Ah the age-old question. I’ve done some searching and read some recommendations - even some range reports and some failure stories. I’m looking for 3 tiers of ammunition: Range Ammo - FMJ Military Grade - Ballistic Tip. The first thing I noticed is the “WOW” on 5.56 ammo prices - holy crap it’s gotten expensive. When I sold my Colt several years ago, I was at the end of 15,000 rounds of Malaysian military ammo which I found to be excellent - it was also cheap, (I seem to remember $155.00 per k). The only exceptions I have to the ammo rule is Wolf. After a near catastrophic failure in my Colt with early lacquered Wolf, I just won’t buy it - no matter how cheap. I also read the thread about 75gr TAP and wondered if anyone found 60gr TAP sufficient for self defense, (I can get a deal on it), but will pass if it’s not suitable.
Some of the ammunition I’ve seen and could use guidance on:
I’ve never shot anything in the 70’s. I’m not the one to ask on that one.
The PMC bronze is decent ammo if you’re running it in a carbine. It short strokes in rifles however. That’s why I won’t mess with it. Building ammo that runs on ALL AR gas systems is just not that hard. It’s not the same PMC M193 that used to be available.
2007 Prvi Partisan M193 for range use and DPX or a softpoint for self defence. Remington 55gr PSP’s fragment a bit as well as expand to around .50 caliber and penetrate 10-12" depending on distance. If you work around cars, i recommend DPX or Federal 62 Tactical Bonded.
After playing with M193 I really don’t want to rely on fragmentation and yaw and all that jazz, just give me something that I KNOW will expand/frag, like most softpoints. FMJ isn’t going to penetrate much cover anyways, so I see no downside to a PSP type round. flame-suit on
Thanks for the replies gentlemen - I do realize that I should have posted this in the Ammo section, but was negligent. I guess you could argue that it is a technical question, but apologize for my error anyway.
It’s funny Privi was mentioned, as I just got through about 2k of Privi 7.62x51 and was utterly impressed with it. It shot well beyond the Mil-Surp, functioned perfectly and seemed to be loaded consistently. Was not sure how the 5.56 offerings held up, but am glad to read a good report on it - thanks WS6
I have had zero problems with
Magtech and find it very reliable the same with Fiocchi. The others are fine for range use. I dont like the S&B but like it in pistol calibers.
I’ve had problems with both the Privi-Partizan and the British Radway. It seems they are underpowered just enough to not function 100% in my carbine. I have heard good reports from other shooters though and my build has been finicky from the get go.
Hill
I shoot a lot of the various Russian 55 gr and 62 gr FMJ on the range, my gun eats anything. But for defensive ammo I use Hornady 60 gr TAP.
I also have 1500 rds of Lake City M193 and about 1000 rds of Win q3131 that I got a couple of years ago that is my rainy day ammo.
Haven't really found ammo that my carbine doesn't function with yet.
Ditto for me. I know Privi had problems a few years ago but I like the current production Privi M193 55 grn ammo and PMC Bronze. They shoot and group well with PMC being the most accurate. No malfunctions with either after 2k rounds of each so far. I keep 1k of each for defensive ammo (ICSH/SHTF)
Concerning British Radway Green 5,56. In 2005 the military issued a Notice of Ammo Reclassification concerning this ammo. This ammo is known to cause failures to extract in M4 carbines or other(s) with shorter barrels. The military purchased it for use due to the shortages of ammo. It is alleged to work reliably in M16A2’s and M249 SAWS. I can post a copy of that notice if anyone cares to see it.
Priv is definitely not underpowered. Someone posted Chrono info showing that it reaches full M193 velocities. There has to be some other issue there with the pressure curve of the ammo or something.
Priv/Wolf M193 was bad ammo, but the current PRIV runs well in both carbine and rifle gas systems.
The stuff I was running came from SPG a few years back. I noticed it was using extruded powder as opposed to ball powder. The British stuff just didn’t have the wallop. I got great results from commercial Rem .223 green box and exceptional function with the American Eagle. I have literally changed every single part of this build sans the receiver and all parts are top of the line. I just changed out the action “Buffer” spring for a Wolff extra power, Replaced the Stag mil-spec extension and the buffer retainer pin for Colt Defense…This in addition to having a CMT carrier group souped up by Denny. I’m running a Bravo M4 upper, the FCG is RRA…the original CMT seemed to be dragging and slapping my finger. The failure is on the carrier return. The round is stripped 3/4 out of the mag with the round just setting on the feed ramp…not jammed into it…just laying there. I can usually slap the but and she’ll continue home. My local range has moved and I’m going to the meeting tommorrow evening to pay my dues. I just bought a case of Korean PMC M193. I’ve got my fingers crossed!
My one requirement is I never shoot .223 ammo. Even my worst range ammo must be 5.56mm NATO pressure (such as M193). The reason why I have this rule is that all of my rifle tuning is based around full power ammo and I like to test/practice with what I might shoot for defense. Mk262 or TAP 75 is too expensive for me to shoot all of the time, so I just shoot M193 all of the time.
I actually had some of the 05 (Wolf branded) stuff short stroking on a carbine length upper last weekend. This was odd because typically it’s the Rifles that choke on this ammo.
I fired 10 or so rounds without a problem. (The gun was clean at the time.) Then about 70-80 rounds later, I got back into a 20 round box of the Wolf/Priv and it wouldn’t run for shit. Short stroke city… I couldn’t even finish the box off.
It’s a funny thing…you change mags…parts and ammo trying to nail down the problem. At this point. I think it’s the ammo. One things for sure…if the ballon goes up and I gotta grab one and go…it’ll be the AK!
