Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

DP425

DP425

I’d rather be sleeping
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 28, 2009
3,221
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MI
#1
What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable.
 
#2
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

The 55FMJ's by Winchester are about a 1.5 MOA bullet at best, the Hornady's are very good and shoot sub MOA from my 2 rifles. The best I've gotten is overlapping holes but it wasn't a "all day" occurence. Once in a while it happens.

$440/6000 is pretty good.
 
#3
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

Right now I'm anticipating going with the hornady because the price is very good- good to hear it's a decent shooter too! Maybe someone will mention a better option.
 
#4
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

We just shot the Hornady bullets out to 750 yards last night. I was quite impressed considering it was in a cheap rifle with a really cheap scope, and the load had not been worked up for it. I load these by the thousands for 3-gun with my AR's, so it's pretty damn unlikely that we just happened on the node for that barrel.

We were hitting one in five on a 12" diameter steel plate in a strong and gusty wind. (we were doping for 48" of wind) Most misses were JUST off the edge.

We shot the same crappy load at 100 yards, and I fired a couple of sub 1" groups.

I'm pretty sure that if we worked up a load for them, they'd shoot 1/2 to 3/4 moa.
 
#5
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

Well, looking more and more like these will be the route I go- was hoping someone would post up some sort of amazing deal somewhere that couldn't be resisted. But I supposed it's already a good price as is if they shoot that well
 
#9
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

Try Wiedner's they have the mil-spec .224's and .308's bulk.

I shoot their 75gr bthp made by PRIVI. I use them for general plinking service rifle practice and especially my sub-sonic loads.

I think they are running for 5000 bulk $540.00
 
#10
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

Wideners.

The 62gn Privi (lead core) are good, cheap plinking rounds. 5000 for $370 shipped. Or the 75 as already mentioned.

http://www.wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=278|281|727

The Hornady 55 will be more accurate, but if you only care about 1.5 MOA, then Privi is fine
 
#12
Re: Cheap .224 bullets

i shoot the privi p. .224 dia. FMJSCBTs as they have a greater bearing surface in the bore, yesterday i shot a 20 round group that measured 3.5" @ 100 yds from my Mod-1 LW Defense carbine 1-9 twist with the Nightforce scope, the lead core bullets get a bit squirrelly like 5" groups from the same loading data, carbine and scope set up, haven't tried the 55 gr. bullets yet, got a couple thousand to try.
 
#14
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable. </div></div>

My two cents.... buy the Hornady. If you are going to take the time to load all those and then practice with them...go for the more accurate one. By using the better bullet you can maximize your practice time, focusing on your shooting skills. Buying mediocre bullets ( pretty much the most important part to the equation ) won't help your practice time.

Again, just my 2 cents.
 
#15
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable. </div></div>

My two cents.... buy the Hornady. If you are going to take the time to load all those and then practice with them...go for the more accurate one. By using the better bullet you can maximize your practice time, focusing on your shooting skills. Buying mediocre bullets ( pretty much the most important part to the equation ) won't help your practice time.

Again, just my 2 cents.</div></div>

It depends on what you're shooting. If you're shooting full torso's out to only 2-3 hundred yards with a rack grade M4 and a red dot then you probably aren't going to notice a difference between cheap surplus ammo and 75 SMKs.

Boyette did a combat rifle class a couple years ago and one of the points he made was where he demonstrated that 90% of the people there couldn't tell a difference in their hit % with the carbine out to 500yds between high quality handloads and privi surplus. The guns, the shooters, the conditions, the requirements just didn't add up to it really making any difference.

I've used Widners 62gr stuff and it's perfectly fine for carbine practice. Just don't try to use it for what it wasn't intended for (eg MOA hits at long ranges).
 
#16
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. </div></div>

Where?

Midway is out of stock / no backorder...

Thanks,
-Slice
 
#17
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HomeSlice</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. </div></div>

Where?

Midway is out of stock / no backorder...

Thanks,
-Slice
</div></div>

Didn't say they had it in stock- it'll come back in eventually- I'm in no big hurry. Just bought 1300rds loaded ammo for $30/100... So I'm good for a little while, till I figure out what bullet I'll shoot
 
#18
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable. </div></div>




My two cents.... buy the Hornady. If you are going to take the time to load all those and then practice with them...go for the more accurate one. By using the better bullet you can maximize your practice time, focusing on your shooting skills. Buying mediocre bullets ( pretty much the most important part to the equation ) won't help your practice time.

Again, just my 2 cents.</div></div>

It depends on what you're shooting. If you're shooting full torso's out to only 2-3 hundred yards with a rack grade M4 and a red dot then you probably aren't going to notice a difference between cheap surplus ammo and 75 SMKs.

Boyette did a combat rifle class a couple years ago and one of the points he made was where he demonstrated that 90% of the people there couldn't tell a difference in their hit % with the carbine out to 500yds between high quality handloads and privi surplus. The guns, the shooters, the conditions, the requirements just didn't add up to it really making any difference.

I've used Widners 62gr stuff and it's perfectly fine for carbine practice. Just don't try to use it for what it wasn't intended for (eg MOA hits at long ranges). </div></div>


Yeah this is for carbine use- through an M&P15 w/factory barrel. Not to discount the accuracy abilities of this rifle- I've heard of some shooting 1moa out of the box... but that's not what I bought it for. It's for carbine usage within 600m MAX. Sure 1moa is nice, but 1.5-ish will work just fine for me. I'm looking to have a load closer to what you'd see in M855 62gr than Mk 262 or 100yrd bench-rest 55gr. So I almost would rather see a bit of spread.
 
#20
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable. </div></div>

My two cents.... buy the Hornady. If you are going to take the time to load all those and then practice with them...go for the more accurate one. By using the better bullet you can maximize your practice time, focusing on your shooting skills. Buying mediocre bullets ( pretty much the most important part to the equation ) won't help your practice time.

Again, just my 2 cents.</div></div>

It depends on what you're shooting. If you're shooting full torso's out to only 2-3 hundred yards with a rack grade M4 and a red dot then you probably aren't going to notice a difference between cheap surplus ammo and 75 SMKs.

Boyette did a combat rifle class a couple years ago and one of the points he made was where he demonstrated that 90% of the people there couldn't tell a difference in their hit % with the carbine out to 500yds between high quality handloads and privi surplus. The guns, the shooters, the conditions, the requirements just didn't add up to it really making any difference.

I've used Widners 62gr stuff and it's perfectly fine for carbine practice. Just don't try to use it for what it wasn't intended for (eg MOA hits at long ranges). </div></div>

I Agree with all you say...but I've also found that if the ammo is not very accurate ( soda pop can at 50-75 yards ) my "shooting skills" turn into a mild version of "spray n' pray", in other words, I'll just keep pullin' the trigger until I hit it. That type of practice..I don't need. The gain in accuracy allows me to limit one other variable from the overall equation. As far as 55 grain FMJ bullets go... the Hornady 55 FMJ has a great accuracy/for the cost record, as far as I can remember better then any other "cheap" 55 FMJ. You also can find a decent "load" far easier.

I'm not sayin' you need MOA for practice/plinkin' , just that for a few dollars more you get a lot of added benefits. The Hornady 55 FMJ's are ( as far as I'm concerned ) your best "bang for the buck".
 
#21
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bfoosh</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys running for your plinking .224 (.223rem) bullets? I've found 55gr hornady for about $440/6000, they have great reviews on midway. Also found armscor 62gr for about $370/4000, and they have mediocre reviews.

I'd like 62gr-ish, but I don't want to pay big $$$ to get some that shoot halfway decent! And I'm not even looking for 1moa out of it- 1.5-2 would be acceptable. </div></div>

My two cents.... buy the Hornady. If you are going to take the time to load all those and then practice with them...go for the more accurate one. By using the better bullet you can maximize your practice time, focusing on your shooting skills. Buying mediocre bullets ( pretty much the most important part to the equation ) won't help your practice time.

Again, just my 2 cents.</div></div>

It depends on what you're shooting. If you're shooting full torso's out to only 2-3 hundred yards with a rack grade M4 and a red dot then you probably aren't going to notice a difference between cheap surplus ammo and 75 SMKs.

Boyette did a combat rifle class a couple years ago and one of the points he made was where he demonstrated that 90% of the people there couldn't tell a difference in their hit % with the carbine out to 500yds between high quality handloads and privi surplus. The guns, the shooters, the conditions, the requirements just didn't add up to it really making any difference.

I've used Widners 62gr stuff and it's perfectly fine for carbine practice. Just don't try to use it for what it wasn't intended for (eg MOA hits at long ranges). </div></div>

I Agree with all you say...but I've also found that if the ammo is not very accurate ( soda pop can at 50-75 yards ) my "shooting skills" turn into a mild version of "spray n' pray", in other words, I'll just keep pullin' the trigger until I hit it. That type of practice..I don't need. The gain in accuracy allows me to limit one other variable from the overall equation. As far as 55 grain FMJ bullets go... the Hornady 55 FMJ has a great accuracy/for the cost record, as far as I can remember better then any other "cheap" 55 FMJ. You also can find a decent "load" far easier.

I'm not sayin' you need MOA for practice/plinkin' , just that for a few dollars more you get a lot of added benefits. The Hornady 55 FMJ's are ( as far as I'm concerned ) your best "bang for the buck". </div></div>

If you're not able to hit a soda can @ 50yds, there is something seriously wrong well beyond the type of bullet you used. Even the cheapest crap should be able to hold 3 MOA.
 
#22
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

Every Hornady bullet I've ever tried in .224 and .308 cals shot excellent with the right load, and most did'nt require a lot of load work up. I'm a big fan of v-max and A-max bullets in my 223, the 75g a-maxes are the only 75g bullet that will shoot good out of my gun. I've tried several brands including Berger vld's and none shot under 1 moa with any load I tested. Both the 50 v-maxes and 75 a-maxes shoot .5 moa consistently out of a stock Stevens action with a varmint contour savage barrel. A couple Seirra and Nolser bullets shoot pretty good out of my 223 and 308 but the Hornadys are usually much cheaper. Great bullets for the money imo and I will continue to use them.
 
#24
Re: Cheap .223rem bulk bullets

[quote

If you're not able to hit a soda can @ 50yds, there is something seriously wrong well beyond the type of bullet you used. Even the cheapest crap should be able to hold 3 MOA.
[/quote]

I was over-embellishing, allthough there are plenty of crappy factory loads to use as an example...ATI, 2/3s of the way down the page... http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=61782

The whole point I was trying to make is, use the more accurate bullet. I see no really good reason not to. Sometimes saving a few bucks isn't worth the added "hassle" involved. Again , just my two cents.
 
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