What kind of 5.56 ammo are you guys using to train with? (Carbine Courses)

[Razorhunter]

What do you guys prefer to use?
I just cannot afford to shoot as many rounds as so many of you on this forum do, and when I buy ammo, I usually just try to stock up on something other than 55gr lightweight practice/plinking ammo.
I wondered if most of you guys who shoot hundreds/thousands of rounds each week/month, are using 55gr M193, OR are you guys shooting something else?
Does anyone here shoot 75/77gr stuff by the thousands? Is there even a 75/77gr round out there, which is less than $1 each, and somewhat more affordable, that it could be used to train with?
I've always wondered what I should buy to train with, if I were to take another carbine course? Last course I took, (and the only course I've ever taken), I used some ammo that was given to me.
Just wondering what would be the best ammo to use for a training course?
Do you guys usually just shoot the CHEAPEST, QUALITY ammo you can find (most likely XM193???)
Thanks guys.

[Sidewinder6]

Running Remmington .223 in 55gr for range and classes. Running 68gr if I care about groups or accuracy. Ive been getting mine from Georgia Arms. They are fairly painless to work with.

[Cold Zero]

I use for training Win' White box, Q3131 55 gr. FMJ. It works fine for me. I loaded up on it when it was still way cheap.;)

[Robb Jensen]

I've used M855, XM193, AE223, & Guatamalan.

[jh1]

I've used M855, XM193, AE223, & Guatamalan.

Who do u buy ammo from?

[RWK]

I'm in the "cheapest, quality" crowd. That being PRVI Partizan M193.

[DocGKR]

Whatever we get for free...usually 55 gr Win or Fed FMJ or the 64 gr Win JSP on the state contract.

[PRGGodfather]

Federal XM193A from San Diego Police Equipment

900 round case in stripper clips

[Robb Jensen]

Who do u buy ammo from?

The vast majority of the ammo I use I buy from my employer.

[markm]

Reloads all the way. I've never ran factory ammo in a class.

[RD62]

I ran 1K of Hunting Shack 55gr FMJ through EAG's Carbine class last Dec. I had no issues of any kind with the ammo. Good price delivered to my door. It took longer than expected or originally quoted, but I would buy from them again. I have also used the American Eagle 55gr, some Black Hills, Remington, etc. All 55gr for practice and class.


-RD62

[cobra90gt]

I used XM193 at the class I attended last month...

[Cold Zero]

Winchester White Box, .556 55 Gr. FMJ, Q3131. I have had good reliable results with that.

[MX5]

55 gr. Fed FMJ. & steel cased Wolf (gasp!!!!)

[CavReconScout]

In the past I have run American Eagle, Winchester white box, and Guatemalan. The class I took last month, however, I ran Silver Bear, as it was all I could find at a reasonable cost. I am taking a Defensive Edge Active Shooter class in a couple weeks, and will be using Silver Bear there also.

[ST911]

Black Hills 55gr FMJ or JSP, new/reman/seconds
M193 and M855
Domestically produced economy loads, Fed Am Eagle, Win USA, UMC, etc

No imports. No Wolf.

[subzero]

Whatever I can get my hands on that doesn't say Wolf of Brown Bear or something like that on the box.

I have a ton of brass, bullets, powder and primers set aside, enough to do roughly 5k or so. When ammo passes $500 a case, all I'll be able to afford will be reloads.

That's why I'm trying to stock up on 5.45 and 22lr.

[Armati]

The free stuff for the most part - M855 or M193.

For most classes you will only need service grade accuracy. I know plenty of 'highly trained' shooters who shoot Wolf on their own time.

[markm]

For most classes you will only need service grade accuracy.


The last class I took was all about marksmanship. The instructor threw us a curve ball. He was scoring targets, and having the shooters compete for best scores in the class. I showed up with the only SBR... ready for the ususal high speed super tactical stuff. But I had good handloads, so I still outshot everyone else.. both days. :cool:

[Hellfire]

Privi M193 or M855. The M855 groups better out of my carbine, but I've got a lot of M193 so I usually train with that.

[shooter521]

I've been shooting a lot of the Silver Bear 55gr JSP and 62gr JHP lately (about 3000 rounds in the last year, including just shy of 1100 at a carbine course last month). Had a couple failures to fire (light strikes) but no other issues. Seems to be loaded hotter than Wolf, and the zinc plated cases make for smoother extraction than the powder-coated or lacquered variety.

[TOrrock]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

The stuff is higher quality and a little hotter than typical Tula or Ulyanovsk (Wolf).

[highdraglowspeed]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

The stuff is higher quality and a little hotter than typical Tula or Ulyanovsk (Wolf).

Does the steel case beat your extractor up?

I shoot wolf and tiger and bear through the AK but have never shot anything but brass cases through the ARs.

[huntgrouse]

Okay, guys, beat me up but I have run M193, M855 in clases and the last couple (Bushmater Carbine instructor course at Blackwater, Intermediate Pistol at Bill Rogers school , 9mm Carbine at Rogers) used Wolf 5.56 55 gr Polymer and 9mm 115 gr. No ammo isuses with 2500 rds at Blackwater . Ran my Bushy M4gery without cleaning till it stopped. Went 1900+ round sbefore I stuck a case. only ammo malfunction I had, ripped the rim right off. Rodded it out, scrubbed the chamber and finished the course. I deliberately didnt clean the weapon to see how long it would go since I heard so many horror stories about Wolf. last day we shot on KD range; 200-300 M. I was banging at 12" square steel plate at 300M every time witht he Wolf and an ACOG TA11.

9mm is super stuff. never fails, never quits. shot Bill Rogers school in June. 3000 rounds; 2500 in M9 and 500 through 9mm AR. no issues at all.

At the prices the 5.56 has been, I bought a crap load of Wolf at less than 200 per 1000. I have M193 for serious business but for practice, WOLF is it.


Bout 7 years ago I did a BW cousre and shot M855 and SA battle packs. Everyone pooh poohed WOLF. Of course that was back when it was lacquered steel.

[TOrrock]

Does the steel case beat your extractor up?

I shoot wolf and tiger and bear through the AK but have never shot anything but brass cases through the ARs.


Nope, no issues. I used to be one of the guys that preached that steel cases were for Russian designed weapons, but I haven't had any issued out of my Colt.

[decodeddiesel]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

The stuff is higher quality and a little hotter than typical Tula or Ulyanovsk (Wolf).

I agree 100%. Barnaul/Brown Bear is great stuff for practice!

[Failure2Stop]

M855(mostly) / Mk262Mod1(rarely) if on Uncle Sugar's dime.
M193/Prvi 77gr if on mine.

I just can't bring myself to shoot Wolf. I feel like I am neglecting a child.

I have also heard that everytime you shoot Wolf out of a quality AR, Kim Jong Il kicks a puppy.
Think of the puppies.

[rob_s]

For classes it's (been) XM193.

Matches and drills it's some variety of Wolf. I prefer the 62 grain FMJ over everything else, but I'm going to order 2k of the 75 grain stuff and if it works out well I'll order another 3k.

I've been shooting the 7.62x39 AK for all of 2008. I just looked in my ammo locker two days ago and saw that I'm down to 1500 XM193, although I know that I have at least another 2k of the Prvi version somewhere. I just can't bring myself to restock at $400+/k.

[rob_s]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

Have a good source for that? I picked up a couple k awhile back of the Barnaul bt I wouldn't be opposed to getting more. I like that it's 62 grain.

[RogerinTPA]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

The stuff is higher quality and a little hotter than typical Tula or Ulyanovsk (Wolf).

Duplicate post, see below.

[RogerinTPA]

Barnaul/Brown Bear 62 gr. FMJ or JHP, specifically with the laquered case.

The stuff is higher quality and a little hotter than typical Tula or Ulyanovsk (Wolf).

That's good stuff. Found it to be a little more accurate than Wolf 62 grain FMJ, especially the 62 grain JHP's. Wolf 75 Grain JHP is descent, but not as accurate as the 62 or 55 Grain HP's from either manufacturer IMHO.

[theblackknight]

I have also heard that everytime you shoot Wolf out of a quality AR, Kim Jong Il kicks a puppy.
Think of the puppies.


I heard what god does when i masterbate but it never stopped me!

[Don Robison]

For classes I've paid for the last two years it's been Wolf 55gr and 62gr for classes paid for by uncle sugar mostly XM193 and white box. I recently started stocking up on Wolf 75gr and have a stash of Priv 75gr.

[Jager]

I shoot cheap ammunition for classes, matches, training, etc. Cheapest so far is 95% Wolf. Several thousand rounds per year, zero issues with .223 so far. The less I spend on ammo, the more I can shoot... and I love to shoot.