Looking to stock pile some ammo for my AR(s). What’s your go-to cheap but decent ammo? I’m used to Lake City 62 green-tips, but wanted to know what else anyone can recommend. I’ve heard so-so things about Wolf Gold, and Hornady Frontier as well.
What’s your go-to ammo?
- Thread starter TheBigCountry
- Start date
A little more detail will help us with recommendations... go to for "Precision" ? , Go to for Self defense ? Go to for long range ?... or just planning ahead ?
Typical distances fired ?
Budget ?
Typical FMJ has a proven history... but there are better , more consistent performing bullet designs out there.
Be sure to try a variety of brands of FMJ ammo... differences in accuracy can be dramatic. You probably would prefer your money spent on a more accurate factory load.. so test some before hand to see which one your barrel prefers.
Budget ? ... hard to beat FMJ... some of the various SP Bullets are equally inexpensive, and are decent performers. Google some of Chopping Blocks youtube gel tests.
I will add... if I were to start stock piling now, and could do it all over... XM193 and XM855 wouldn't be my first choice... or better said, get enough proven, consistent performing ammo first, or buy equal dollars worth of both at the same time.
My main reason for not making my foundation of XM ammo, has more to do with its lack of precision.... not the yaw dependent bullets used. ( FMJ )
PMC XTAC is typically ( has been for me ) more accurate then Fed. XM
So ... basically buy 200rds of Speer GD ammo ( 62gr for 14.5" and above, 55gr for shorter barrels ) or the good SD ammo of your choice , and 200rds of milspec FMJ... after a while you will a good base of proven performing ammo... and then can rest comfortably knowing you have good foundation.
I suggest this, because I have a bunch of FMJ, that is slowly being used / shot ( and mostly by others learning about AR's.) It doesn't take long for them to realize precise grouping ammo makes their training / shooting fun "easier" and the improved accuracy ( hitting what they aim at consistently ) builds more confidence, far faster, with their abilities. They can focus on their shooting skills, instead of wondering if they missed because "the ammos precision suck ? " ... or did they suck ?
Just my 2 cents.
Typical distances fired ?
Budget ?
Typical FMJ has a proven history... but there are better , more consistent performing bullet designs out there.
Be sure to try a variety of brands of FMJ ammo... differences in accuracy can be dramatic. You probably would prefer your money spent on a more accurate factory load.. so test some before hand to see which one your barrel prefers.
Budget ? ... hard to beat FMJ... some of the various SP Bullets are equally inexpensive, and are decent performers. Google some of Chopping Blocks youtube gel tests.
I will add... if I were to start stock piling now, and could do it all over... XM193 and XM855 wouldn't be my first choice... or better said, get enough proven, consistent performing ammo first, or buy equal dollars worth of both at the same time.
My main reason for not making my foundation of XM ammo, has more to do with its lack of precision.... not the yaw dependent bullets used. ( FMJ )
PMC XTAC is typically ( has been for me ) more accurate then Fed. XM
So ... basically buy 200rds of Speer GD ammo ( 62gr for 14.5" and above, 55gr for shorter barrels ) or the good SD ammo of your choice , and 200rds of milspec FMJ... after a while you will a good base of proven performing ammo... and then can rest comfortably knowing you have good foundation.
I suggest this, because I have a bunch of FMJ, that is slowly being used / shot ( and mostly by others learning about AR's.) It doesn't take long for them to realize precise grouping ammo makes their training / shooting fun "easier" and the improved accuracy ( hitting what they aim at consistently ) builds more confidence, far faster, with their abilities. They can focus on their shooting skills, instead of wondering if they missed because "the ammos precision suck ? " ... or did they suck ?
Just my 2 cents.
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IMI 77gr for my DMR/anything precision or distance related.
Whatever is cheapest/on-sale for my blasters.
Whatever is cheapest/on-sale for my blasters.
Lots of 55FMJ hand loads as well as 77SMK's. I have also been purchasing IMI 55FMJ because the prices are low and I cannot load fast enough. Pistol and Bolt guns take up to much time. A lot of people shoot 62 greentip and I don't understand it, its inaccurate and can't shoot steel with it.
For cheap plinking I like Wolf Gold. Can be had for about 27/28 cents a round if you buy in bulk. I find it generally groups a little better than xm193. Not a big fan of xm855.
For reasonably priced precision ammo anything with 77 gr Sierra Matchking is good. I find Magtech to be the most accurate, followed by IMI.
For top of the line match ammo hard to go wrong with Federal Gold Medal Match, although you might also take a look at Hornady and Prime ammo.
For reasonably priced precision ammo anything with 77 gr Sierra Matchking is good. I find Magtech to be the most accurate, followed by IMI.
For top of the line match ammo hard to go wrong with Federal Gold Medal Match, although you might also take a look at Hornady and Prime ammo.
I handload for all my shooting, I don’t save any money because I do shoot more...
I like experimenting with different bullets, powders and primers to get my AR’s shooting as accurately as possible.
That’s part of the fun of roaming your own ammo.
I like experimenting with different bullets, powders and primers to get my AR’s shooting as accurately as possible.
That’s part of the fun of roaming your own ammo.
since I cannot reload yet 6.5 cm these for cost and plinking
www.outdoorlimited.com
or the 130 gr prime . either shoot nice for the range I have to shoot at very little difference primes were lower sd's , but they both grouped real nice .
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition American Gunner H81483 140 Grain Boat Tail Hollow Point Ammo Can 200 rounds
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition American Gunner H81483 140 Grain Boat Tail Hollow Point Ammo Can 200 rounds
www.outdoorlimited.com
since I cannot reload yet 6.5 cm these for cost and plinking
or the 130 gr prime . either shoot nice for the range I have to shoot at very little difference primes were lower sd's , but they both grouped real nice .Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition American Gunner H81483 140 Grain Boat Tail Hollow Point Ammo Can 200 rounds
Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor Ammunition American Gunner H81483 140 Grain Boat Tail Hollow Point Ammo Can 200 rounds
I was going to suggest that and a few others I use for 6.5 CM but I then I realized the OP was talking about his 223 AR. Not sure if he was wanting feedback specific to that or anything in general.
If anything in general, I'll add Spark 140 ELDM to the AG 140 BTHP as I shoot those two types...
It’s for my blaster; LWRC DI with an Aimpoint Pro. I have shot a few boxes of Frontier 55grn, but read some disconcerting reports of it being loaded hot/over pressure.
General range ammo that can also be used, if the situation ever arose, for defensive purposes.
Did take a gander at the local Academy, and they had a 420 round can of Lake City 62’s on stripper clips for $164.99
General range ammo that can also be used, if the situation ever arose, for defensive purposes.
Did take a gander at the local Academy, and they had a 420 round can of Lake City 62’s on stripper clips for $164.99
Its loaded to be spec 5.56 M193 which is higher higher pressure than .223
Your badass LWRC DI is designed for all types 5.56 NATO so worry not about what poor people shoot through their home built POS's.
Not Russian....
Brass vs. Steel Cased Ammo - An Epic Torture Test
This comprehensive 40,000 round brass vs. steel cased ammo torture test examines at key indicators of ammo performance and cost in AR-15 rifles.
www.luckygunner.com
