Where can I find the best/cheapest ammo in 5.56 for plinking? I can find plenty of inexpensive .223, but would prefer to shoot the cartridge my carbine was designed to fire.
I’ve looked at the Sportsmans Guide and Cheaper Than Dirt but they don’t seem to have any good deals except on sh*t like steel cased Wolf…no thank you…anyone know of any good buys?
The best plinking ammo I’ve ever shot are my own reloads.
Even “plinking” ammunition can get expensive.
If you aren’t reloading already, you should look into it. It’s actually a quite enjoyable experience.
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/21370
Comes out to be $.35 a round.
Wolf/Tula/Brown Bear/etc are my plinking ammo. If my gun wouldn’t work with them, I wouldn’t keep it.
Wolf isn’t a bad cartridge persé, I just don’t like steel cased ammo.
I know absolutely NOTHING about reloading. I am interested in reloading 5.56mm and .45acp. Where can I learn about it? What does the equipment cost?
Just read around in this forum to learn about it.
Personally, I use the cheaper Lee Reloading equipment and it works just fine for me. I believe I paid $180 for the progressive press and a set of dies. But, if you want a really nice reloading experience I’d suggest purchasing a Dillion.
The upfront costs of reloading are pretty steep but its worth it in the end.
I reload 5.56mm and 9mm and average about 18 cents a round of 5.56mm and 10 cents for 9mm.
Can I use the same equipment to make both 5.56 and .45 with just a dye change?
Nope. You can make the conversion simpler by hand priming your brass. If you’re priming on a press, you’ll have to convert the primer system between large and small primer.
For what it’s worth… I find nothing gained from running full powered ammo for practice, but it’s your choice.
You can use the same press, and most presses come with both large and small primer rams and tubes.
A Lee turret press that auto-indexes is probably the cheapest solution for a lower-volume shooter, or one that’s short on cash for a full-on progressive set up.
I second that. If you do go the reloading route, I suggest that you make a minimum power load for plinking.
Aren’t the only differences between 5.56 and 223 is that the 5.56 has a higher pressure load, primers are crimped, and sealant is applied to primer and projectile?
I was told the “lead” is larger on the 5.56. Something out the projectile leaves the casing by a couple /1000 before it hits the rifling.
I have heard that the lead is larger in diameter, but cannot find a 5.56 lead made by any reloading manufacturer, Sierra etc… So I am thinking it is the above mentioned and the bullet may be seated deeper to increase head space like you are talking about. I am sure someone will fill us in shortly…
You pretty much nailed it, though the only real difference that matters is the higher pressure part, and I believe this is partly caused by slightly thicker case walls = less internal volume = higher pressure.
The external dimensions are very slightly different but there is absolutely no harm in putting .223 through a 5.56 chamber, just not the other way around.
I don’t want to highjack this thread so I am going to start a new one about some diameter questions…
Is anyone familiar with the 100 round box of Federal .223 55gr sold at Walmart?
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Around here it’s about $40/100. I’ve shot a lot of it and it is OK but you can find it cheaper online even with shipping.
I’ve used a lot of PMC 55g and it’s pretty good, especially for about $315/1000.
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It’s about $40 here in California too. What is the quality like? Good for training? Somewhat tight groups at 100 yards?
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I never had a problem with it. Shot maybe 1500 rounds and it was 2" - 3" 100 yard while the PMC was 1-1/2" -2". You can find it for about $350/1000 on line maybe a little cheaper.
I think it is nomenclatured XM193. You’ll see that term tossed around and that is what Federal calls it. Sometimes there is a suffix and that generally refers to how it is packaged: 20, 100, 200, 900, & 1000 boxes are what I have seen.
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This is what I’m talking about…not the XM193