 

[Mr. T]

5.56 MM Ammunition

I have personally found the Federal 69 grain hollow point boat tails to provide the greatest accuracy with the greatest knockdown power. Check out the ballistic's data for yourself on Federal's website. If there's more powerful ammo out there I haven't found it yet.

 

[taliv]

prvi m193

 

[Maverick223]

I try to stick to LC, Fed. XM193, Win. 5.56, or Win. White Box HMJ; when that supply is exhausted I will reluctantly go with PMC. I have had poor results using Wolf (turns into a bolt action) and will not buy any more. I typically stay away from all steel cased ammo and Rem./UMC. Recently I mistakenly purchased some Golden Bear (thinking it was brass cased) and had good results out of it, so I may give Prvi, Brown Bear, etc a shot. I have worked out a solution for the gas venting problem in my rifle (M17 belches gas in your face) so I may give the dirty UMC rounds another shot (they cycled well).

 

[surjimmy]

My Rock River likes PMC Bronze.

 

[jackdanson]

Fed xm193 or prvi 193 are decent all around ammo for use. Cheap too. (well, cheap for ammo nowadays)

 

[Maverick223]

I didn't even realize that Prvi made M193...if I come across some I will give it a try.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

I've had the best results using Prvi Partizan 69gr match ammo out of my 16" Bravo Co. carbine, with the 1/7" twist. Next best thing for accuracy has been Ultramax 68 grain hollow points, but I'm weary of shooting these reloads out of my expensive AR, but I can't help it they make nice consistent groups. 55 grain pills are common around here but they don't group well at all past 100 yards with the fast twist, and finding anything heaver is hard and expensive. But the OP has the 1/9" so 55 grain bullets will work just fine out of it. My old upper was a 1/9" Bushy and I routinely shot 55 grain FMJ at silhouettes up to 400 yards and the 55 grain shot well enough at said distance.

I've had good results using Brown Bear 62gr hollow points, they were accurate and consistent/powerful enough to reliably cycle my heavy H2 buffer (many worry the Russian 223 is weak and can cause short-stroking issues). My only gripe with Brown Bear is the hard primers. About one out of every 30 to 40 rounds required two strikes to ignite.

 

[shooterer]

If you are just plinking with the rifle, buy what ever is cheap. They are all going to hold 2 - 2 1/2 MOA, you should be able to get them for $0.35- 0.45 per round.

If you are going to shoot some sort of bullseye target match, you may need something a little tighter. Try Black Hills 62 grain, it may cost you $0.80 per shot.

Jim