A-list for AR uppers?

[Kracken McGraw]

 

[Fuj]

It becomes more and more obvious I'm snooping in a too expensive neighborhood.

May I suggest going to "Bear Creek Arsenal" and pick out something that
may be more appropriate for the needs, and keeps your bank balance a bit
more sane. Give them a call about your Colt fitment......My only suggestions
would be an 18", 8 twist barrel to cover most ground. 7 twisters are not needed
and 9's will hold there own.

 

[jelenko]

400-450 rounds for a weekend clinic. At $1.00 or more a shot

Yeah. $400+ gets your attention.

Here's some ammo that others have reported 1 to 1.5 MOA. https://palmettostatearmory.com/aac-5-56-nato-77-grain-otm-20rd-box-ammunition.html

 

[Fuj]

I usually buy my IMI 5.56 from SGAmmo, and by the ammo can. Federal NATO
480 count cans will be a bit cheaper. By the ammo can is the only way to go if
not reloading. I stopped reloading 5.56 years ago and just buy bulk match ammo.

 

[Lefty2506]

It becomes more and more obvious I'm snooping in a too expensive neighborhood. My interest is Appleseed and you need 400-450 rounds for a weekend clinic. At $1.00 or more a shot that's definitely out of my range. (So is the 400 yards to target for that matter )

FWIW, you can run the 50-55gr stuff to 400 yds with no problems and you should be able to find them at half that price if you do a little shopping. They will get blown around in the wind more so than a 75gr BTHP, but they will still do the job. Not sure what kind of accuracy you really need for the apple seed clinics, but there are some cost effective options in these weight ranges that should should around 1 MOA or better out of a good upper. Look for some 5.56 NATO in 55gr or 62gr from Ammo Inc, Winchster (white box), or even AAC or Frontier. If you're using a 223 Wylde chamber, it will shoot both 5.56 NATO and 223 Rem very well. Shop around and watch for sales. If you stumble across a discount brand that your rifle happens to really like, watch for it to go on sale and be ready to jump on 1,000 rnds of it.