What's the Most Reliable .223 Ammo?

**RonDurango** · 07-26-2010, 09:30 PM

What brands of .223 ammo and what bullet types seem to be the most reliable in an AR15? So far I have only used Winchester White Box 55 grain FMJ. I've been told the Winchester Super X and Hornady in, I think its 50 grain JHPs are also good. It would be nice to read your opinions.

By the way the purpose of the round would be twofold: coyote hunting and personal protection in a Mad Max world.

Thanks.

Ron Durango
NRA Life Member

**Joe B.** · 07-26-2010, 10:00 PM

I shoot nothing but reloads in my AR15 and my NEF single shot .223s.

Winchester brass, Hornady 55 gr JSP w/cannelure and BLC-2 powder. No failures to feed, fire or eject. Coyote kills out to 250+ yards and one was a clean head shot at 165 yards (laser rangefinder). Clean burning, nearly zero residue to clean up.

I will not shoot steel cased ammo with shellac or polymer coatings such as Wolf, nor copper coated steel core bullets such as the Russian Bear ammos in my guns. In fact, if a magnet will lift or even move the ammo, it is not going into my gun.

I fire for accuracy and for full effect for each round not just to burn ammo and spray bullets, so even with the AR, if one shot does the trick, I only pull the trigger one time, with more ready if I need them. So I don't feel the need for cheap crap ammo. Quality factory ammo is not likely to let you down, or gum your chamber up. And meticulous reloads will help you make the best of each shot, whether there is only one, or thirty in the mag.

I fired some Wolf in my NEF single shot and could see close up what the cartridge coatings do to the chamber. Never again if I have a choice. But I do use their small rifle primers, with utter reliability.

**budroe** · 07-26-2010, 11:19 PM

I guess if we're dealing with the Apocalypse any ammo you can come up with is the best thing going!! Our agency issues only Lake City green tip for operations in Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan and where ever. From my limited perspective, results have always proven excellent.

For coyotes I'd prefer some type hollow point hunting ammo; think I have a couple of boxes of WW jacketed hollow point ammo around the house. I don't care for coyotes, but would prefer to make a clean/quick kill on any animal.

**RonDurango** · 07-27-2010, 12:15 AM

Budroe,

What is Lake City ammo?

**budroe** · 07-27-2010, 01:31 AM

Lake City is an Army owned ammunition facility in Missouri. They make a lot of ammo that ends up on the surplus market. I think I have a couple cases of their ammo squirreled away somewhere.

**texasalien** · 07-27-2010, 07:39 PM

I can't say that I have ever had any bad 223 ammo in my AR-15s, which have cycled everything I have put in them. Maybe I have just been lucky, so far, but I will take any brass-cased 223 ammo that I can get for a decent price.

**budroe** · 07-27-2010, 11:32 PM

I've only fired brass-cased ammo through my AR-15s, but have a case or two of steel cased ammo (hey, it was given to me). I have friends that use it with no problems; in a pinch I'd not worry about using it in my weapons.

**lookingforthewayback** · 07-28-2010, 12:41 AM

Only bad ammo I ever had was Wolf, fired part of one box and gave half a case of it to my son to use in an old daewoo 223.

**RonDurango** · 07-30-2010, 12:05 AM

So far what I am getting is that AR15's will shoot just about anything, but avoid the real junk like Wolf & TULA.

What about bullet design & weight. I am thinking along the lines of 55 grain JHP of FMJ.

Ron
NRA Life Member

**bluedlightning** · 07-30-2010, 12:45 AM

I've used the wolf polymer ammo in my AR with out any complaint except for a single slam fire. Most of the time I shoot millsurp ammo of either Lake City or Winchester make. I've tried british radway green ammo and its ok, my rifle groups it at 4 1/2 to 5 inches at 100 yards, the LC ammo does 3 inch consistantly at the same range.

**Skipster** · 08-05-2010, 11:04 PM

I was told that Wolf ammo will void my LMT warranty. I would stick with Hornady and American Eagle rounds.

**oldvet53** · 08-06-2010, 10:12 AM

i would say stay away from Hanson ammo for the .223, had a couple of boxes and even though kept in a good sealing ammo can with desecant it turned green in 6 months. cleaned and 2-3 weeks later it turned green again. don't like wolf or tula. shoot mostly winchester 55 gr. balistit tips, remington green box 55 gr. fmj and lake city fmj in 55&62gr with 62 being penatrators.

07-26-2010, 09:30 PM	#1
RonDurango Join Date: December 25 2006 Posts: 137	What's the Most Reliable .223 Ammo? What brands of .223 ammo and what bullet types seem to be the most reliable in an AR15? So far I have only used Winchester White Box 55 grain FMJ. I've been told the Winchester Super X and Hornady in, I think its 50 grain JHPs are also good. It would be nice to read your opinions. By the way the purpose of the round would be twofold: coyote hunting and personal protection in a Mad Max world. Thanks. Ron Durango NRA Life Member

07-26-2010, 10:00 PM	#2
Joe B. Join Date: January 14 2006 Location: NE OK/NW AR border town Posts: 2,843	I shoot nothing but reloads in my AR15 and my NEF single shot .223s. Winchester brass, Hornady 55 gr JSP w/cannelure and BLC-2 powder. No failures to feed, fire or eject. Coyote kills out to 250+ yards and one was a clean head shot at 165 yards (laser rangefinder). Clean burning, nearly zero residue to clean up. I will not shoot steel cased ammo with shellac or polymer coatings such as Wolf, nor copper coated steel core bullets such as the Russian Bear ammos in my guns. In fact, if a magnet will lift or even move the ammo, it is not going into my gun. I fire for accuracy and for full effect for each round not just to burn ammo and spray bullets, so even with the AR, if one shot does the trick, I only pull the trigger one time, with more ready if I need them. So I don't feel the need for cheap crap ammo. Quality factory ammo is not likely to let you down, or gum your chamber up. And meticulous reloads will help you make the best of each shot, whether there is only one, or thirty in the mag. I fired some Wolf in my NEF single shot and could see close up what the cartridge coatings do to the chamber. Never again if I have a choice. But I do use their small rifle primers, with utter reliability. 'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia !'

07-26-2010, 11:19 PM	#3
budroe Join Date: June 15 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 9,354	I guess if we're dealing with the Apocalypse any ammo you can come up with is the best thing going!! Our agency issues only Lake City green tip for operations in Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan and where ever. From my limited perspective, results have always proven excellent. For coyotes I'd prefer some type hollow point hunting ammo; think I have a couple of boxes of WW jacketed hollow point ammo around the house. I don't care for coyotes, but would prefer to make a clean/quick kill on any animal. SHOOT, MOVE, COMMUNICATE!!!!

07-27-2010, 01:31 AM	#5
budroe Join Date: June 15 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 9,354	Lake City is an Army owned ammunition facility in Missouri. They make a lot of ammo that ends up on the surplus market. I think I have a couple cases of their ammo squirreled away somewhere. SHOOT, MOVE, COMMUNICATE!!!!

07-27-2010, 11:32 PM	#7
budroe Join Date: June 15 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 9,354	I've only fired brass-cased ammo through my AR-15s, but have a case or two of steel cased ammo (hey, it was given to me). I have friends that use it with no problems; in a pinch I'd not worry about using it in my weapons. SHOOT, MOVE, COMMUNICATE!!!!

07-27-2010, 12:15 AM	#4
RonDurango Join Date: December 25 2006 Posts: 137	Budroe, What is Lake City ammo?

07-27-2010, 07:39 PM	#6
texasalien Join Date: January 6 2003 Location: Ft. Worth, TX Posts: 1,216	I can't say that I have ever had any bad 223 ammo in my AR-15s, which have cycled everything I have put in them. Maybe I have just been lucky, so far, but I will take any brass-cased 223 ammo that I can get for a decent price.

07-28-2010, 12:41 AM	#8
lookingforthewayback Join Date: March 24 2009 Location: Panhandle of Florida Posts: 7,352	Only bad ammo I ever had was Wolf, fired part of one box and gave half a case of it to my son to use in an old daewoo 223. Tact: Making someone feel at home when you wish they were. "The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them." Patrick Henry Our enemies have trained our teachers and professors. Those teachers are training our children. "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. " Thomas Jefferson “If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams Gary

07-30-2010, 12:05 AM	#9
RonDurango Join Date: December 25 2006 Posts: 137	So far what I am getting is that AR15's will shoot just about anything, but avoid the real junk like Wolf & TULA. What about bullet design & weight. I am thinking along the lines of 55 grain JHP of FMJ. Ron NRA Life Member

07-30-2010, 12:45 AM	#10
bluedlightning Join Date: July 9 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,551	I've used the wolf polymer ammo in my AR with out any complaint except for a single slam fire. Most of the time I shoot millsurp ammo of either Lake City or Winchester make. I've tried british radway green ammo and its ok, my rifle groups it at 4 1/2 to 5 inches at 100 yards, the LC ammo does 3 inch consistantly at the same range. I would never invade the United States. There would be a gun behind every blade of grass. Isoroku Yamamoto. When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability. Proverbs 28:2 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer peresecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 KJV

08-05-2010, 11:04 PM	#11
Skipster Join Date: August 5 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41	I was told that Wolf ammo will void my LMT warranty. I would stick with Hornady and American Eagle rounds. --Skip Conservative Christian-American, Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), NRA Member

08-06-2010, 10:12 AM	#12
oldvet53 Join Date: August 5 2010 Location: N.E. Arkansas Posts: 383	i would say stay away from Hanson ammo for the .223, had a couple of boxes and even though kept in a good sealing ammo can with desecant it turned green in 6 months. cleaned and 2-3 weeks later it turned green again. don't like wolf or tula. shoot mostly winchester 55 gr. balistit tips, remington green box 55 gr. fmj and lake city fmj in 55&62gr with 62 being penatrators. what is popular is not always right, what is right is not always popular! NRA Life Member & member of the American Legion

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