16" barrel. 1:7 twist. 100-600 yards. Just a trainer type rifle to save a bit of money on ammo, and plink steel with. Not really looking to find a handload for it as of yet because its pretty cheap from the factory and i dont plan on competing with it. Trying IMI 62gr now. The jury is still out on that one but its hovering around 1 moa thus far. Anyone had better luck with anyting else?
what factory ammo have you had the best luck with for 5.56x45?
- Thread starter Kramerica
- Start date
Forum Boss
Administrator
Federal Gold Medal Match is the best I tried.
But I have not tried Creedmoor Sports .223 Rem yet. Have heard great things.
But I have not tried Creedmoor Sports .223 Rem yet. Have heard great things.
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
Hornady 75 gr Superformance Match or Varmint, and Hornady 55 gr SP work well in my Sig556 DMR. However, your best bet is to try several different flavors...don't be afraid to cover a wide range of bullet weights and/or manufacturers. You only need one box of each - the rifle will tell you which one it prefers.
Toolbreaker
Gold $$ Contributor
https://www.impactguns.com/Rifle-Am...ington-55-Grain-V-Max-818517010258-223055VMX/
This shot surprisingly well out of my .223 bolt rifle. At the time, it was loaded using LC brass. Grouped well below 3/4 MOA. It has been a couple years since I tried it, though.
This shot surprisingly well out of my .223 bolt rifle. At the time, it was loaded using LC brass. Grouped well below 3/4 MOA. It has been a couple years since I tried it, though.
I have a 1/8 twist barrel. It shoots best with SSA 77 gr, which I believe was bought out by Nosler. It is rather slow even in my 20" barrel. Have to pay close attention to see/hear strikes on steel at 500 yds. I tried Hornady 75's, Black Hills remanufactured 77's, Federal MSR 62's, and a variety of FM plinking stuff. It also seems to favor 5.56 over .223. Does good with 55 gr Varmageddon and Benchmark also.
rmr
Gold $$ Contributor
Even though I load almost all of my own 223/.556, I still have not kicked an addiction to factory ammo. often I'll buy a bunch of something because its "on sale" or because its Swiss. 
when you can find it, Geco 55gr .223 is superb. Geco is just the importer of course, but the ammo is made by RUAG in switzerland. 50rd red boxes, on std swiss grey stripper clips. probably the most consistently accurate 55g ball I've ever found. there are two flavors of this: one is .223 spec, the other 5.56. they are identical other than the pressure level. typically the .223 version is more accurate, but most guns will favor one version or the other. Midway just had a sale on the 5.56 version for 25cpr, and I bought way too much. at 25-30cpr this stuff is a screaming deal.
honorable mention: ADI 69gr. i think Global Ordnance still has a sale on this, ~55cpr if memory serves. very good quality/very accurate/good price.
Honorable mention: IMI 69/77 razor core. another high quality product if you can get it for the right price. Midway has had fleeting inventory reduction sales in the past (50cpr) as other places. if you can get it for 55/60cpr its a great product. one note. you mentioned you are shooting 62G IMI. if you like the hardened penetrator, (not sure why you would actually need this, but) try GGG SS109, (same basic bullet) it is often more accurate. Euro built M855/SS109 is usually higher quality. (don't roast me, its just my opinion)
honorable mention: RUAG swiss-P 69/77. typical swiss quality but very difficult to find in the US and stupid expensive when you can find it.
Federal gold medal and BHA are of course very good quality, and its hard to go wrong with either. the only problem is finding it for the right price. (same with the Swiss-p above)
hopefully the above is helpful...
when you can find it, Geco 55gr .223 is superb. Geco is just the importer of course, but the ammo is made by RUAG in switzerland. 50rd red boxes, on std swiss grey stripper clips. probably the most consistently accurate 55g ball I've ever found. there are two flavors of this: one is .223 spec, the other 5.56. they are identical other than the pressure level. typically the .223 version is more accurate, but most guns will favor one version or the other. Midway just had a sale on the 5.56 version for 25cpr, and I bought way too much.
at 25-30cpr this stuff is a screaming deal. honorable mention: ADI 69gr. i think Global Ordnance still has a sale on this, ~55cpr if memory serves. very good quality/very accurate/good price.
Honorable mention: IMI 69/77 razor core. another high quality product if you can get it for the right price. Midway has had fleeting inventory reduction sales in the past (50cpr) as other places. if you can get it for 55/60cpr its a great product. one note. you mentioned you are shooting 62G IMI. if you like the hardened penetrator, (not sure why you would actually need this, but) try GGG SS109, (same basic bullet) it is often more accurate. Euro built M855/SS109 is usually higher quality. (don't roast me, its just my opinion)
honorable mention: RUAG swiss-P 69/77. typical swiss quality but very difficult to find in the US and stupid expensive when you can find it.
Federal gold medal and BHA are of course very good quality, and its hard to go wrong with either. the only problem is finding it for the right price. (same with the Swiss-p above)
hopefully the above is helpful...
Rocketvapor
Gold $$ Contributor
I'll second the IMI 69/77 but it seems to be gone now.
The 69 TMK from Creedmore is good.
Have not had luck with the Superformance though/
The 69 TMK from Creedmore is good.
Have not had luck with the Superformance though/
Same here. Their 5.56 stuff shoots terrible for me but the 50gr Vmax is really good
I've had very good luck with the Fiocchi 40 gr vmax as well in my 1:8 twist RRA NM. I might be a little leary about trying them in a 7 twist though.
The 77 gr Black Hills 5.56 red box shot well in a 7twist .223 Wylde rifle, but the 77 gr .223 redbox were not nearly as precise. The 85 gr Barnes shot well for me also. If you want your cheap barrel to last longer, stay away from all those faster, lighter loads 62 gr and down.
American Eagle AR is typically on sale at the big box stores for around $8 a box of 20. I've bought it online for as cheap as $4.99.
The 50 gr tipped varmint (Hornaday V-max) was stupid accurate out of my 223Rem bolt gun and I have a bunch of it that still I use as a benchmark load for comparison to my hand loads. I am not kidding when I say it will shoot 5 shot groups WAY under 1/2 moa. But it was too good to be true, I guess, as it's not made anymore since L.C. Armory changed hands.
American Eagle has a FMJ 55 gr. version that will more than satisfy your plinking urge without braking the bank. Some of it is (or was) made with L.C. brass. Typically sold in large, ammo can quantities and is one of the best when it comes to getting the most bang for your hard earned buck.
The 50 gr tipped varmint (Hornaday V-max) was stupid accurate out of my 223Rem bolt gun and I have a bunch of it that still I use as a benchmark load for comparison to my hand loads. I am not kidding when I say it will shoot 5 shot groups WAY under 1/2 moa. But it was too good to be true, I guess, as it's not made anymore since L.C. Armory changed hands.
American Eagle has a FMJ 55 gr. version that will more than satisfy your plinking urge without braking the bank. Some of it is (or was) made with L.C. brass. Typically sold in large, ammo can quantities and is one of the best when it comes to getting the most bang for your hard earned buck.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Creedmore 308 ammo is STUPID ACCURATE!!! Like .25 moa accurate. I bet their 223 is just as good. Buy with confidence!!! I mean its Lapua parts!!! You can't buy the brass for the price of the ammo!!!
Rocketvapor
Gold $$ Contributor
Lemme splaines dis for ya.
Best bang for the Buck
Taking 2 boxes of the bargain stuff, 40 shots to have one 10 shot group to post on the interweb might not be
Best Bang for the Buck
Best bang for the Buck
Taking 2 boxes of the bargain stuff, 40 shots to have one 10 shot group to post on the interweb might not be
Best Bang for the Buck
Plus 1 for the 77 gr Loader Monkey ammo out to 600 yards.
For orders:
https://www.facebook.com/loadermonkey/
jack@loadermonkey.com
Their .223 ammo comes in their own cases. Not Lapua Brass like the .308.
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