"Serious" .223 ammunition?

[JamesCanby]

When I go to the range with my .40 handgun I use Winchester White Box, but when I carry I keep it loaded with Speer Gold Dots.

As a fairly new AR owner, I need advice on making that same decision for my .223 ammunition. I use inexpensive rounds from CTD or Classic Arms -- and they work just fine with no FTLs or FTEs. For serious use, however, I need some advice on what to keep in the magazines when I'm not at the range.

I see quite a few available variants, and would like to know what you suggest. Price is not as important as effectiveness. When the SHTF, I need to be confident in the stopping power of my ammunition.

[jdonovan]

I tend to buy SS109/M855 in bulk, and use it for practice, and use it for the when things get worse plans.

Also te 62 grain projectile will have differeing POI vs. the cheaper 55gr, so I like to work out my sight calibrations, drift etc... with what I'll really use.

[JamesCanby]

I tend to buy SS109/M855 in bulk, and use it for practice, and use it for the when things get worse plans.

Also the 62 grain projectile will have differeing POI vs. the cheaper 55gr, so I like to work out my sight calibrations, drift etc... with what I'll really use.

Thanks for the reply. I'll check out those rounds...

[rromeo]

Hornady TAP 75 grain.

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[jdonovan]

Hornady TAP 75 grain.

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Only a good choice if you have a faster twist barrel.

[gunderwood]

Hornady TAP 75 grain.

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Only a good choice if you have a faster twist barrel.

Or for home defense. Some 1:9s will shoot them fine past 100 yards, some won't.

My choices are:

Short range home defense (fragment like crazy): Hornady 75gr TAP (the NATO 5.56mm is superior to the .223, but good luck finding any)
General SHTF, bulk, etc. : M855
Specialty: M318 (www.kmike.com/Ammo/tm%2043-0001-27.pdf)

Despite the cost, the M318 had really good reports from the wars. It's hard to tell, but most claimed it was superior to the M855.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Here is a good page of .223 self defense round http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... x.htm#.223

[gunderwood]

Here is a good page of .223 self defense round http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... x.htm#.223

That's a good link.

[jdonovan]

Here is a good page of .223 self defense round http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... x.htm#.223

That's a good link.

and keeps reminding me why I REALLY prefer .308 over 223

[JamesCanby]

Thanks, guys ... all good advice and a great website link. I appreciate your responses.

[M1A4ME]

I have a few .223's of various makes/types. It is an excellent varmint round. Can it do more? Yes, but that's true of any cartridge.

Having said this, I figure if I have to use a .223 to defend myself with the situation warrants shooting till the threat is no longer a threat. That's what you'd do with a small caliber handgun so why would a small caliber rifle be any different. Why else did you by the 20 or 30 round magazines.

[jrswanson1]

Here is a good page of .223 self defense round http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defen ... x.htm#.223

That's a good link.

and keeps reminding me why I REALLY prefer .308 over 223

And if you scroll down, you'll see why I chose the 6.8 SPC as my SHTF cartridge. I have a 5.56 AR and a 7.62 NATO MBR. The MBR packs a punch, but it's HEAVY. I can get a 6.8 SPC in an M4 size carbine and have better barrier penetration versus a 5.56 without the weight penalty of the 7.62 NATO and the lack of accuracy of the 7.62x39 cartridge/rifle combo.

Jim

[Rumson]

You might want to research what you have (twist, barrel length, is it built for 5.56 NATO pressure or just .223) and what you intend to do with it.

Read this and then reassess what you want to accomplish. Buy accordingly.

http://anarchangel.blogspot.com/2007/01 ... ology.html

[gunderwood]

And if you scroll down, you'll see why I chose the 6.8 SPC as my SHTF cartridge. I have a 5.56 AR and a 7.62 NATO MBR. The MBR packs a punch, but it's HEAVY. I can get a 6.8 SPC in an M4 size carbine and have better barrier penetration versus a 5.56 without the weight penalty of the 7.62 NATO and the lack of accuracy of the 7.62x39 cartridge/rifle combo.

Jim

The downside being that replenishing your stock of 6.8SPC will always be harder than 5.56/7.62. If there was only one best and it required no compromises we'd all use that and have nothing to argue over in the forums. The Internet tubes would be a dull place!

[Jakeiscrazy]

And if you scroll down, you'll see why I chose the 6.8 SPC as my SHTF cartridge. I have a 5.56 AR and a 7.62 NATO MBR. The MBR packs a punch, but it's HEAVY. I can get a 6.8 SPC in an M4 size carbine and have better barrier penetration versus a 5.56 without the weight penalty of the 7.62 NATO and the lack of accuracy of the 7.62x39 cartridge/rifle combo.

Jim

The downside being that replenishing your stock of 6.8SPC will always be harder than 5.56/7.62. If there was only one best and it required no compromises we'd all use that and have nothing to argue over in the forums. The Internet tubes would be a dull place!

Interesting that you should bring that up. I personally doubt any ammo of any kind will be found if the SHTF. My guess is your gonna be stuck with what you have on hand or what you can reload.

[gunderwood]

And if you scroll down, you'll see why I chose the 6.8 SPC as my SHTF cartridge. I have a 5.56 AR and a 7.62 NATO MBR. The MBR packs a punch, but it's HEAVY. I can get a 6.8 SPC in an M4 size carbine and have better barrier penetration versus a 5.56 without the weight penalty of the 7.62 NATO and the lack of accuracy of the 7.62x39 cartridge/rifle combo.

Jim

The downside being that replenishing your stock of 6.8SPC will always be harder than 5.56/7.62. If there was only one best and it required no compromises we'd all use that and have nothing to argue over in the forums. The Internet tubes would be a dull place!

Interesting that you should bring that up. I personally doubt any ammo of any kind will be found if the SHTF. My guess is your gonna be stuck with what you have on hand or what you can reload.

So as soon as the SHTF everyone fires off every round they have stockpiled and there is no more to be had? No, there will be plenty of ammo around, but it just won't be at your local Walmart.

[CCFan]

My choices are:

Short range home defense (fragment like crazy): Hornady 75gr TAP (the NATO 5.56mm is superior to the .223, but good luck finding any)
General SHTF, bulk, etc. : M855
Specialty: M318 (http://www.kmike.com/Ammo/tm%2043-0001-27.pdf)

Despite the cost, the M318 had really good reports from the wars. It's hard to tell, but most claimed it was superior to the M855.

on the M855 for SHTF

Is M318 the compressed core stuff? Mk318? I read through the article in the link, but I didn't see any designations in that article for any specialty *318 designated ammo... did I miss something?

Interesting that you should bring that up. I personally doubt any ammo of any kind will be found if the SHTF. My guess is your gonna be stuck with what you have on hand or what you can reload.

Ah, I'm good to go as long as Google Maps doesn't divulge all my ammo stashes I have geot-tagged. Oh, and as long as I can access Google maps. Maybe I'll invest in that standalone GPS and some notebook paper... Better yet - maybe I need to give up the technology all together and start drawing my treasure map.....

[doubletap62]

I used the Hornady 55gr ZOMBIE ammo on hogs last week in Texas. They were devistating when the hog was shot in the head. No body shots taken out there, only head shots. It is the same as the V-Max ammo, only with a ZOMBIE Green tip! Great round though!! Neil Davies from Hornady is a good friend of mine and he swears by their GMX.. just saying.

[OSU84]

Hornaday TAP ammo for defense rounds!!