The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: fightingquaker13 on March 28, 2010, 11:17:46 PM

Title: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: fightingquaker13 on March 28, 2010, 11:17:46 PM
I was shopping online for AR ammo. Prices seem to have dropped. For $25-$35 You can get Selliers and Beloit, Privi Partisan, Hornady TAP, Lake City, PMC, Fiocchi and of course Wolf (which I am hesitant to use). All in 55 grain FMJ, per 100. Not a bad price. Any druthers? Also, any thoughts on SP vs HP vs the reliability of FMj for SD? These are mostly for the range, but  I don't want to buy a "maybe" cartridge for anything. Going bang and feeding reliably is key.
FQ13
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: CDR on March 28, 2010, 11:59:11 PM
I'm very pleased with Federal Lake City XM193 for practice and keep Hornady TAP rounds in my AR for home self defense (as per Rob's recommendations).  I have also had good experience with PMC for practice.  All feed very reliably and I would recommend any of these rounds wholeheartedly.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: billt on March 29, 2010, 03:44:53 AM
I'll second the Federal XM-193 Ball. Very consistent ammo. I've never had an issue with it in any of my AR-15's.  Bill T.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: Pathfinder on March 29, 2010, 06:10:10 AM
And the best part is that Wally World usually has 100 packs of the Federal on sale for $40
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: billt on March 29, 2010, 06:50:30 AM
Lately I've had good luck with PMC in several calibers. I think it's now made in Korea, but I'm not sure. When it was Pan Metal Corporation it was manufactured in L.A. Like everything else it took the hike overseas for a healthier profit margin.  Bill T.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: Timothy on March 29, 2010, 07:31:10 AM
Buy "Made in the USA".....

Please!
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: billt on March 29, 2010, 08:40:30 AM
Buy "Made in the USA".....

Please!

I agree. The problem is half the time you don't even know. When I lived in Lake Havasu City I worked for McCulloch Corp. At one time they were the leader in chain saws and lawn and garden equipment. When they went belly up a Chinese businessman bought the name for $55,000.00. I've seen McCulloch products for sale at Home Depot, Lowe's as well as Wal-Mart. I'm willing to bet most people have no idea they are buying a Chinese product.    Bill T.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: ratcatcher55 on March 29, 2010, 09:17:25 AM
I would avoid Wolf and S&B.

XM 193 is my normal fodder but I have used Fiocchi with out any problems.

TAP or Corbon DPX are home defense rounds work in all my rifles.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: JC5123 on March 29, 2010, 11:27:58 AM
My AR loves the PMC. I usually feed it handloads though. Save the factory stuff for my emergency stash.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: Big Frank on March 29, 2010, 04:35:15 PM
Anything but Wolf for me. Mostly Federal, UMC, and WWB.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: twyacht on March 29, 2010, 05:35:41 PM
Anything but Wolf in my Sig556,....Usually a combo of all the previously above, PMC very reasonable and great range ammo. UMC, also. SS109 is a good stout load, at 62gr.

Love Federal. American Eagle 5.56 is decent also. I even have some Winchester frangible, works fine...

My AK however, shoots that Wolf, crap, stuff,....and for that matter anything... ::)



Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: Woody on April 06, 2010, 12:19:33 AM
Lake City mine loves SS 109, and the XM 193.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: mrmatt2you on April 06, 2010, 10:36:41 PM
I have used WOLF in my Sig Swat and never had a problem with it.  But I am just using it for target practice and not trying to get the tightest groups out there.  I am not shooting out to a couple hundred yards either.  So maybe they are not the best for that, but for 100 to about 200 and closer tactical, I have no complaints with them.   But it is nice to see the prices starting to go down.   
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: GUNS-R-US on April 06, 2010, 11:18:34 PM
I use anything that goes BANG! I've used it all, if the price is right I'll shoot it. ;D And I haven't had any problems with the Wolf ammo. Several thousand round have gone though my Oly Arms AR with out any problems.  ;)
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: MAUSERMAN on April 08, 2010, 10:55:27 PM
Same here i have used wolf in all my AR's and no problems. My Bushmaster eats it up all day same as my DPMS.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: mookytx on September 09, 2010, 09:00:04 PM
Lately I've had good luck with PMC in several calibers. I think it's now made in Korea, but I'm not sure. When it was Pan Metal Corporation it was manufactured in L.A. Like everything else it took the hike overseas for a healthier profit margin.  Bill T.

In the mid 80's I bought a case of m193 ball 5.56 and it says on each box
Oh I paid $125 for the ammo but paid dearly for the guns it fed.

Manufactured by PMc republic of Korea
PMC Los Angeles CA 90036

As per the last remaining few boxes I have
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: m25operator on September 09, 2010, 09:29:21 PM
Have had good luck with the pmc bronze, xm193 of course, privi partisan, is usually above average, IMI, great stuff, some of the most accurate, and of course white  box winchester or remington, this list could go on for a long time, depending on your requirements for accuracy and distance, the Privi 77 grn, in the right barrel will shoot very well and hit hard.

55 grn range fodder, or upping the ante to 77 for longer ranges, the Tap ammo is excellent, but I don't carry it, if i carried the carbine in my truck, I probably would, seen what 55 grn does to gypsum, it explodes quick, expect the same in personal defense.
Title: Re: Which 5.56 ammo?
Post by: bafsu92 on September 10, 2010, 08:35:12 AM
I've gone to PMC X-Tac exclusively (as soon as I trade or shoot the last few hundred rds of XM193 I have that is) It's all I buy now and functions flawlessly. It's generally the most accurate from all my AR's. If you've got a mix of 1-7 and 1-9 barrels its the best weight to stock as well.