223/5.56 AMMO

Have heard there is "good" ammo, and not so good. Being new to this, would appreciate advise on what is good, and what to stay away from. Also, what would be good prices and best places to buy. I've done searches on line and there are tons of places and prices. Thanks for guidance.

Think this topic needs to be moved to ammunition section

Gracias to the Mods

Thank you - should have thought of that

Just do NOT buy lacquer coated steel case ammo for an AR. That stuff is pretty much gone now so not a big deal.

FYI: I think Monach steel cased 223 (blue box, not red box) is lacquer coated.... IIRC.

I would not buy zinc coated steel case 223 either................


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SubGunFan wrote:Just do NOT buy lacquer coated steel case ammo for an AR. That stuff is pretty much gone now so not a big deal.

FYI: I think Monach steel cased 223 (blue box, not red box) is lacquer coated.... IIRC.

I would not buy zinc coated steel case 223 either................


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I have shot many hundreds of rounds of silver bear zinc through my beater AR without any problems. That being said, brass ammo is coming down enough that I'm not buying any steel or zinc case as this is used up.

On a side note, Hornday is coming out with a line of steel cased ammo

Some people really bash the steel cased stuff, but if your gun shoots it go ahead. I have been through quite abit of the wolf stuff without any problems so far.

As some have said before...extractors are cheap...

Polymer coated steel case 223/556........ NO problem.

And true...... AR extractors are cheap (if need be).


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Scharfschütze wrote:RE: Steel cased .223 ammo: there is a reason no nation using this caliber issues steel-cased ammunition to its military! Extractors aren't cheap OR quick to replace in AR-type rifles if they break in a SHTF situation, be that the next post-Katrina-level hurricane environment, or the theoretical "World War Z" fight against zombies. Don't load the stuff into your "serious" AR rifle or mags if it is a "serious" situation. Cheap to play with, but not for any other use -
My

Now this I agree 100% with. Steel case (polymer) for practice and play. Quality brass case for your defense.



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I agree. Plus the steel case stuff is really dirty. I've shot a lot of it through my ARs, but I have to make sure to clean them really well afterwards. I've been getting enough brass case ammo and am reloading some that I no longer really need to buy any steel case stuff.

Thanks for the insights. I see PMC inbrass casing 55 grain, 295 +25 shipping per 1000, and New Lake City in brass 55 grain for 285 +30 shipping on gunbroker. Think the NLC is reloads. Is this good ammo to buy for practice/target ?

The PMC is good for practice. The brass is good for reloading too.
Hard to say if the gunbroker ammo you referenced are reloads without the link, but if the brass is new, I don't see how it could be a reload.

I order a good bit from Palmetto when it is on sale. Right now they have Federal XM193 55gr for $147.95 per 500 so that is about $296 plus $12 shipping when you order 1000. And that isn't really a sale, just a regular price. Shipping is usually the big variable. Palmetto is always $12 on a 1000 rnds. So you have to check that part out when you do the math. Every now and then someone will have free shipping, but the price of the ammo is higher (to cover the "free" shipping). Once in a great while, someone will have a great price AND free shipping, but you have to jump on those as soon as you can because they go away real fast once the word gets out.


This site is pretty good for showing you the current prices on ammo with shipping. It doesn't catch the sales, but I use it for price checks.

Gun Deals

And finally, I'll throw out another vote for reloading. You'll get high quality brass ammo for equal to or lower $ than the cheapest third world steel case.