Best 5.56 plinking ammo

[ca_fireman19]

Where can I find the best/cheapest ammo in 5.56 for plinking? I can find plenty of inexpensive .223, but would prefer to shoot the cartridge my carbine was designed to fire.

I've looked at the Sportsmans Guide and Cheaper Than Dirt but they don't seem to have any good deals except on sh*t like steel cased Wolf...no thank you...anyone know of any good buys?

[dail621]

The best plinking ammo I've ever shot are my own reloads.

Even "plinking" ammunition can get expensive.

If you aren't reloading already, you should look into it. It's actually a quite enjoyable experience.

[dail621]

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/21370


Comes out to be $.35 a round.

[sammage]

Wolf/Tula/Brown Bear/etc are my plinking ammo. If my gun wouldn't work with them, I wouldn't keep it.

[ca_fireman19]

Wolf isn't a bad cartridge persé, I just don't like steel cased ammo.

I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. I am interested in reloading 5.56mm and .45acp. Where can I learn about it? What does the equipment cost?

[dail621]

I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. I am interested in reloading 5.56mm and .45acp. Where can I learn about it? What does the equipment cost?

Just read around in this forum to learn about it.

Personally, I use the cheaper Lee Reloading equipment and it works just fine for me. I believe I paid $180 for the progressive press and a set of dies. But, if you want a really nice reloading experience I'd suggest purchasing a Dillion.
The upfront costs of reloading are pretty steep but its worth it in the end.

I reload 5.56mm and 9mm and average about 18 cents a round of 5.56mm and 10 cents for 9mm.

[Iraqgunz]

Go to ammunitiontogo.com and buy a 500 round case of the Hornady 55gr. TAP practice with a steel case. It will cost you about 155.00 which includes shipping.

It is good stuff and won't hurt your gun.

Or go to ammoman.com and buy the case of Federal 5.56 XM193 for 329.00 which includes shipping and then split it with a friend. That works out to 164.50 each for 450 rounds on stripper clips.

Wolf isn't a bad cartridge persé, I just don't like steel cased ammo.

I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. I am interested in reloading 5.56mm and .45acp. Where can I learn about it? What does the equipment cost?

[Jake'sDad]

Where can I find the best/cheapest ammo in 5.56 for plinking? I can find plenty of inexpensive .223, but would prefer to shoot the cartridge my carbine was designed to fire.

Just make sure that 5.56 is indeed what your carbine was "designed to fire".

A lot of AR's are not 5.56, despite what their owners think.

[ca_fireman19]

Just make sure that 5.56 is indeed what your carbine was "designed to fire".

A lot of AR's are not 5.56, despite what their owners think.

Then how could I possibly know? My barrel isn't marked anywhere. All I know is that it is a 16" 1:9 twist hbar. Everyone I have spoken to tells me "All AR's are designed to shoot the 5.56 but can also shoot the .223, but not all .223's can fire the 5.56"...

[Iraqgunz]

What is the make and model? And what your friends have told you is true to a point. But, markings are not always true.

For instance- Bushmaster marks their stuff as 5.56. But, in fact they have tighter chambers that are probably closer to .223.

Then how could I possibly know? My barrel isn't marked anywhere. All I know is that it is a 16" 1:9 twist hbar. Everyone I have spoken to tells me "All AR's are designed to shoot the 5.56 but can also shoot the .223, but not all .223's can fire the 5.56"...