AR-15 Ammo Question

[fickman]

Well, I finally got out and saw the ammo shortages first-hand.

The Wal-Mart in Roanoke had zero handgun calibers available. Also, I can confirm that this store complies with the policy of not selling ammunition after 10:00 pm. The guy who asked for me started to say that he thought it was a state law and I stopped him.

Of course, anybody from this area knows that the Wal-Mart at North Tarrant and Beach doesn't even carry ammo.

Long story short. . . they did have a couple of .223 Remington loads available.

(Long story longer: When I first got my AR-15 a few weeks ago (pictures coming - I promise), I went to Cabela's and bought a couple boxes each of 5.56mm 55gr FMJ WWB and Fiocchi .223 Rem 55 or 56gr FMJ boxes. This, obviously, happened without realizing that most local ranges won't allow FMJ ammo for rifles. )

Back to long story short: Wal-Mart had some .223 Rem 45gr JHP WWB ammo. 40 round value pack for $23.00. Anybody have experience with these rounds? Is this a good buy? They also had some Remington .223 Rem 55gr JHP boxes with a 20 count for $17.00.

I'm all ears. . .

P.S. It probably doesn't help that this is race weekend. Lots of 3/4 ton trucks with class IV hitches in the parking lot. . . I don't think I'm out of line to suggest some of these vehicles might be driven by gun owners.

[RECIT]

I don't see why the range would not allow FMJ rounds unless it is an indoor range, but that doesn't do an AR justice anyway. I have shot plenty of Winchester rounds without a hitch, hollow point or not. They both are accurate and fire cleaner than some of the cheaper rounds like Monarch or WOLF. The hollow points are better for defense or hunting or course but if that is what is cheaper and they still go bang, buy it up.

[The Annoyed Man]

Most outdoor rifle ranges in the area apparently don't allow FMJ. I assume that it has something to do with controlling what happens when the bullet impacts? In any case, you can shoot your FMJ ammo in the tactical bay at Elm Fork. It's only 35 yards, but that's good enough for zeroing a carbine.

[Backslider]

I've been avoiding the 45gr cartridges for no particular reason. Of course, I won't actually get my rifle until Easter, so I have no feedback on how they might perform.

I've found both 50 pack Remington for $25 and 100 pack Federal for $40, you just have to be lucky in your timing. Both times I went early in the morning before work. I bought some of the Remington 20 packs at Academy and have regretted paying that premium ever since. But at least I have them.

[tfrazier]

I have a Bushmaster A2 Shorty. I don't practice with it very often (it's in the safe with a can of 2000 quality rounds in case total anarchy sets in one day and I have to head for the hills and hunt deer and wild pig for a living) but I've typically just used the cheap Wolf brand in it for practice.

Elm Fork in Las Colinas (Irving) has a ban on FMJ as well. The signs don't specify that it only applies to rifle ammo, but the range masters have seen me shoot lots of .45 ACP FMJ there and never said anything, so I assume they just mean no FMJ rifle ammo.

[stroo]

The Elm Fork FMJ restriction only applies to rifles. Targetmasters doesn't restrict FMJ on their 50 yard indoor range but you can't have any steel core ammo.

[fickman]

I kind of meandered all over the place with that post. . . I basically want to know if the 45 grain ammo is less desirable for one reason or another.

[fickman]

Oh, ok. Mine is a 1:9, so it sounds like the 1:12 barrels might not want the 56 grain ammo but the 1:9 barrels are fine to shoot the 45 grain stuff.

Cool! Thanks!

[WarHawk-AVG]

Actually this will help you!

http://www.razoreye.net/mirror/ammo-ora ... Mirror.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The old M-16A1 had a 1:14 twist, then a 1:12..the reason they went to a 1:7 in the M-16A2 because of the heavier grain bullets and to stabilize the tracers.

The 1:9 and 1:7 should be fine for practically all normal weights of ammo (save the really light varmint and ultra heavy match bullets)

My brother has a stainless 1:8 and can shoot Hornaday 75 grain rounds and put 3 of em under a dime at 100yards...but any AR should be able to outshoot the shooter.

[Greybeard]

Question: "I assume that it has something to do with controlling what happens when the bullet impacts? "

Yep, the FMJ rifle rounds can have a nasty habit of "skipping the berm" when first impact happens to be well short of the target. And with ranges that use overhead baffles, FMJ can punch a pencil-sized hole, then act like the Energizer bunny (going, going, going ...).

So, when ya get to thinking about the things like (errrrr, aaaahhh - Interstate Highways and Loops) north and east of places like Elm Fork and Quail Creek, it might be a little easier to understand why dem boys get a burr under the saddle when they see a box of that stuff on the line ...

[kd5zex]

Question: "I assume that it has something to do with controlling what happens when the bullet impacts? "

Yep, the FMJ rifle rounds can have a nasty habit of "skipping the berm" when first impact happens to be well short of the target. When ya get to thinking about the things like (errrrr, aaaahhh - highways) north and east of places like Elm Fork and Quail Creek, it might be a little easier to understand why dem boys get a burr under the saddle when they see a box of that stuff on the line ...

Wouldn't "skipping" the berm be more a function of trajectory angle rather than bullet construction?

[Greybeard]

Bullets can do strange things. Yeah, trajectory angle certainly a factor, but hollow points and soft points are more prone to mushroom and tumble (lower). I'm certainly not advocating such, especially in this dry weather, but did anybuddy ever shoot any rifle tracers? See what they do after first impacts?

[WarHawk-AVG]

Bullets can do strange things. Yeah, trajectory angle certainly a factor, but hollow points and soft points are more prone to mushroom and tumble (lower). I'm certainly not advocating such, especially in this dry weather, but did anybuddy ever shoot any rifle tracers? See what they do after first impacts?

Yah...bounce off a blade of grass and then go dang near straight up (and slowly arch over the mountain the backdrop)

In MCT at Camp Pendleton we did a night shoot, all tracers..those things would deflect off air if the wind would blow too hard!