question about .223 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

03RangerXLT · 10-17-2006, 05:28 PM

So I have no clue about ammunition. I buy store stuff cause it works and ussually every time I pull the trigger. I have an AR-15 on lay-away now though, and I need to think about feeding it and getting lots of ammo at a good price.

The AR has a barrel w/ Barrel Twist: 1 in 9"

i have found in Cheaper than dirt british .223 w/ 62 grain bullets. it states "it works better in the newer rifles with faster twist."

not knowing anything about ammunition (except what fits in what gun

), would this be a safe buy for my new rifle?

**Old School** · 10-17-2006, 05:35 PM

Your rifle is pretty standard. The best thing to do is try shooting different weight for groups, as the 1/9" is pretty flexible when it comes to bullet weights. The keep is to shoot a bullet that will stay stable in flight.

KYDoc · 10-17-2006, 05:36 PM

I think it is OK, but if you go to the www.ar15.com site and look in the first couple posts in the ammunition forum, you will find everything you need to know about .223/5.56 ammo, and then some! It's an awesome resource, and there's even a spot for current prices at the most used websites.

**DanTheEldest** · 10-17-2006, 05:39 PM

I can't give you an answer to your question because I'm basically at the same point you are. I did, however, find this site:

http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm

I haven't read it all yet, but it seems to be the most complete AR ammo-related place I've seen yet.

Glxso201 · 10-17-2006, 05:48 PM

my experience with cheaper than dirt has been that their off brand ammo (most of the surplus russian and british) is really really dirty. Accurate enough and cheap to play with, but be ready to clean your rifle pretty well after each trip. Congrats on your AR!

mcb · 10-17-2006, 05:52 PM

1:9 should stabilize bullet with lead cores in the weight range from 40-71 grains. If you shooting bullets with steel cores you max weight drops to about 68 grains. The reason for this it the longer the bullet the faster you have to spin it to stabilize it. So if you lower the density of the bullet material (ie steel core instead of lead core) then for the same weight you end up with a slightly longer bullet.

With short bullets you can over-stabilize them but over-stabilization only usually effect bullet accuracy at very long range.

It seems from my research that 1:9 rate of twist is probably the best and most flexible rate of twist for 223Rem/5.56x45. If your going to shoot the really heavy bullets that some 223 shooter are using for extreme long range shooting than you will want a 1:8 or even a 1:7 rate of twist. On the other hand if you are building a dedicate prairie dog buster shooting only really light 30-40 grain bullets then you might want to go back to the 223Rem's original rate of twist of 1:12.

Any of the standard surplus ammo you can get should be just fine in your 1:9 barrel. I ordered some M193 ball ammo from www.aimsurplus.com for a decent price.

Rambling
mcb

Nerves · 10-17-2006, 06:03 PM

62 gr bullet is a nice level choice. if your looking for good plinking/practice .223 bullk ammo, try Radway.

Frostyeyes · 10-17-2006, 06:47 PM

I know everyone seems to hate Wolf but in recent weeks it has been on sale and I picked up some 55 gr. solid cooper HP at 2.99 abox of 20 it's cheap shootin and when you can post a .97 group @100 yds with my old eyes I'd say it was accurate also of course I'm shootin a Colt NM HBAR with a 1in 7 twist.

Steel1212 · 10-17-2006, 08:15 PM

Reload? Get some WWB bulk boxes of 55grainers. Like said above the 1x9 stablizes a lot but I wouldn't go above the 65 gr pills. My 1x8 stablizes the 77smk just fine though. Anyway, if you don't reload save your brass especially if you shoot a lot of winchester and sell it to recoupe your money.

Krackels · 10-17-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel1212

Reload? Get some WWB bulk boxes of 55grainers. Like said above the 1x9 stablizes a lot but I wouldn't go above the 65 gr pills. My 1x8 stablizes the 77smk just fine though. Anyway, if you don't reload save your brass especially if you shoot a lot of winchester and sell it to recoupe your money.

There was a thread about bulk .223 bullets here earlier. Here you go try this for 223 bullets for reloading. Hi- Tech Surplus Bullets?

Not match quality, but they're cheap.

10-17-2006, 05:28 PM	#1
03RangerXLT XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta area, Georgia Posts: 2,152	question about .223 So I have no clue about ammunition. I buy store stuff cause it works and ussually every time I pull the trigger. I have an AR-15 on lay-away now though, and I need to think about feeding it and getting lots of ammo at a good price. The AR has a barrel w/ Barrel Twist: 1 in 9" i have found in Cheaper than dirt british .223 w/ 62 grain bullets. it states "it works better in the newer rifles with faster twist." not knowing anything about ammunition (except what fits in what gun ), would this be a safe buy for my new rifle? __________________ -John WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!

10-17-2006, 05:35 PM	#2
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,583	Your rifle is pretty standard. The best thing to do is try shooting different weight for groups, as the 1/9" is pretty flexible when it comes to bullet weights. The keep is to shoot a bullet that will stay stable in flight. __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

10-17-2006, 05:39 PM	#4
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,292	I can't give you an answer to your question because I'm basically at the same point you are. I did, however, find this site: http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm I haven't read it all yet, but it seems to be the most complete AR ammo-related place I've seen yet. __________________ The AK-47: Designed to be field-stripped and used effectively by a half-drunk, half-frozen illiterate conscript who found it buried in Mother Russia's mud after last year's Regiment exercises. SOP: retrieve from ground, pee in action, cycle bolt, go back to work. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. --Martin Luther

10-17-2006, 05:52 PM	#6
mcb XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North East Ohio Posts: 2,038	1:9 should stabilize bullet with lead cores in the weight range from 40-71 grains. If you shooting bullets with steel cores you max weight drops to about 68 grains. The reason for this it the longer the bullet the faster you have to spin it to stabilize it. So if you lower the density of the bullet material (ie steel core instead of lead core) then for the same weight you end up with a slightly longer bullet. With short bullets you can over-stabilize them but over-stabilization only usually effect bullet accuracy at very long range. It seems from my research that 1:9 rate of twist is probably the best and most flexible rate of twist for 223Rem/5.56x45. If your going to shoot the really heavy bullets that some 223 shooter are using for extreme long range shooting than you will want a 1:8 or even a 1:7 rate of twist. On the other hand if you are building a dedicate prairie dog buster shooting only really light 30-40 grain bullets then you might want to go back to the 223Rem's original rate of twist of 1:12. Any of the standard surplus ammo you can get should be just fine in your 1:9 barrel. I ordered some M193 ball ammo from www.aimsurplus.com for a decent price. Rambling mcb __________________ If at first you don't succeed; RELOAD _ _ _ _ My web site

10-17-2006, 06:03 PM	#7
Nerves XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville, Fl. Posts: 2,028	62 gr bullet is a nice level choice. if your looking for good plinking/practice .223 bullk ammo, try Radway. __________________ \"WHEN YOU PUT ON YOUR GUN LEAVE YOUR MIDDLE FINGER AT HOME\" NRA Member IDPA Member--Wilson Combat CQB (CDP) USPSA Member--New XD 9 Tac & G34 (Production ) IPSC Open Major--STI Trubor Grandmaster CCW's: -- XD-45 ACP 4" with Truglo TFO's & M6 Laser/Light --Kimber Tactical Pro II, ...Many More

10-17-2006, 05:36 PM	#3
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	I think it is OK, but if you go to the www.ar15.com site and look in the first couple posts in the ammunition forum, you will find everything you need to know about .223/5.56 ammo, and then some! It's an awesome resource, and there's even a spot for current prices at the most used websites.

10-17-2006, 05:48 PM	#5
Glxso201 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 576	my experience with cheaper than dirt has been that their off brand ammo (most of the surplus russian and british) is really really dirty. Accurate enough and cheap to play with, but be ready to clean your rifle pretty well after each trip. Congrats on your AR!

10-17-2006, 06:47 PM	#8
Frostyeyes XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Livonia Michigan Posts: 904	I know everyone seems to hate Wolf but in recent weeks it has been on sale and I picked up some 55 gr. solid cooper HP at 2.99 abox of 20 it's cheap shootin and when you can post a .97 group @100 yds with my old eyes I'd say it was accurate also of course I'm shootin a Colt NM HBAR with a 1in 7 twist. __________________ Gun Control: What a Long Strange Trip It\'s Been

10-17-2006, 08:15 PM	#9
Steel1212 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 566	Reload? Get some WWB bulk boxes of 55grainers. Like said above the 1x9 stablizes a lot but I wouldn't go above the 65 gr pills. My 1x8 stablizes the 77smk just fine though. Anyway, if you don't reload save your brass especially if you shoot a lot of winchester and sell it to recoupe your money. __________________ Corey Estill USPSA: A57351 IDPA: A26629 "Master or bust!!"

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