Opinions on 5.56 ammo types and uses for each

[sleepyone]

I'm not a SHTF guy, Zombie Apocalypser or suffering from pre-election phobia, but I'm collecting 5.56 ammo before the prices get out of my reach. You would think the prices would be dropping as there is a lot of ammo coming back from Iraq and military suppliers are off-loading their surplus on retailers like Cabela's etc. But that is another thread for another day.

Most of what I have heard and read points to Lake City Brass as the most desirable. I have purchased some of the following:

Federal Lake City Brass M855 FMJ 62 gr. Steel Penetrator rounds. I bought 840 rounds for $349.98 at Academy when I purchased my S&W M&P 15 OR model but was in a hurry and did not realize they had the solid core until it was too late. These probably will not be good hunting rounds due to the steel core and over-penetration. However, they will be great for shooting hogs hiding behind a metal door.

Federal Lake City Brass XM193 FMJ 55 gr. I have 840 rounds of this ammo and really like it. This has been hard to locate although it is starting to come through the channels again. I paid $320 for 840 in a new .50 cal ammo can at Cheaper Than Dirt two weeks ago. The latest CTD catalog had them for $279.99, but they had increased that much in a few weeks.

American Eagle® Tactical Tracer Ammunition Lake City brass 64 gr. Has anyone bought these? Cabela's carries them, but they are $109.99 for 200. I really can't see any reason for tracer rounds other than the obvious. Are there any legal issues with shooting tracer ammo?

From Widener's-IMI [Israel Military Industries] IMIM193C 1200 round case IMI 55gr FMJBT Ammunition 1200 round case. As noted, these are boat tail. Anyone used these?

 

[sixgunner455]

None of those are good hunting ammo. None. Really.

Performance of FMJ bullets in game, especially out of the 5.56, is unpredictable. You might get a tremendous wound track and great fragmentation. Or you might get a tiny, narrow ice-pick hole that misses everything important and doesn't cause enough blood loss or trauma to the animal to even slow it down. Or something in between.

Pick a good soft point, like the Winchester Ranger, or a TSX.

What you have and what you are looking at are great training, practice, and range ammo choices. Get the best price you can, and shoot the snot out of your gun!

 

[GI_Jared]

You should check out ReliantAmmo.com , Their current price for a box of 50 5.56 is $13.95. Which is 28 cents a round compared to the 38 cents per round that you paid for your other purchases. I have fired roughly 500 rounds of this ammo and haven't had any problems.

 

[CDW4ME]

.223

Hunting ammo:
Factory: Barnes TSX 55 gr. + & Federal Fusion 62 gr.
Handload: Nosler Partition 60 gr.

 

[zxcvbob]

I don't know about hunting, but you're all set for zombie deer wearing bright blue steel helmets

 

[nathan]

Word zombie is getting more berserk by the day. Gun and ammo sellers are having a heyday , and thanks to the fear factor this word brings along.

 

[mortablunt]

FMJ: Military, 3-gun, and for others who need penetration, accuracy, or cannot use other types.

JHP: Hunting small to medium game. Adequate for defense in 62+grains or penetrator loadings.

JSP: Same as JSP.

TMJ: See FMJ.

Vamints: Varmints. Not suitable for defensive work.

 

[wnycollector]

Widener's-IMI [Israel Military Industries] IMIM193C 1200 round case IMI 55gr FMJBT Ammunition 1200 round case. As noted, these are boat tail. Anyone used these?

This is great ammo. I have two full 1200 round cases of this stuff and wish I had more. Clean, reliable and accurate are words to describe this ammo. This was my exclusive range ammo when widners had it in stock for $0.265/round. Now I will use it sparingly in my REECE and SDM knockoffs.

 

[sleepyone]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm on the email notification list for the IMI ammo. That Reliant Ammo looks like a good deal too. S/H is only $27.95 for 20 boxes of 50 count.

I will have to try the Barnes TSX 55 gr. + & Federal Fusion 62 gr. when I go hog hunting.

 

[rcmodel]

I would steer clear of the tracer, unless you have a safe range earth berm to shoot it into.

It is notorious for starting fires on military ranges.

And with current drought conditions in some parts of the country, you don't want to be the one burning somebody's house down in a wild fire!

rc

 

[TrickyDick]

Perhaps he drilled hole to the size of the thread tap. I.e. drilled a 14mm hole for 14mm threads. But you're supposed to take the 2nd # of the tap size and subtract it from the first # to get the hole you need. Example: 14mmx1 needs a 13mm hole. My guess is he got his math wrong and didn't go deep enough.

 

[sleepyone]

10-4 on the tracers. I don't see the need for them except for combat. too expensive and huge fire hazard.

 

[redneck2]

For what you're spending on ammo you, you could have a nice (Dillon) loader and make your own if you were so inclined. I load really high quality stuff for as little as ten cents each, though typically it's maybe seventeen to twenty five cents give or take.

Right now I've got enough stuff to load somewhere between 6-10k rounds. Haven't taken an exact inventory.

Just a thought.

 

[kenken]

I got myself some Brown Bear Ammo recently and it shoots great. It is pretty cheap also.

kenken

 

[MDH90]

+1 on not using the tracers, my dad set our hill into a small brush fire with them by accident, not fun to put out btw, only put them into a dirt berm if you ever use them.