I just bought my first AR,it’s a S&W M&P.After looking over all the different brands & styles of Ammo,and researching some of them I’m still not sure what way to go.And having a limited budget for buying Ammo,I can’t just go out and try Brand after Brand until I find one that best fits my needs.So I figured I’d ask you guys that have been around AR’s & all the different Ammo’s,and know what works best.What I’m looking for is a reasonably priced,good quality Ammo for Hunting/SHTF Situations that I can buy in Bulk.I’m kind of leaning toward going with Lake City 62gr M855,from what I’ve read it seems to cover everything I’m needing it for.Am I heading in the right direction with the Lake City,or is there something better?Any advice will be Greatly appreciated.
M855 is OK. If you can find Winchester Q3131A1 for a decent price, that would be an outstanding general purpose round.
It’s usually absurdly overpriced. But if I wouldn’t mind having that round for my stash if I were starting out.
How is it different from other M193?
It’s not quite as HOT as XM193 for example. It’s not a TRUE M193… which to me is a good thing. I think Molon’s tests showed it 100 fps below full M193.
It frags good at Home Defense distances in a 14.5" barrel, yet is mild enough that it’s really reliable in any decent gun.
It’s classic, good quality Korean ammo.
If you want M855, go here and get some SS109 for about $100 less. Plus, you get all that brass if you’re into reloading or selling the brass. Price equals about $5.25 per box of 20.
http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/223_ammunition.html
Having an M&P15, you also have the advantage that just about all of them will shoot just about anything on the planet. Many of us shoot steel case ammo. I shoot about 85% steel case and 15% brass case. My steel case ammo costs usually $3.50-$4.00 per box of 20. Unless I buy some soft points by MFS. It’s about $4.80 a box (shipped), but it makes for both good target and varmint/coyote/defense ammo too.
But if you won’t shoot steel case ammo, the link above is to a good company with decent price on m855 type ammo.
Your looking for ammo to do two very different things!!! Bulk ball ammo while good for SHTF situation is piss poor for hunting! Sure it will kill things but it’s not hunting ammo! Illegal to use as such in most states! I’ve seen bulk SP ammo but there’s not a lot of it out there! And it’s usually not cheap!
Good to know. I remember seeing the autopsy report on a murder where the round used was early PMC M193, out of an old 1:12 Colt SP1. Looked like a hand grenade went off inside the guy.
I bet! I mean a full 20" launch of M193 would do that. :eek:
Thanks Guys for the help.GunNutaf your right they are different rounds,I should have made my post a little clearer,Sorry about that.I’m looking to buy up more SHTF Ammo first,and then buy up some Hunting rounds later on.After looking around and doing some more reading,alot of people say the Lake City rounds are a litte beat up.So after that I’ve narrowed it down to the PMC X-Tac.And even though it’s a little high,I was looking at the Winchester Ranger M855 SS109.And as Markm suggested,the Winchester Q3131A1.The first 1000 rounds I’m going to try is really between the PMC X-Tac,and the Winchester Q3131A1.They both seem to be good rounds,and the PMC is the cheaper of the 2.But saving $$ isn’t worth taking a chance when it comes down to a bad situation,that’s why I was looking a the Wichester Ranger.So out of those,what way would be the best to go??