what's your "go to" ammo [Archive] - M4Carbine.net Forums

mtdawg169

10-12-06, 12:27

Alright guys, I've been shooting AR's for about a year now & I am nothing but a hobby shooter. I own an AR because I like to shoot and i like to piss off liberals.

I usually shoot .223 remington & WWB 55 gr. ammo from Wally World because it's cheap & convenient. I want to shoot more 5.56 ammo and would like to know what is your go-to ammo of choice. BH is great for paper punching, but it's expensive & hard to find, so we're talking about Lake City M855, XM193, Adcom, Guatemalan, Radway, Hunting Shack, etc. What do you prefer, 55 gr. FMJ or 62 gr. SS 109? What ammo have you had good luck with from a reliability standpoint? What offers reasonable accuracy and affordability? I've heard good and bad about Adcom and have heard to stay away from XM193 PD. I'd love to find an affordable fairly accurate 75 gr. option. So... how 'bout it?

G19Tony

10-12-06, 16:17

I have Hornaday TAP 75gr in 20rd magazines in each of my AR's for HD. On the range I use whatever I can pick up cheap. Right now I'm working my way through a case of Wolf 55gr. It's working fine in my Bushies. I have a bit of a stockpile of XM193 I'm just keeping around. :D I paid $14.95 for a box of 20 TAP's at the gun shows when they come through town. I usually get at least one box when I go. They build up fast, as the show comes to town every 3 months.;)

Robb Jensen

10-12-06, 16:25

Black Hills blue box 77gr and Hornady TAP 75gr in my SBRs. And American Eagle 55gr in anything 16" or longer.

Al U. 5811

10-12-06, 16:53

My HD load is the same as my work load. Hornady 60gr TAP.

BushmasterFanBoy

10-12-06, 17:40

I've had some issues with the Guatemalen, not sure if it is my rifle or the ammo, so for now, I'm dependant on IMI .223:cool:

fivepointoh

10-12-06, 22:40

i need to get me some TAP....been meanin to do that

blaster22

10-13-06, 02:11

Been shooting AE 55 fmj since it was in the white "Eagle" box (GotM4, no old timer jokes!). Personally shot over 15,000 rounds. Seen probably over 100,000 rounds fired in variety of AR's and M16's. NEVER seen a bad round. Also, very accurate. YMMV.

AmmoUp

10-13-06, 07:44

Well a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

It has been said us AR types like to horde ammo.

Guat is my range ammo along with soem M855 and XM193

HSM 75gr. 5.56 is my practice shtf ammo

...and TAP 75gr. 5.56 is my SHTF ammo.

rmecapn

10-13-06, 14:54

Mk262 Mod1 and 75 gr. TAP FPD for serious work.

Any 5.56 NATO M193 or M855 surplus that is reliable for plinking.

Stephen_H

10-13-06, 17:59

For 5.56mm I use issue Mk262, for 6.8mm I use Hornady TAP, and for 7.62mm it's Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr or the issue M118LR.

Stephen

ST911

10-13-06, 19:11

Black Hills ammo, various loadings for duty (55/60 JSP, 68 OTM) and practice (reman same, +ball). Occasional use of the economy lines from major CONUS manufacturers.

No budget imports + no "good as" purchasing = No Ammo Problems

Cipo

10-13-06, 19:19

Black Hills Blue Box 75 Gr. Heavy Match HP from my 16" 1/7.

:cool:

macman37

10-13-06, 22:32

45acp: 230gr Golden Sabre in primary mag, 230gr ball in backups

5.56mm: 68gr Black Hills blue box

7.62x51mm: Aussie F4

HAMMERDROP

10-15-06, 07:26

Home Defense is Black Hills Blue Box 68gr HP I keep one 30rd mag charged (28rds) and everything else in my 2 ammo cans, if I have to go. Mag-Safe 85gr .40 cal in one mag and Cor-Bon 150gr HP in another for my nightstand pistol which sits next to a Z2 w/120 lumen lamp.
I'll have to fight my way to my AR, but at that point it wont matter much will it?

dkc4u

10-15-06, 08:36

Home Defense - Federal Classic 12GA No. 00 Buckshot (I guess this makes me old school):)

Country Defense - Hornady 6.8MM SPC 110 gr. V-Max

City Defense - Corbon 45 ACP +P 185GR

mtdawg169

10-15-06, 20:59

It's interesting to me to see the variety in the answers so far. I've been shooting alot of Federal AE and .223 Win. I placed an order for a couple of boxes of Mk 262 this week end and picked up some Win Q3131 to try out.

I'm curious, how does the Q3131 compare to Federal Lake City XM193?

Any good sources for Black Hills 75 or 77gr. rounds? I can't seem to find anyone who has them in stock & have been looking for a couple of months online.

docsprague

10-16-06, 14:39

I prefer Hornady 75 grain 5.56. I have about 500 rounds right now. I also have a lot of xm193 but I use it for plinking.

mtdawg169

10-17-06, 08:17

I prefer Hornady 75 grain 5.56. I have about 500 rounds right now. I also have a lot of xm193 but I use it for plinking.

I'd like to get my hands on some 5.56 Hornady, but us lowly civies are out of luck. (unless you'd like to send me yours!):p I bought a local sporting goods store out of all 11 boxes of Q3131 they had in stock for $4.99 / box. MK 262 is on the way too. Too pricey for regular consumption, so I'll stash it.

I had high hopes for the HSM tactical rounds, but accuracy is not on par with TAP or MK 262.

I saw some Federal Xm193 on SG and had a question for those that may have ordered from them.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=275500

Is this boxed XM193 or is it bulk "PD" ammo?

BlackFox

10-20-06, 15:12

Hornady TAP here as well, but the 60 gr bullets

I hope everyone here at least tries enough of their "go to" rounds in their "go to" tools before relying on them. I know a lot of people who won't shoot the expensive HPs or self defense rounds on the range because of the cost, but then depend on them to work in their rifles when the time comes. If you're willing to spend an extra $100 getting ammo with reliable performance, you should be willing to spend at least $100 making sure it's reliable in your rifle.

SGB

10-22-06, 20:38

XM193 is my go to 5.56mm ammo.

Bryson

10-22-06, 22:34

Can I ask why some of you choose lighter rounds -- for example, the 60gr TAP rounds -- over the heavier ones? Is it due to reliability, availability, or some other factor?

hercules

10-22-06, 23:41

My AR eats up the AE 55gr FMJs fairly well. Does anyone know how good the Radway Arsenal ss109 are? Just order a crate of it and hope im not swindle. By the way this is my first post and am already hooked!

herk

Bryson

10-22-06, 23:47

I've shot about 400 rounds of mine, and have had no problems with it. From a S&W M&P-15 with 16" barrel, it was relatively accurate on the 100 yard range. At least I didn't have any problems hitting what I was aiming at. :D

There are pictures of groups shot with it that are relatively good for it being such a mass-produced ammo. I think they were in a thread about the new LaRue uppers on ar15.com, but don't quote me on that. I can't remember for sure.

With all that said, I'm not exactly sure I'd use it as a "go to ammo" if you're going to it for shooting something living. They've got a steel penetrator in the tip, as I understand it. It pokes holes in light "armor" just fine, but it isn't the best against bare flesh. This is my understanding of it.

If I'm incorrect on that, you can be sure that somebody will correct me real quick and in a hurry. :p

knightsar

10-23-06, 11:07

XM193 is my go to 5.56mm ammo.

+........1

JTAC_Supply

10-24-06, 13:12

mtdawg169

10-24-06, 14:55

For practice, WWB 55, Federal 55 or RG 62 grain. I've been stocking up on ammo lately, now have 5 cans of the Radway and bought 2 cases of Wolf M193 at the gunshow this weekend for $190 each. Looking forward to trying it out.

J

Jason, couple of Q's for you. Where have you seen WWB lately? Wal Mart hasn't restocked it in a while. Ordering online?

Also, I'd like to hear more about the brass cased Wolf M193. Prvi Partisan, right? Let us know what you think about it.

I've been on a buying spree of sorts since posting this. So far, 600 rounds of Guatemalan M193, 150 rounds of Mk 262, 200 rounds of Q3131, and 250 rounds of Win M855. I'm still looking for some BH 75 gr. blue box and more MK262. Also got 150 rounds of Win Ranger .40 S&W.

VA_Dinger

10-24-06, 18:20

I must be cheap.

:D

I have not shot a single round over 55 grain M193 in two years.

mtdawg169

10-25-06, 07:42

I must be cheap.

:D

I have not shot a single round over 55 grain M193 in two years.

actually, you might be a genious. :p

threefeathers

10-25-06, 19:54

I have two ammo cans each with 2 bandoliers of un opened M193. I've had this ammo since I last fired service rifle competition for the 63rd ARCOM in the early 90's. It has never been opened and I guarantee it will work. In my tactial bag I have three 30 round mags loaded with my M-262 cloned ammo. C77 grain Nosler with Cannalure, driven by 26 grains of TAC, in Lapua Brass)

I have 5 AR's each prefers a different load but all will shoot the M-193.