Not sure what to feed your AR for the range and home defense? Or the difference between 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington?
We’ll go over caliber, barrel twist, bullet type, and price range to find your perfect fit.
“CPR” = cost per round.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Overall 5.56 Pick
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M193 5.56 Pick
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Best Green Tip 5.56
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Runner-Up Green Tip 5.56
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Best Overall .223 Ammo
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Best Precision .223
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Best Self-Defense Round
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Best 5.56/.223 Ammo
The Pew Pew Tactical team and writers have been shooting AR-15s for collective decades and have used almost every ammo available under the sun.
Our experience spans competition, law enforcement, military, and fun range plinking.
We’ve shot at least one thousand rounds of each pick for the match grade ammo and nearly tens of thousands for the range and plinking ammo.
We use our picks weekly during our testing of AR’s and other 5.56/.223 chambered rifles. And we’ll include the grouping results.
These are our favorite 5.56 and .223 ammo that we chose based on availability, cost, performance, and reliability.
Best 5.56 Ammo
We’re sticking to 55/62 grain bullets that are close to military specifications.
These are the rounds that we’ve shot tons of and never had a problem.
Best Overall 5.56 Pick – AAC
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Clean burning
- Very reliable
- Several different bullet weights
- Surprising accuracy
Cons
- Stock still goes in and out
Specs
- Bullet Type: Full-Metal Jacket, Boat Tail
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 55gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3175 fps
What we’ve been shooting the most at the Pew Pew Tactical ranch this year at an average use of 1000 rounds a month.
AAC has been stepping it up with production although it still seems to go in and out of stock on the site when demand is high.
It shoots reliably with surprisingly good accuracy and doesn’t leave our guns filthy even when suppressed.
We were recently able to get accuracy to 1 MOA at 100 yards prone with a folding AR platform. Great for what’s the most affordable of all our picks.
There’s also different bullet weight loads for AAC 5.56…check them out here.
M193 5.56 Pick – PMC X-TAC 55gr
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Meets M193 velocity standards
- More affordable option
- Always went bang
- Sealed primer pockets
Cons
- Sometimes out of stock
Specs
- Bullet Type: Full-Metal Jacket, Boat Tail
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 55gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3270 fps
Our first choice for 5.56 ammo is PMC’s X-TAC XM193 55gr because it’s likely in stock, usually the more affordable option, and has always gone bang for us.
Its internal designation is 5.56X and it closely mimics the US military’s M193 ammo specs without the price hike.
Plus it comes with sealed primer pockets (that red “circle”paint” around the primer) that protects against wet contamination of the primer.
We got a pretty average 2-3 MOA round group testing an Aero Precision M4E1 16″ upper and shooting about 1 shot a second which mimics potential non-precision use.
A great overall round for your AR-15 or other firearm.
Runner-Up M193 5.56 – American Eagle XM193
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Another affordable option
- Very reliable
- US manufactured
Cons
- Slightly slower at 3165 fps
Specs
- Bullet Type: Full-Metal Jacket, Boat Tail
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 55gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3165 fps
Our other favorite M193 pick is American Eagle’s XM193 since it’s never failed to go *boom.*
However, it’s usually not in stock as much as the PMC X-TAC and is slightly slower at 3165 fps.
Some boxes will come in convenient 10-round stripper clips for quick loading mags.
Best Green Tip 5.56 – Winchester 5.56 XM855
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Adheres to NATO M855 specs
- SS109 steel penetrator
- Very reliable
Cons
- Will destroy range steel targets
Specs
- Bullet Type: Steel Penetrator with Full-Metal Jacket
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 62gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3100 fps
The M855 round designation has a steel penetrator tip (SS109) for better barrier penetration and has been a mainstay ammo of US troops.
It’s manufactured for civilians but strictly adheres to NATO specs.
And it’s easily discernible with its “green tip.”
We’ve had 100% reliability with our Winchester M855s across several boxes through the years. Not something we say lightly.
We’ve also seen around the 2-3 MOA mark for M855.
What we here at Pew Pew Tactical stack deep for a rainy day.
Note: many ranges will not allow M855 because the steel penetrators will destroy their metal targets or over-penetrate their barricades…so make sure before you load up!
Runner-Up Green Tip 5.56 – PMC X-TAC LAP
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- More affordable M855 variant
- SS109 steel penetrator
- Good brass for reloading
Cons
- Will destroy range steel targets
Specs
- Bullet Type: Steel Penetrator with Full-Metal Jacket
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 62gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3100 fps
PMC’s X-TAC M855 variant LAP is our go-to for more affordable green tip that still always goes bang.
We’ve shot less X-TAC M855 compared to the Winchester but it also matches the 100% reliability factor.
The brass is also quite good for reloading if that’s your thing.
5.56 and .223 Ammo in Stock
Best .223 Remington Ammo
Best Overall .223 Ammo – PMC Bronze
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
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Pros
- Great for range shooting
- Softer shooting load
- Brass is great for reloading
Specs
- Bullet Type: Full-Metal Jacket
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 55gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3200 fps
If your barrel is .223 or if you want to shoot some slightly lighter loads in your 5.56 barrel.
My personal favorite .223 is PMC Bronze since it’s affordable and the brass is great for reloading.
This is one of the over 10,000 rounds we’ve collectively shot since for the longest time it was the most readily available and affordable before AAC spun up.
During testing of the Aero Precision M4E1 we got a 10 round 1 MOA group with PMC Bronze. Pretty great for a general plinking round.
Plus…it’s on the low end of felt recoil so I love it for competition.
Best Precision .223 – Federal Gold Match 69gr
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
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Pros
- Most accurate load
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Bullet Type: Sierra MatchKing Hollow-Point Boat Tail
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Weight: 69 gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 2950 fps
Our favorite when we do our accuracy testing.
And the “gold” standard for accurate factory match ammo.
If your gun and you do your part…you can get sub-MOA groups.
The increased 69gr weight compared to the 55gr of regular rounds is better suited for most AR-15 barrels that have a 1:7 twist.
However, you’re likely not going to be loading up full mags of this stuff so it’s usually more suited for precision bolt guns chambered in .223 Remington.
If you want to find out the accuracy of your rifle/barrel or really stretch out your rig…try out Federal’s Gold Medal.
Best Self-Defense 5.56/.223 Ammo
For self-defense, you want the bullet to put all its energy into the bad guy by breaking apart.
That means FMJ and the penetrator rounds are usually not the best choices.
I recommend going with specific use self-defense ammo that is hollow/soft point and used by law enforcement.
Best Self-Defense Round – Speer Gold Dot Duty 55 gr
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Used by lots of law enforcement
- Nickel plated to resist corrosion
- Soft point
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Bullet Type: Soft Point
- Case: Nickel Plated Brass
- Bullet Weight: 55 gr
- Muzzle Velocity: 3220 fps
My go-to brand for rifle self-defense rounds…Gold Dot.
Used by tons of law enforcement agencies and what I load into my home defense AR-15s.
The nickel plated brass casing doesn’t tarnish from finger oils and feeds slightly better in magazines. Plus the primer pockets are sealed for extra security.
But still make sure to test this round with full magazines or however you intend on leaving it. And be sure to re-confirm zero on your optics if you zeroed with another type of round.
Accuracy for Gold Dot is usually on par with other plinking rounds and has ranged for us from 1-3 MOA. Plenty great for closer self-defense situations.
AR-15 Calibers: 5.56 vs .223
Your average AR-15 comes in two popular calibers, the 5.56x45mm NATO and the .223 Remington.
You can double-check what it is by looking at your model specs or physically on your barrel, which should be stamped with the caliber and barrel twist rate.
The two cartridges are physically identical but the 5.56 may be loaded to higher pressures than .223 ammunition.
The .223 is a civilian round and has SAAMI specs (an organization that sets standards for pressure and dimensions) while the 5.56 is a military round that has its own specifications that might require higher pressure for higher velocity.
Therefore, it’s best to follow the advice:
- 5.56 chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Wylde chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Rem chamber: OK to fire only .223
Please note that .223 Rem and .223 Wylde are not the same things. One (Wylde) is perfectly safe to fire either 5.56 or .223; however, a .223 Rem chamber is not safe to fire 5.56 NATO.
Your barrel or rifle probably won’t instantly blow up from shooting a 5.56 in a .223, but why risk it?
Combined with the variance in the machining of the barrel and ammo production standards, it’s best to use the proper ammunition.
AR-15 Barrel Twist
Your barrel stamp should indicate the barrel twist after the caliber.
You should see a ratio of 1:7 all the way up to 1:12, it means that the barrel will spin the bullet one revolution every X inches. Most barrels will be from 1:7 to 1:9 twist, with the most popular being 1:9.
Take a look at the chart below to see the ideal twist rate for your barrel.
The heavier grain bullets are usually reserved for the military and their tracer rounds.
With normal cartridges, you’re most likely to see 55-grain and 62-grain bullets. These are fine to shoot in 1:7 to 1:9 barrels, and you probably won’t even notice a difference up to 300 yards.
Bullet Types
You’ll see two big families of bullet types, the full metal jackets (FMJ) and the hollowpoint/soft-points (HP/SP).
The FMJs are great for plinking, while HP/SP are more for home defense or long-range applications. FMJ is also sometimes called Ball ammo.
Don’t you love multiple names for things…
Other confusing acronyms you might see include (BT), which means boat-tail and indicate the back of the bullet has a more aerodynamic shape than simply cutting off straight.
Lastly, if you’re looking at military 5.56 rounds, you’ll see M193 and M855. The 55-grain M193 is the standard FMJ of the military, while the 62-grain M855 is the “green tip” penetrator round that has a steel rod inside.
Things to keep in mind for M193 vs M855:
- Pricing is similar
- M855 is better at penetration (duh?)
- Some ranges do not allow steel core ammo like the M855
- M193 is better at soft targets under 100 yards
- More info about the differences
- Most of the time, you’ll see XM instead of just M… which means it didn’t quite meet military specifications but still meets commercial specs. Learn more here.
FAQs
What 5.56 round does the military use?
The US military uses 5.56 M855 "green tips" which have the SS109 steel penetrator bullet.
Is green tip 5.56 armor piercing?
No, but it does have a steel penetrator bullet which helps against barriers.
Can you shoot 5.56 and .223 out of the same gun?
Usually yes, but sometimes 5.56 can be loaded to a higher pressure than civilian .223 rounds.
What's the best AR-15 self-defense ammo?
Something with a soft tip or hollow point such as Speer Gold Dot.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, our recommendations for the best AR-15 ammo in both .223 and 5.56.
Let us know what you went with and how it runs in your AR.
Want more AR-15 guides…check them all out here. Looking for a new AR? Check out our huge Best AR-15s Guide.
LATEST UPDATES
April 11, 2024 – Updated How We Test and personal experiences with each. Removed Tula because of import sanctions and Varmint Express.
February 11, 2024 – Updated latest ammo situation due to Californians able to buy ammo online. Updated AAC 55gr accuracy reports.
128 Leave a Reply
I must make a correction to the top of the article. I live in California and we are NOT able to buy ammo on line. Even though it was passed by one judge for 2 -3 days max it was overturned as usual by the 9th circuit and has become unavailable for us to buy once again.
It was nice while it lasted.
Great article (and comments) as always on this website! I wish I’d researched the Tula .223 ammo more before buying it. After only a couple hundred rounds shot, the barrel of my AR was FILTHY. Now, I still find cleaning my firearms actually very relaxing, but…DAMN!
Eric missed best price and best quality by a mile.
And, you can get discounts in addition to the regular price.
AAC 55gr is crap. Having consistent failures to eject spent casing shot from PSA m4. Rifle shoots all other ammo including other AAC ammo, but the 55gr is worthless. Do not buy
I don't think the .224 Valkyrie deserves to be left for dead - it's still a very new round, and for varminters used to using .223 or 5.56, it has far more capability, and stays supersonic FAR longer.. it may be a niche round, but it does have usefulness to a slice of gunners out there..
For (inside the home) common interior-sheetrock-exterior-brick combination structure home defense with .223/5.56 with an AR go with FMJ XM193 or M193. Its overall less likely (even compared to some frangible and pistol rounds) to penetrate the common interior-sheetrock-exterior-brick combination (enough) to leave the home thus lessens the worry of you accidentally landing rounds in your neighbors home while shooting the bad guy(s) in your own home while still being effective for defense in home defense situations against the bad guy(s).
BTW, just to clarify for the newbie, that's FMJ XM193 or M193 55 gr.
I've been a reloader for over45 years, so I don't even bother with steel cased or Berdan Primed Ammo. I had a brass plated steel case get into my .300 AAC ammo I was reloading that ruined my Decapping/Sizing die (scored the die wall), I must have missed it when sorting. The point though is, if it can score a die wall, then it's not a good thing to be running into my rifles chamber in my opinion. I don't care about the claims it's completely safe, because it only takes once to screw things up.
Since I swapped to a 1:8 twist in my 5.56s, I prefer the 77 gr bullet to the M193 and M855 bullets, and I get good accuracy and performance with IMI's 77gr Sierra Match King BTs. I usually order it from Midway when they put it on sale every other month at $14-$15/20 rounds.
I do have a quite a bit of XM193 & XM855 from American Eagle still on hand. I use it for plinking/Target practice and as I've still got quite a bit of components for each, I reload about 3/4ths in 55gr or 62gr, but about 25% I load up in the 77gr. Trying to hit a goal of 3,000 in each bullet weight. I'm about 2/3rds of the way there.
For my Home Defense Mags (in any calibdr), I keep them loaded with Factory ammo, in case of litigation. It hasn't happened yet in a court case that I'm aware of, but I believe it's just a matter of time before so scum sucking, bottom feeding Lawyer tries to make home reloaded ammo as being designed to kill, and claim it exceeds factory ammo in a court case.
I do keep a Log Book of my ammo, both on my computer, and a hard copy. So without even looking through my ammo cans, I can reference exactly ehatvI have on hand from .22 LR up to .338 Win Mag. Even if you don't reload, I highly recommend doing that for anyone stockpiling ammo. Not only does it help you keep track of what you've used and bought, it also serves as physical evidence in case of loss through firevor theft with your home owner's insurance for recompensation.
Unless you can prove you had it, Insurance companies will deny the claim.
Clarification request:
I thought, in wounding, the 5.56 55 gr FMJ DID fragment, by design.
Is your article statement "NOT THE BEST FOR SELF DEFENSE due to the 55gr being overly stabilized? I'm confused.
Have you ever wondered why most of the ammo available to civilians is 55gr ball M193 but the barrels sold by most manufacturers are 1-in-7 twist? Why is the next most commonly available civilian ammo 62gr M855/SS109 first issued in 1983? Have you ever wondered why it is nearly impossible to find 77gr MK 262 MOD 1-C on the civilian market, and if you do, it is ~$2 to ~$3 per round?
I usually get the IMI 77gr Match King ammo for $14-$15/20 from Midway. Brings it down to $0.75 per round.
Prices have almost doubled for ammo since this article was "updated" which seems like it really wasn't.
As a reloader, it would be helpful to also indicate whether each case is boxer primer, and whether the primers are crimped. Swaging primer pockets is tedious.
I can't use anything lighter than 69 gr. if I expect any kind of accuracy in my barrel due to 1:7 twist. Hornaday Black in 75 gr. so far provides the best accuracy, but I need to test some others including the Federal you recommend above.
I only use 5.56, so what is a good home defense round that's not .223?
I note the chart for bullet weight vs twist assuming one is using a 16" bbl, I presume.
Now........ with a 10.5 - 11 inch AR pistol length bbl, will a 55gr bullet be stabilized but not OVERLY twisted using a 1:7 or 1:8 twist? Anyone experiment with this and know?
Know I'm giving up velocity/energy in the shorter bbl, but perhaps with the light 55gr load to push, maybe not as much as a heavier bullet.
(Know in the 16" bbl using 55gr you are best off with the 1:9 twist so it doesn't cause the jacket to misbehave.)
Thanks guys!
I often wonder what difference it makes if ammo is good, when you can't buy it anywhere anyway...
its always been available online
ammo seek dot com
TONS of it online, just gotta pay a little extra.
the nice thing about an intermediate cartridge carbine vs a pistol caliber carbine:
range ammo and defense ammo = same ammo
No mention of IMI ammo from Israel was a surprise.
By the time this article posted, everything I would have bought at Lucky Gunner was already OUT OF STOCK!!!
I feel you! Ammo makers are still having a tough time meeting the demand. I suggest checking back with your favorite retailers regularly. (That's what I'm doing these days.)
I've got over 3,000 rounds of American Eagle XM193, and 2,000 rounds of PMC’s X-TAC XM855. Had it for a while, got it long before the prices started going up. Both of these are my favorites.
Last Wednesday (5/26/21) I made a random stop at my local sporting goods store and found ALL ammo in stock. I bought PMC XTAC $13.99 per 20 rounds and Blazer 9mm $20.99 per 50 rounds. Three boxes per visit limit. Needless to say me, my wife and oldest daughter made several "visits" that day.
I don't know when you gathered this infomation, but, nothing was in stock when I went to view the details. Nothing! Even with the "OUT OF STOCK" sign out. The price was higher than your article on all
of the offerings. Sorry man . . . it is what it is! So, that said . . . what do you have to offer in real time?
Sorry, the prices and stock were accurate at the time of writing. Things have been changing rapidly in the last year.
In the'last year'? This article JUST POSTED!
Ditto!!!
"The 55 grain M193 is the standard FMJ of the military while the 62 grain M855 is the “green tip” penetrator round that has a steel rod inside."
M193 hasn't been the standard round for ages. M855 was for decades after M193 and now M855A1 is. No steel "rod" in M855, the front of the bullet is steel and the rear lead, it is also not considered armor piercing whereas an all steel core is.
"The heavier grain bullets are usually reserved for the military and their tracer rounds."
No, the M856 tracer is only 63.7 grains and plenty of people shoot 70-80 grain bullets for long range target.
BTW the twist rate for stability has more to do with length of the projectile than mass, see Greenhill's formula.
Accuracy (pun intended) in journalism is, sadly, a thing of the past.
"Craziness from 2020 has spilled into 2021 and our sources say ammo may not return to normal supplies until Summer 2021."
You taking bets on that statement? Put me down for 5 large.
I've had good success with IMI M193 in 55 grain.
I am new gun owner great information.
Three words: OUT OF STOCK.
Have you heard of HORNADY?
I am surprised that I have not seen in the list IMI M855 62 grain
How can you not have Black Hills MK 262 in your top 10? Just curious. Thanks.
i use Frontier 55 grn fmj never a problem and i get great accuracy, i have an AR 18" S.S. 1x7 Wylde (from PSA) that prefers Fiocchi 55 grn i get 1 MOA with both
5.56X45 55gr projectile (original mil-spec flavor) was designed for a 1:12" spin. It will stabilize in the 1:9" but isnt optimal. With the short barrels used on the M4 it probably doesnt matter that much. I like something in the range of a 69gr bullet (when they can be found) for hunting in my 1:9" twist in my old (original) Bushmaster.
I remember my dad talking about 'the Army', he was 'Active Duty' at the time, having to 'change bullets' (it was actually barrel twist rates) after an uproar in the media about the horrible wounds the M16's ammo produced in Vietnam.
Back in the day, when 1-in-12 was the only twist rate available, Massad Ayoob recommended Federal 40 grain Varmint & Predator .223 for home defense. The 40 grain bullet at 3,800 fps was supposed to be devastating on soft targets at household distances but would not penetrate walls, studs, and so forth. Still sounds good to me, but try finding a 1-in-12 barrel these days (unless you order a Brownells retro rifle). With a 1-in-7 barrel you cannot shoot bullets much lighter than 62 grains, 55 at a minimum, so nowadays I'd go with the Black Hills 77 grain OTM SMK.
On the other hand, if you don't care about the cost, and you have a 1:7 barrel... hands down, the best factory load for defense is Black Hills with the 77gr Sierra TMK. I have not seen anything that compares to the 77gr TMK in terminal ballistics. It's brutal. There is a reason why SOCOM loads it in their MK18's. Just saying.
I run the Frontier 68gr OTM in all of my AR-15 rifles 1-7 or 1-9 it is good to go
what's a good home protection gun for a novice
I choose an AR-15, but there are many options. What works best for you depends on your situation. Take a look at our Best Home Defense Gun [Shotgun Vs Pistol Vs Rifle] for details and comparisons!
Dan, I STRONGLY SUGGEST ANY 12 Gauge Shotgun with 00 buck ammo. Also if you are in CA and get raped on ANY gun you choose, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND going by Big5 since a few years ago around Christmas I picked up a Maverick 88 for $185.00! This is UNheard of normally in CA because at the time, the same Manufacturer (Mossberg) was offering almost an IDENTICAL 12GA. for $339.00 for basically the same exact Shotgun. So even if you already picked one up, check their weekly ad between Black Friday and Christmas and I promise that you'll be more than satisfied. Cheers!
Ditto on the Hornady FTX for home defense!!
You skipped IMI 5.56. Really good, inexpensive.
Green tip ammo does not have a "steel rod" inside. It is a steel cone.
Green tips are also a waste of money. It’s a bit more stable at distance while XM193 travels fast enough to penetrate level III+ armor
855 does indeed have a steel rod just behind the tip. I estimate it’s approx 3/4” long and maybe 1/16th in diameter
Whats the best 5.56/ .223 ammo to shoot from a 7.5 Barrel AR pistol w/ 1:7 twist? Can i run a heavier grain than 80?
Suppressed!! I forgot to add. Whats the best ammo to shoot suppressed from these specs.
Hey man. I fought the same battle with a 7.5” with a can and after what seemed like an eternity I finally settled on the 62 grain FMJ 5.56 from Magtech for training and paper punching. I also keep Federals 69 grain SMK handy for serious work.
I’m an avid target shooter, and I would like to know your recommendations for a all wood Ak47 that fits the highest standards of quality, and yet exist on the market for sale. I own a Wasr, and I own an AR bushmaster- I decided to buy a M&P AR and want to to upgrade my AK and keep the same look and traditional feel. AR are cool to tac up, the AK looks better naked.
Arsenal
Surprised you didn't mention Hornady in your list of best ar rounds in .223. With their excellent engineering, variety of various offerings, and supreme craftsmanship in their ammo one can't go wrong in using it from game to targets. They are the top of the list in my experience.
Article is due for an update soon and we were planning on adding Hornady, their .223 ammo is very nice and is what is currently loaded in my HD AR.
Are you serious? It was #8
Have you tried Frontier(Hornady/ Lake City) 223 / 556 offerings?
I find the 55gr PMC bronze shoots well but runs quite dirty/smokey.
When it first released we heard nothing but horrible things about it, however it seems they have fixed the issues. I haven't personally run any yet, but based off of feedback it should be good to go.
... I give the edge to hornady since I live their pistol defensive ammo. That's merely opinion, if you are making recommendations at least use factual evidence to present an arguement. In a self defense situation price is irrelevant too, buy the best most reliable and effective ammo so you don't have to worry. Hornady doesn't even make the best pistol ammo. Anyway, the other issue is so much ammo left out. I'd say the biggest one being neglected is MagTech for price, target ammo, "always goes bang" and groups really well.
Magtech in my experience has been awesome. Their 77gr OTM is mega accurate in my 18” guns and I use their 55 grain in all the others.
Hornady Steel Match 75 gr BTHP. Cheap and stunningly accurate with the right twist...
accurate 5.56 is Hornadys Frontier 55g HP. Inexpensive too. Shoots (for me) 1 moa and better.
I buy Fiocchi's 50 grain V-Max for SD (and range training) that sells for under $20 for a box of 50. They also have a hotter 55 grain V-Max but I like the less recoil with the former. FYI: Hornaday makes their V-Max bullets. Fiocchi has clean, accurate ammo.
My second choice are the new Hornaday Black 75gr. Interlock SBR rounds that actually work quite well in a carbine even though they were designed for 11.5" barrels.
All good choices, I also like Fiocchi quite a bit, especially for shotgun ammo. I'll have to shoot more of the AR stuff, thanks for the tip!
oooo good. Cheap ammo... :P when do we get one of these for AR10?
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-308-ammo/
:D
I've experienced very respectable accuracy with "Geco" (50 rd. box) of both .223 & 5,56, "Hornady - Black" (20 rd. box) of .223 & 5,56 and "Lapua" .223 in the 50 rd. box. Plus they all make excellent brass for reloading my own. Best results are with my own "worked up" reloads.
Warning!!! This is my 2 cents. I'm not claiming to be an expert, just going with my experience.
After dozens of hours on the internet and several sessions on the range, I have found that the best milspec ammo that I can find, for my 16", 1:7 twist barreled rifle, is Sellier & Bellot M855/SS109 ammo. It gives me the best groups at 100 yards, almost always sub-MOA, and I have no problems hitting a human sized torso target, somewhat center mass, every time out to 500 yards. I've never had a single issue with them. I tried several others, of the 55 and 62 gr., and these are the best milspec that I found.
They are hard to find. I'm out right now. Ammunition To Go and Ammo For Sale generally have them. They are out as I am writing this. If you know another place to get them, please let us all know.
The best thing to do, really, is to try as many as you can and then pick the best for your rifle, at a price that you think is reasonable.
I would also like to point out that saying the heavier a bullet/projectile the more rotations it needs to maintain stability is not entirely accurate. To be accurate, it's that the longer the bullet the more rotations it needs to maintain stability. I realize that in general the heavier a bullet the longer it is, but there are exceptions. As a rule of thumb, weight of the projectile can be used to determine the right ammo, but be aware that these exceptions exist and if you run across some ammo that defies the logic of the bullet weight/barrel twist relationship, you will know why.
I know this is an old post but the information is still relevant so I’m wondering if you have tried any 5.56 loads from Magtech?
The shooting instructor a 25 year retried cop/swat. That i took classes from has seen & used the Hornady 223rem 55gr TAP Urban. He was very impressed with it & it didn't exit the people shot with it. I found it for $13/20rd box at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore 3/18 Just my 2 cents.
should state this is talking about 223 Rem, since wylde is safe for both
Hey, can you guys do am update on all your recommended ammo pages for various calibers? I've read the 9mm, .40, .45, and .223/5.56 articles, and many of the recommendations seem to be based on Federal's awesome rebate last year. Updated recommendations based on non-rebate pricing would be great. Thanks, love the site. :)
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most people choose mil-spec because it is so readily available. In the event of a catastrophe and economic collapse / zombie apocalypse, many people with AR-15s will have mil-spec weapon systems. If they go down and you need parts for your weapon you have a higher probability of solving your problem by taking someone else's weapon if it is in fact mil-spec. I believe that's why most people try to stick with that. As for the ammo choice, why wouldn't someone look at the 300 Blackout? It's far superior in short and medium range to the 855. That said, I have the Scorpion, 855, 193 + 300 Blackout. I have a lot of fun with all of them and train with them as well. Each one serves a purpose. You just have to find out what's right for you and don't worry about what everyone else says.
Author H. Michael Sweeney, privacy security consultant./lecturer: Kudos for a great job, Eric... very concise and succinct, an easy read for the amateur and meaty enough for the serious shooter, with minimal room for opinionated arguments.
For the record: I have several semi auto .223 rifles and a bolt .308. The idea that anyone here will ever need to use their weapon(s) for home defense is slim to nil. Stockpiling ammo to take advantage of low prices is one thing and entirely reasonable. To do so with the expectation of ever needing any of it for home defense is simply ridiculous. Honestly ask yourself, how many combat vets, without PTSD, stockpile thousands of rounds of ammo for home defense.? The likely answer is very few., probably far less than one percent. To quote BOWDITCH, aka "The mariner's bible, "Rarely does the mariner who has experienced a fully developed tropical cyclone ta sea, wish to do so a second time. He has recognized the wisdom of avoiding them whenever possible," Ditto for combat.
Very few combat vets have any desire to engage in it again and fantasizing about fighting off an armed intruder with one's personal arsenal is absurd. The statistics about this may be unappealing, but they do not lie.
So how does owning several .223 rifles and a bolt .308 make you an expert on why other people buy ammunition? Put your psychology certificate back in the cracker jack box.. I"ve never been in a car accident yet at 48 yrs old I have had insurance on my trucks since I was 16. Owning a firearm is insurance against bad guys... Someone makes up crime statistics. Someone is the victim of a home invasion, robbery, assault or worse. Guns are used everyday in self defense. I Have 2 combat tours with Aco 3/505 as an Infantryman, so because of that , I'm not suppose to have firearms and ammunition to protect my family? About the only thing you said right is I hope I never have to be put in a situation where I have to pull the trigger again..
Eric, are you getting paid by Lucky Gunner? They are high on prices and availability is hit or miss.. Ive yet to see you mention. SGammo,... Targetsportsusa . or aimsurplus.. These are some great ammo sites that didn't jack their prices sky high after sandy hook ...unlike lucky gunner, ammoman and cheaper than dirt...
I use sgammo and was surprised they were not mentioned i buy the target ammo there 500rounds for104$ plus shipping great deal
sgammo is a jerkoff.
IMO, a 223 (or 5.56) for home defense is silly. One needs only to turn to the pump shotgun for home defense. A shotgun is not only a defensive weapon but it also qualifies as an offensive weapon. I have many shotguns stationed around the house and all of them are 870 pumps except for one and it is a Beretta 1301. My favorite of those is the youth 870 20 gauge. It has a shorter butt stock and is lighter than a 12 gauge (I’m 6’1″ and 225 lbs). For shear fire power, the Beretta can put an S-load of rounds out in seconds. A pistol is a great defensive weapon but I will go for one as a secondary choice only. With many shotshell choices, you can tailor your loaded rounds to your situation. I prefer to use something #8 – #4 for indoor use. If you have family in your house, you should consider over-penetration collateral damage. And…FYI…my opinions are based on more than 12 years as an LEO and not a video game. Regarding Lucky Gunner, they are a good bit more expensive than other online vendors.
I have a hard time believing 12 years LEO and recommending using #8 shot for home defense, not to mention if they have body armor on , it will not penetrate at all. You might want to do some actual testing and you will see the over penetration of shotguns.. then shoot a 55 grn sp 5.56 into the same barriers, the results will be enlightening , then come back and say " thank you "
Inside? Body armor? HEAD, FACE, NECK, KNEE, UPPER LEG, HAND/WRIST SHOTS work every time - I'm told. Inside? I don't want a around that goes thru him AND my apt walls. OK? Just cocking a pump with scare the hell out of most anyone - you might get away with an UNLOADED pump!
You really don't understand ballistics that's clear.. Shoot someone in the hand, knee, leg " works every time"?? how many people have you shot in the hand? You need to educate yourself on the penetration of shotgun rounds. Buckshot, and slugs out penetrate most .223 rounds except M855. The chance of a through and through on a bad guy is slim to none with 55 gran m193 or many other 5.56 in 50 grain variety. Look it up for yourself. With 2 combat tours with Aco 3/505 as an Infantryman I have a rather unique perspective on what 5.56 Ammunition will do as well as what shotguns do, since I carried a Mossberg 500 to breach doors and clear buildings... But you keep shooting people in the hand, leg and wrist,, hope that works out for you.
you should try that.
Mossberg 500 was my home defense gun id load slug or 00buck rounds now way a intruder is walking that off lol
The "which weapon is best argument is dumb", there is no best. There are too many factors involved and different weapons excel in different areas. AR's can be great home defense weapons, and have proven to be many times. Same for shotguns, handguns, and other rifles.
A rancher, who may be protecting his livestock or property in a barn, as well as his home, has far different needs than an apartment dweller in Baltimore or Los Angeles, or a homeowner in Peoria or Springfield.
A long barreled weapon is less maneuverable in certain environments. A handgun may not be the best choice if you have a large ranch and may need to defend at longer ranges.
What you can shoot well, matters. YOU are the most important variable. You need to educate yourself, evaluate your environment and needs, and most importantly, learn to quickly assess the situation, shoot well and practice often.
Just a clarification:
The 55 gr. M193 was the standard round of the U.S. military during the Vietnam Conflict, and was changed to the 62 gr. M855. I believe the M855A1 is now the latest standard.
Winchester PXD1 .223 for self defense, awesome Ammo.
Hornady 75gr TAP 5.56 is also a devasting round.
The Federal .223 64 gr Hi-Shok Law Enforcement is out of stock and i have never seen it in stock anywhere.
The Hornady TAP Personal Defense Ammunition 223 Remington 55 Grain Polymer Tip Point Box of 20 is discontinued!
Thanks for that! I've updated the article to reflect stuff more in stock.
I don't know why the stigma of the AR-15 in .223 or 5.56 NATO as a home defense gun ever came to be. If you want to get in a battle, throwing rounds out to 300 yards to protect your home, go ahead. My idea of a self defense, home defense carbine is a CZ 9mm Scorpion. AR-15's are long range, flat shooting rifles and I enjoy shooting them, but when I am going to defend myself or my home, I don't think I'll be shooting beyond 50 yards. And that's only if I pursue someone, which is stupid and illegal. Once the threat to your life has past, it's up to the police to follow through. Giving advice to people to buy an AR-15 platform rifle for home defense doesn't make much sense. 9mm and 40 S&W or 45 would be better choices than a .223 or 5.56. I'll stand by my CZ Scorpion with a blinding light on it and a Mepro sight as a gun needed to protect myself and my family and leave the .223 for shooting Coyotes.
What if it was more then one threat and they come in with bigger weapons than your 9mm or your 45? You'd wish you had that AR then wouldn't you!
No...shotgun all the way
REALLY ALL THESE WEAPONS WILL KILL THE BAD GUYS IF YOU KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR WEAPON
AND YOU KNOW YOUR OWN HOME
IF ANYONE THAT HAS A WEAPON IN THERE HOME TO USE TO DEFEND THERE FAMILY AND THEMSELVES
THEY BETTER DAMM WELL TRAINED WITH THAT WEAPON AND REALLY KNOW HOW TO USE WHAT EVER THE WEAPON THEY HAVE
BECAUSE I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF WEAPON YOU HAVE
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING
WELL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE JUST SHIT OUT OF LUCK
DON'T JUST BUY A GUN
KNOW HOW TO USE THE GUN
AND HOW TO CLEAN YOUR WEAPON
AND SECURE YOUR HOME SO THE BAD GUYS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO YOUR HOME
AND IF THE BAD GUYS ARE TRYING TO GET INTO YOUR HOME
MAKE THEM READY WORK TO GET INTO YOUR HOME
AND THEN YOU WILL BE WAITING FOR THEM
SO THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEND THEM TO HELL TO MEET THERE FATHER THE DEVIL
WITH WHAT EVER WEAPONS YOU HAVE
NOW HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY
Actually an ar15 is better suited for home defense. With a red dot, it is incredibly fast and accurate. It's easier to fire a shouldered weapon accurately under stress. The round hits harder than any pistol round. You have higher capacity than any shot gun or pistol. Most .223s penetrate less than 9mm or 00 buck. The only downside is can think of is the noise. Ar15s are my first go to
If someone enters my house or multiple people with ar15,ar10,m1,m4 etc.
I will grab 12 guage or .40 .. The time it takes someone to shoulder a ar, etc I'll have 2 rounds in each person . I know my house better than some skumbag. Shoot a AR gun in a house with other family members inside is crazy. The 30 rounds you spent on one person , lol
You might kill your family and the skumbag gets away.
People you need to think for yourself. Be careful and safe and stay trained
A once shot gun beside your bed can get you killed. Shoot as often as you can. You should know your gun inside & out .
You're thinking of inside your house only, Ever see the roving gangs following Katrina? I'm guessing you guys down on the AR for PD don't live in hurricane or flood prone areas.
Negative, By the time you try to spray and pray, i will have 3 to 4 rounds center mass.
IMO, a 223 (or 5.56) for home defense is silly. One needs only to turn to the pump shotgun for home defense. A shotgun is not only a defensive weapon but it also qualifies as an offensive weapon. I have many shotguns stationed around the house and all of them are 870 pumps except for one and it is a Beretta 1301. My favorite of those is the youth 870 20 gauge. It has a shorter butt stock and is lighter than a 12 gauge (I'm 6'1" and 225 lbs). For shear fire power, the Beretta can put an S-load of rounds out in seconds. A pistol is a great defensive weapon but I will go for one as a secondary choice only. With many shotshell choices, you can tailor your loaded rounds to your situation. I prefer to use something #8 - #4 for indoor use. If you have family in your house, you should consider over-penetration collateral damage. And...FYI...my opinions are based on more than 12 years as an LEO and not a video game. Regarding Lucky Gunner, they are a good bit more expensive than other online vendors.
Hmm, i do know for a fact, I used the 5.56 nato in an A2 M-16, then to a M4 platform....to clear buildings all of the time......have no idea why people continue to chirp about it is a bad idea. It shows quickly that they have no idea.
One of the Great Mysteries of Life is why manufacturers make primarily 1:7 twist barrels and shooters continue to buy them. My non-scientific estimate is that 80% of the ammo available for sale to civilians is 55 grain, which shoots optimally through a 1:12 twist barrel. The M855 is a non-starter for home defense. The 75, 77, and 80 grain bullets that shoot well in a 1:7 barrel are too darn expensive, even if you load them yourself. All the affordable ammo runs best in 1:12 barrels yet everyone wants a milspec 1:7 barrel optimized for heavy [and expensive] bullets. I don't get it.
Yup, I prefer the 1:9 that seems to feed 55gr fine for me.
One of my 5.56 barreled actions is a 1:8 twist and will shoot 55 grain Hornady SP bullets into inch or better groups all day long. I don't know that one can go specifically by the twist rate and bullet weight. I think that as a rule of thumb, the twist rate is a starting point when making decisions. I don't just shoot 55 grain bullets. I shoot all the way up to 69 grain and the faster twist rates seem to be more of a compromise over the 1:12 which would limit your accuracy with heavier bullets thus giving you more options. I get good accuracy with all weight bullets instead of just light bullets.
People will spend the few extra cents to have Mil-Spec...it's tacticool doncha know...
Yeah... so I clicked on the link to the PMC X-Tax ammo at luckygunner..... It said something about a bad link/script... So I deleted everything from the web address except "luckygunner.com" and now it says....
"You have been blocked due to suspected unscrupulous activity. If this is a mistake, please contact the webmaster."
I tried a different browser and it says the same thing. So they blocked my IP address for following you link and I can not order from them or even visit their website.
Just thought you should know. You have prevented me from being able to shop at luckygunner with your link that caused nothing but problems.
I've had the same issue with luckygunner.com and bulkammo.com who obviously use the same database. I had placed several large orders with bulkammo without issues over several years and was happy with their service. Logged in to place another purchase early last year and bang! Got welcomed with the message:
"Your IP has been blocked temporarily due to suspected unscrupulous activity. If this is a mistake, please contact the webmaster."
Contacting them I got a single reply to call and place my order over the phone... not to correct the issue. After reading your comment figured its been a year (and well over $1k in ammo from other sites) and as soon as I provided my login info I get this message again.
I've emailed them, again. Perhaps someone gives a crap now and would like to take an order for a couple 1000 rounds of range ammo in various calibers as well as an order for 500 rounds of 9mm and 38 defensive ammo.
If not... plenty of other sites out there to take my order!
Just get an IP generator or call up your ISP and tell them to change your IP.
Hi...Im Retired Military....and just recently purchased a Colt Expanse 2000 with the Forward Assist and dustcover......also just got in some Winchester White Box 5.56 in 55 grain......and after reading a ton of blogs...notes...comments....have finally convinced myself that the 5.56 in 55 grain is a Good Choice of ammunition.....both for range and personal protection........and hoping that you agree with me.......I just don't care that the Winchester White Box I purchased ...has TARGET on the front of the box.. :( kinda negates the opinion its a good self defense round.......I appreciate anyone taking the time to answer..Kind Regards....Hans Fischer
Hi Hans, it should be fine plinking ammo. But there's better options for self-defense rounds out there.
Trust me...if you have to use an AR for self defense, it won't matter if it is target or self defense rounds. The human body at close range will be devastated by a "high power" rifle round passing through their body. Most of the homicides/shooting fatalities I saw (double digit numbers) were DRT by non-expanding ball ammunition from 25 ACP or 22 LR. Unless you are going up against a REALLY bad bad guy, fmj (ball) ammo at 3000 + fps will do the trick.
What does DRT stand for?
dead right there
What is the best self-defense and plinking for 1:7 twist ratio is what i would like to know! Thank you
James, if you have a 1:7 twist barrel, it will "eat" anything, hence it's popularity. For self defense well some would say the higher grain 5.56 and some would say the lower pressure .223 it really depends on how close the "enemy" is. If we get invaded by guys in blue hats (no offense Hung) or the dreaded zombie apocalypse happens you would want the former. Close up and personal you may want a different round altogether like the 300 AAC blackout in a short barreled AR platform. But if you don't want to go new AR with a new caliber get .223 hollow points or a shotgun.
As for "plinking"...it's the cheapest ammo you can find...EXCEPT when reloading is to be considered because then the quality of the brass MUST be considered. No one wants to be reloading crappy brass. You will never see me with WOLF or equivalents in my BCM for that reason and others.
How come you chose only a .223 for home defense and only not a 5.56? Is there a specific reason?
Hi Alex, great question. There's more options for .223 defense ammo and just in case I have readers that have a .223 chamber instead of the more highly pressured 5.56.
I really enjoyed reading, and learning from this article, I am a bit curious, Why is the NO Barrett recommendations? I recently purchased the REC7,.... I couldn't have made a better choice. I realize it is a very close brother to the Daniel d, gun, and Hopefully as reliable. Thanks for your Newbee insight..
Hi Dan, I just haven't had a chance yet to use any of their rifles...but I've heard great stuff with the REC7. Let me know how it keeps running!
Why is there no Barrett recommendations? I don't understand your question. Why would someone recommend a gun manufacturer in an article about ammo for the range and self defense??? Then you thank him for his "newbee" insight? I think we need a mall cop alert here.
Eric
Thanks for straight forward topics, information and additional links to AR platforms. Well written and understandable for those of us in 'learning phase' before purchase mode. Hopefully, we, as citizens, will legally still have federal or state permission to buy this weapon.
You're welcome John!
Hello Mr. Eric,
I just bought my 1st AR, the S&W M & P sport 2. Thanks for the knowledge base boost!
You're welcome and let me know how you like your new gun!