Not sure what to feed your AR for the range and home defense?
We’ll go over caliber, barrel twist, bullet type, and price range to find your perfect fit.
The beginning of 2022 still had some supply issues but now we’re seeing decent stock especially with PMC and AAC brass-cased ammo leading the way.
But we go through every few weeks and update with what’s in stock:
5.56 and .223 Ammo in Stock
PSA has been clutch with having at least some ammo in stock for a good price. Other places to check out:
- True Shot Gun Club has in-stock and bundled deals
- Lucky Gunner with their .223 ammo and 5.56 ammo
- Brownells has an in-stock ammo section
Can’t wait? Here’s some of the best AR-15 ammo:
- American Eagle XM193
- American Eagle XM855
- PMC X-TAC LAP
- PMC Bronze .223
- Wolf Gold .223
- Federal Gold Medal
- Federal LE Tactical
Ready to see why we chose these and the best places to find them?
Table of Contents
Loading…
AR-15 Calibers: 5.56 vs .223
Your average AR-15 comes in two popular calibers, the 5.56x45mm NATO and the .223 Remington.
You can double-check what it is by looking at your model specs or physically on your barrel, which should be stamped with the caliber and barrel twist rate.
The two cartridges are physically identical but the 5.56 may be loaded to higher pressures than .223 ammunition.
The .223 is a civilian round and has SAAMI specs (an organization that sets standards for pressure and dimensions) while the 5.56 is a military round that has its own specifications that might require higher pressure for higher velocity.
Therefore, it’s best to follow the advice:
- 5.56 chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Wylde chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Rem chamber: OK to fire only .223
Please note that .223 Rem and .223 Wylde are not the same things. One (Wylde) is perfectly safe to fire either 5.56 or .223; however, a .223 Rem chamber is not safe to fire 5.56 NATO.
Your barrel or rifle probably won’t instantly blow up from shooting a 5.56 in a .223, but why risk it?
Combined with the variance in the machining of the barrel and ammo production standards, it’s best to use the proper ammunition.
AR-15 Barrel Twist
Your barrel stamp should indicate the barrel twist after the caliber.
You should see a ratio of 1:7 all the way up to 1:12, it means that the barrel will spin the bullet one revolution every X inches. Most barrels will be from 1:7 to 1:9 twist, with the most popular being 1:9.
Take a look at the chart below to see the ideal twist rate for your barrel.
The heavier grain bullets are usually reserved for the military and their tracer rounds.
With normal cartridges, you’re most likely to see 55-grain and 62-grain bullets. These are fine to shoot in 1:7 to 1:9 barrels, and you probably won’t even notice a difference up to 300 yards.
Bullet Types
You’ll see two big families of bullet types, the full metal jackets (FMJ) and the hollowpoint/soft-points (HP/SP).
The FMJs are great for plinking, while HP/SP are more for home defense or long-range applications. FMJ is also sometimes called Ball ammo.
Don’t you love multiple names for things…
Other confusing acronyms you might see include (BT), which means boat-tail and indicate the back of the bullet has a more aerodynamic shape than simply cutting off straight.
Lastly, if you’re looking at military 5.56 rounds, you’ll see M193 and M855. The 55-grain M193 is the standard FMJ of the military, while the 62-grain M855 is the “green tip” penetrator round that has a steel rod inside.
Things to keep in mind for M193 vs M855:
- Pricing is similar
- M855 is better at penetration (duh?)
- Some ranges do not allow steel core ammo like the M855
- M193 is better at soft targets under 100 yards
- More info about the differences
- Most of the time, you’ll see XM instead of just M… which means it didn’t quite meet military specifications but still meets commercial specs. Learn more here.
Where to Buy
We’ve selected a couple of our favorite online places to buy ammo. We’ve been buying from them ever since we got started, and they have great live inventory, appropriate shipping charges, and quick service.
And since prices and inventory fluctuate, we recommend looking at all the vendors to see the price differences. Sometimes one will be running free shipping deals!
Finally…the recommendations!
Best AR-15 Ammo
Now we combine the good stuff we learned above and stick to 55/62 grain bullets that are close to military specifications. These are the rounds that we’ve shot tons of and never had a problem.
Our suggestions are also all brass-cased, so you can keep them if you think you might ever start to reload your own ammo in the future.
1. American Eagle XM193
Our Editor’s Pick is currently American Eagle XM193 since it’s never failed to go *boom.*
And the price is almost always one of the lowest.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
What do you think of American Eagle? Rate it below!
2. PMC X-TAC 55gr
Our second choice is PMC which also has never failed but is often a cent or two more than American Eagle.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
3. PMC X-TAC XM855
PMC’s X-TAC XM855 variant is our go-to for green-tip ammo.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
4. PMC Bronze
If your barrel is .223 or if you want to shoot some slightly lighter loads in your 5.56 barrel.
My personal favorite is PMC Bronze since it’s affordable, and the brass is great for reloading. Plus…it’s on the low end of recoil so I love it for competition.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
5. Wolf Gold
If you aren’t looking to reload and want the best bang for the buck…all my buddies and I love Wolf Gold. Buy it cheap (1,000 round boxes) and stack it deep!
Wolf Gold is made in Taiwan and not Russia, like other Wolf ammo. However, right now, it’s a little harder to find than its US or South Korean counterparts.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And finally…if you’re going for pure accuracy…
6. Federal Gold Match 69gr
Our favorite when we do our accuracy testing.
And the “gold” standard for accurate factory match ammo.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
7. Tula & Wolf Performance
We don’t readily use these next suggestions in our ARs, but if you’re really trying to save money, you can opt for Russian steel or coated steel cartridges.
Start off with a small batch first since some AR-15s don’t like steel-cased ammo. They can offer pretty good savings sometimes but are dirtier shooting and less accurate…but probably great for the range.
Since the sanctions against Russia and future ammo imports from there, the cost of steel-cased ammo is fluctuating and is generally rising. If you can find brass-case ammo for the same price, we always recommend taking that route.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Also, keep in mind that you can’t save these to reload later, and you need to shoot at a range that allows both steel casings and bi-metal bullets.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Self-Defense AR-15 Ammo
For self-defense, you want the bullet to put all its energy into the bad guy by breaking apart.
That means FMJ and the penetrator rounds are usually not the best choices.
I recommend going with specific use self-defense ammo that is hollow/soft point and used by law enforcement.
8. Hornady 55gr V-Max Varmint Express
Both Speer and Hornady are great, but I give the edge to Hornady since I love their pistol defensive ammo.
Typically people will lean toward Hornady’s Critical Defense lineup with the 55gr FTX bullet, but these can be very difficult to find in stock.
However, the ultra-popular V-Max round uses the same bullet construction, just with a pointed ballistic polymer tip instead of a flat one. Both rounds deliver extremely similar results.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
9. Speer Gold Dot Duty 55 gr
Another go-to brand for self-defense rounds…Gold Dot.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
10. Federal LE Tactical
We really like Federal’s lineup as a whole — they tend to make great, reliable ammo. For self-defense purposes, we prefer Federal’s LE Tactical
It was designed for law enforcement, so it’s kinda meant for defensive purposes.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, our recommendations for the best AR-15 ammo in both .223 and 5.56.
Let us know what you went with and how it runs in your AR.
Want more AR-15 guides…check them all out here. Looking for a new AR? Check out our huge Best AR-15s Guide.
The post Best AR-15 Ammo of 2023: Range & Home Defense appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
Not sure what to feed your AR for the range and home defense?
We’ll go over caliber, barrel twist, bullet type, and price range to find your perfect fit.
The beginning of 2022 still had some supply issues but now we’re seeing decent stock especially with PMC and AAC brass-cased ammo leading the way.
But we go through every few weeks and update with what’s in stock:
5.56 and .223 Ammo in Stock
PSA has been clutch with having at least some ammo in stock for a good price. Other places to check out:
- True Shot Gun Club has in-stock and bundled deals
- Lucky Gunner with their .223 ammo and 5.56 ammo
- Brownells has an in-stock ammo section
Can’t wait? Here’s some of the best AR-15 ammo:
- American Eagle XM193
- American Eagle XM855
- PMC X-TAC LAP
- PMC Bronze .223
- Wolf Gold .223
- Federal Gold Medal
- Federal LE Tactical
Ready to see why we chose these and the best places to find them?
Table of Contents
Loading…
AR-15 Calibers: 5.56 vs .223
Your average AR-15 comes in two popular calibers, the 5.56x45mm NATO and the .223 Remington.
You can double-check what it is by looking at your model specs or physically on your barrel, which should be stamped with the caliber and barrel twist rate.
The two cartridges are physically identical but the 5.56 may be loaded to higher pressures than .223 ammunition.
The .223 is a civilian round and has SAAMI specs (an organization that sets standards for pressure and dimensions) while the 5.56 is a military round that has its own specifications that might require higher pressure for higher velocity.
Therefore, it’s best to follow the advice:
- 5.56 chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Wylde chamber: OK to fire both 5.56 and .223
- .223 Rem chamber: OK to fire only .223
Please note that .223 Rem and .223 Wylde are not the same things. One (Wylde) is perfectly safe to fire either 5.56 or .223; however, a .223 Rem chamber is not safe to fire 5.56 NATO.
Your barrel or rifle probably won’t instantly blow up from shooting a 5.56 in a .223, but why risk it?
Combined with the variance in the machining of the barrel and ammo production standards, it’s best to use the proper ammunition.
AR-15 Barrel Twist
Your barrel stamp should indicate the barrel twist after the caliber.
You should see a ratio of 1:7 all the way up to 1:12, it means that the barrel will spin the bullet one revolution every X inches. Most barrels will be from 1:7 to 1:9 twist, with the most popular being 1:9.
Take a look at the chart below to see the ideal twist rate for your barrel.
The heavier grain bullets are usually reserved for the military and their tracer rounds.
With normal cartridges, you’re most likely to see 55-grain and 62-grain bullets. These are fine to shoot in 1:7 to 1:9 barrels, and you probably won’t even notice a difference up to 300 yards.
Bullet Types
You’ll see two big families of bullet types, the full metal jackets (FMJ) and the hollowpoint/soft-points (HP/SP).
The FMJs are great for plinking, while HP/SP are more for home defense or long-range applications. FMJ is also sometimes called Ball ammo.
Don’t you love multiple names for things…
Other confusing acronyms you might see include (BT), which means boat-tail and indicate the back of the bullet has a more aerodynamic shape than simply cutting off straight.
Lastly, if you’re looking at military 5.56 rounds, you’ll see M193 and M855. The 55-grain M193 is the standard FMJ of the military, while the 62-grain M855 is the “green tip” penetrator round that has a steel rod inside.
Things to keep in mind for M193 vs M855:
- Pricing is similar
- M855 is better at penetration (duh?)
- Some ranges do not allow steel core ammo like the M855
- M193 is better at soft targets under 100 yards
- More info about the differences
- Most of the time, you’ll see XM instead of just M… which means it didn’t quite meet military specifications but still meets commercial specs. Learn more here.
Where to Buy
We’ve selected a couple of our favorite online places to buy ammo. We’ve been buying from them ever since we got started, and they have great live inventory, appropriate shipping charges, and quick service.
And since prices and inventory fluctuate, we recommend looking at all the vendors to see the price differences. Sometimes one will be running free shipping deals!
Finally…the recommendations!
Best AR-15 Ammo
Now we combine the good stuff we learned above and stick to 55/62 grain bullets that are close to military specifications. These are the rounds that we’ve shot tons of and never had a problem.
Our suggestions are also all brass-cased, so you can keep them if you think you might ever start to reload your own ammo in the future.
1. American Eagle XM193
Our Editor’s Pick is currently American Eagle XM193 since it’s never failed to go *boom.*
And the price is almost always one of the lowest.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
What do you think of American Eagle? Rate it below!
2. PMC X-TAC 55gr
Our second choice is PMC which also has never failed but is often a cent or two more than American Eagle.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
3. PMC X-TAC XM855
PMC’s X-TAC XM855 variant is our go-to for green-tip ammo.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
4. PMC Bronze
If your barrel is .223 or if you want to shoot some slightly lighter loads in your 5.56 barrel.
My personal favorite is PMC Bronze since it’s affordable, and the brass is great for reloading. Plus…it’s on the low end of recoil so I love it for competition.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
5. Wolf Gold
If you aren’t looking to reload and want the best bang for the buck…all my buddies and I love Wolf Gold. Buy it cheap (1,000 round boxes) and stack it deep!
Wolf Gold is made in Taiwan and not Russia, like other Wolf ammo. However, right now, it’s a little harder to find than its US or South Korean counterparts.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And finally…if you’re going for pure accuracy…
6. Federal Gold Match 69gr
Our favorite when we do our accuracy testing.
And the “gold” standard for accurate factory match ammo.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
7. Tula & Wolf Performance
We don’t readily use these next suggestions in our ARs, but if you’re really trying to save money, you can opt for Russian steel or coated steel cartridges.
Start off with a small batch first since some AR-15s don’t like steel-cased ammo. They can offer pretty good savings sometimes but are dirtier shooting and less accurate…but probably great for the range.
Since the sanctions against Russia and future ammo imports from there, the cost of steel-cased ammo is fluctuating and is generally rising. If you can find brass-case ammo for the same price, we always recommend taking that route.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Also, keep in mind that you can’t save these to reload later, and you need to shoot at a range that allows both steel casings and bi-metal bullets.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Self-Defense AR-15 Ammo
For self-defense, you want the bullet to put all its energy into the bad guy by breaking apart.
That means FMJ and the penetrator rounds are usually not the best choices.
I recommend going with specific use self-defense ammo that is hollow/soft point and used by law enforcement.
8. Hornady 55gr V-Max Varmint Express
Both Speer and Hornady are great, but I give the edge to Hornady since I love their pistol defensive ammo.
Typically people will lean toward Hornady’s Critical Defense lineup with the 55gr FTX bullet, but these can be very difficult to find in stock.
However, the ultra-popular V-Max round uses the same bullet construction, just with a pointed ballistic polymer tip instead of a flat one. Both rounds deliver extremely similar results.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
9. Speer Gold Dot Duty 55 gr
Another go-to brand for self-defense rounds…Gold Dot.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
10. Federal LE Tactical
We really like Federal’s lineup as a whole — they tend to make great, reliable ammo. For self-defense purposes, we prefer Federal’s LE Tactical
It was designed for law enforcement, so it’s kinda meant for defensive purposes.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, our recommendations for the best AR-15 ammo in both .223 and 5.56.
Let us know what you went with and how it runs in your AR.
Want more AR-15 guides…check them all out here. Looking for a new AR? Check out our huge Best AR-15s Guide.
The post Best AR-15 Ammo of 2023: Range & Home Defense appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
