Hey there, I thought I would ask what types of defensive ammo you guys (and gals) like in addition to Hornady TAP for the M4 platform. I have shot a variety of ammo over the years and have really come to like TAP, especially in the heavier loads(75 gr). However, in recent months with ammo being so expensive and hard to find, I have been branching out in the defensive ammo that I purchase in an attempt to curb costs and ensure that I can actually find what I am looking for. It seems like TAP is a favorite of many on this forum as well in .223 or at least that it is a popular choice.
So, any thoughts on this? What are factory defensive rounds of choice in addition to Hornady TAP?
lately have been using Black Hills 75 grain SMK blue box or red box depending on what I can find would like to try the 77grain SMK if I can ever find any
Thanks. I was able to find a few links talking about 5.56/223 defensive ammo (ammo oracle and the like) but most of them spent time discussing the “bullet only” rather than factory ammo. I am all for reloading but not for defensive/duty purposes. As such, factory loaded ammo as an alternative to Hornady TAP 75 gr. is what I am looking for. It would be nice to find something that is similar in making the attempt at reduced flash, etc as the TAP loads do.
I am shooting an LMT piston 16inch carbine with a 1:7 twist.
Most places I have seen carrying it wanted $10 / 20 rd. box. My solution was to go with the .223 cal. 75 gr. TAP Practice round available from G&R. Price per round is similar and the Hornady has a steel case, but the proven Hornady bullet is worth the tradeoff for me. It is usually a long wait between availability, but pretty much anything in a 75 gr. load will require some patience these days.
Wideners had it up to just a couple of weeks ago. I received my case just a few days ago. 429.00 for a case. Even with my Discount from Hornady I pay 150.00 for 200 rounds of TAP ammo.
TAP is good stuff, but there are others worthy of use too. It’s hard to make a truly bad choice in the purpose-built defensive loads.
As a backup to your preference, look at the domestically produced midweight expanding rounds from virtually anyone. 60, 63, 65gr JSPs are pretty abundant.
Heck, an M193 spec load is suboptimal, but gets the job done as contingency ammo.
Food for thought: Folks (and agencies) are fond of choosing premium gucci defensive loads, but often fail to consider the comparative quirks in purchasing, function checking, sustaining, and training, with them.
I think part of the issue I am seeing is that most manufacturers don’t market their ammo as purpose built defensive loads. They look at hunting rounds or match target ammo but Hornady TAP is rare in the manner in which it is marketed. Now, any ammo that works well for taking down a mule deer is likely to perform well for defensive purposes but it does make finding the ammo via searches a bit harder.
As for the guggi ammo thing, I understand where you are coming from and certainly am not intending to shoot TAP all day long at the range. I have shot enough of it to know that my weapon cycles it effectively and that I am accurate with it and that is all. Other than that, I am just trying to stock up a bit but it is hard to do with ammo being so hard to find right now. That is why I am looking at other options in defensive rounds which are factory built.
I’ll take a look at the privi that others mentioned and see if I can find some of that.
Just out of curiosity, what other companies build what you consider to be “purpose built defensive loads”?
i recently found a case [10 boxes] of win. ranger 55 gr. psp for 140$, so i bought it. i know this isn’t the optimum load, but the miss. h.p. uses this load so i thought it must work o.k. i got some tap 5.56 last year while you still could, that is what is in my truck and house m-4’s, although i wouldn’t hesitate to use the 55 gr. ranger. it don’t hurt a thing to have good, quality factory ammo lounging around.
Scientific testing performed by Dr. G.K. Roberts and others has proven the superior accuracy, superior ballistic neck, superior temporary cavity, superior fragmentation and superior barrier penetration of 75 grain TAP; so it most certainly is not “marketing hype.”
