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Posted: 5/2/2015 9:11:23 PM EDT
If you were stockpiling 5.56 for everything from practicing to self defense, shtf etc. what one round would it be? xm193, m855 etc.
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How deep are your pockets? M193 does it all, but if I had super deep pockets it would be 77gr otm.
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I have really started to give thought to Hornady 55 gr. Soft points for this purpose.
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^this, if I'm paying. Federal Fusion if it's on someone else's tab. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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M193 ^this, if I'm paying. Federal Fusion if it's on someone else's tab. This, at least in principle. If I'm paying and want the deepest stack possible of a single load, then a good 55fmj. If money wasn't an issue (which isn't realistic for me personally), then a good modern softpoint or 69-77 grain HPBT. |
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If you were stockpiling 5.56 for everything from practicing to self defense, shtf etc. what one round would it be? xm193, m855 etc. View Quote The real question is why do you need a single round for both? All you are going to is end up with something that's more expensive than practice ammo but mediocre at self defense. The differences in zero are negligible at normal training distances and can be mitigated trying several different rounds to see which has the closest POI. |
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The real question is why do you need a single round for both? All you are going to is end up with something that's more expensive than practice ammo but mediocre at self defense. The differences in zero are negligible at normal training distances and can be mitigated trying several different rounds to see which has the closest POI. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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If you were stockpiling 5.56 for everything from practicing to self defense, shtf etc. what one round would it be? xm193, m855 etc. The real question is why do you need a single round for both? All you are going to is end up with something that's more expensive than practice ammo but mediocre at self defense. The differences in zero are negligible at normal training distances and can be mitigated trying several different rounds to see which has the closest POI. No, the real question is the one posed in the OP. That's the topic of this thread so stick to it. |
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If I could have only one, that's easy. 64gr Speer Gold Dot. Superb accuracy, barrier performance, and terminal performance. The only downside is price.
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If I could have only one, that's easy. 64gr Speer Gold Dot. Superb accuracy, barrier performance, and terminal performance. The only downside is price. View Quote This or something similar.... 62gr Fusion, 5.56 BSB.... or, if the performance is there... the yet to be released 75gr Gold Dot. MK318 Mod0 SOST...is also GTG for me. |
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Fusion is a great round, but one thing you have to keep in mind is that with its very slow velocity, steel and long range are its Achilles heels.
I think M193 is a great all purpose round, good terminal performance, good penetration against most mediums (aside from maybe auto glass) including steel. Starting to seriously consider Fiocchi's 55 grain psp though. FAST for a .223 (same speed as M855 out of an AR) good penetration against steel due to velocity, better terminal performance than fusion. Pending a few more penetration / performance tests, I think it might be "the round"! |
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For me it would of been IMI M193. Now for the present its Wolf Gold 223.
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SSA 70gr TSX 5.56 due to performance in SBRs (terminal and also an ok barrier round)
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I have really started to give thought to Hornady 55 gr. Soft points for this purpose. Not the worst idea. What I was going to say. For a bulk "do it all load", you could do a lot worse. It's a great slug and easy to stockpile on the cheap. |
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For deep pockets, my thought would be the Sierra 69gr. Tipped Match King... Accurate as all get out, good to go in a 1/9 or 1/7 twist, and excellent terminal performance.
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No, the real question is the one posed in the OP. That's the topic of this thread so stick to it. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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If you were stockpiling 5.56 for everything from practicing to self defense, shtf etc. what one round would it be? xm193, m855 etc. The real question is why do you need a single round for both? All you are going to is end up with something that's more expensive than practice ammo but mediocre at self defense. The differences in zero are negligible at normal training distances and can be mitigated trying several different rounds to see which has the closest POI. No, the real question is the one posed in the OP. That's the topic of this thread so stick to it. OK since we are going with complete fantasy answer of having unlimited funds, I'm going to pick the new 5.56 77gr tmk. |
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If it needs to be a DO ALL bullet, you have to consider shooting through barriers. So I think it would have to be a barrier blind bullet (bonded) an example would be the Nosler 64gr BSB I love the new Sierra TMK but a Do All Bullet needs to perform well through barriers.
BUT If my budget was tight I'd go with a soft point. |
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If money/budget limitations were not a concern, I'd choose Silver State Armory's 5.56 64gr PPT.
Considering cost, performance, and availability, I can hardly think of anything better than M193, maybe M855 if it were for a 20" barrel. |
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money aside, i might just with hornady 55gr GMX solids or fusion. havent made up mind yet but between those two it would come down to accuracy out to 300 yds.
TSX would not do it because of the copper fouling from its pure copper projo. GMX is not pure copper amd wont foul your rifling. OTM is nice for accuracy but not so great through barriers. |
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I do have to agree with the M193 being a good general purpose.
However, the mk318 mod 0 seems to be a better load with better performances. Federal sells the product under the name of T556TNB1 which are 62gr OTM. The price is you get 20 rounds for about 17 bucks which is double price compared to a box of XM193. Black Hills sell the Mk 262 77gr OTM rounds but cost per 50 box is about 50 some dollars right now. |
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Barnes TSX, my rifle shoots the 62 grain pills at close to MOA, but any TSX your rifle shoots best, is very hard to beat. They are not cheap.
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First choice: Black Hills D556N1. 5.56mm 50 Gr Barnes TSX. The bullet is barrier-blind, and shoots in all barrels (slow and fast twists, short and long barrels). The best all-around 5.56 round. The Hornady 8126N would be my second choice because of its outstanding accuracy and its good for short and long barrels. However, it doesn't penetrate and requires a 1:7 twist. The Black Hills MK262 with the TMK tip is a possible alternative to 8126N.
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Since one ammo for everything means practice ammo, and lots of it, price is one of main considerations. Because of that I would recommend IMI M855. It is not much more expensive than cheapest green tip and it is more accurate than about any of them, and faster than most. Comes w sealed bullet and crimped primer and good quality brass.
Second choice in practice/combat ammo would be PMC X-Tac. It is a bit slower than IMI but available anywhere and often on sale. In my rifles they shoot to about 1 inch of eachother at 100 yds. The various green tip ammo also matches stadia lines on many available military scopes, which good ammo like Fusion and OTM's does not. It's off topic, but there are more effecive close range ammo you can use if you find something that shoots to same POI. Mk 318 doe snot match anyhting else in my rifles, even though I like it alot thats a problem. Some 75's match green tip closely, some dont. Fusion is slow but only about one inch low from green tip. For many years I bought AE 55 FMJ by case and it was my go to ammo. With prices so high now, might as well go w IMI. . |
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as far as something you can stack deep on a budget you cant beat IMI 193
I plan on getting as much Razorcore as I can afford to stack deep myself. Israel knows how to get shit done kids. ETA shoot something with your favorite pet load then hit it with Razorcore. Nasty stuffs |
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as far as something you can stack deep on a budget you cant beat IMI 193 I plan on getting as much Razorcore as I can afford to stack deep myself. Israel knows how to get shit done kids. ETA shoot something with your favorite pet load then hit it with Razorcore. Nasty stuffs View Quote Razorcore is just a heavy BTHP. it's no different than 75 or 77gr Sierra, Hornady, or Prvi. |
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Razor Core is the IMI version of the Black Hills MK262 Mod 1. Widener's sells it for $370/500, while Black Hills is $500/500. Both are cartridges actually used by the Military. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Razorcore is just a heavy BTHP. it's no different than 75 or 77gr Sierra, Hornady, or Prvi. Razor Core is the IMI version of the Black Hills MK262 Mod 1. Widener's sells it for $370/500, while Black Hills is $500/500. Both are cartridges actually used by the Military. I know. Like I said it's a heavy BTHP. |
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For everything? HD, SHTF, ok groups, reliable, etc, and affordable?
XM193, Wolf Gold, AE223 55FMJ, Edit: I have not shot any, but I hear great things about Geco. Stack those deep when they fall below $300/k. If you include hunting in everything, get a SP, OTM or HP. Some states don't allow FMJ for game. |
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I would stock up on Hornady 55gr sp, this bullet holds together in whitetails i have taken like a real bullet instead of like a varmit bullet, for SD and all out zombie control i would have no problem with ammo cans full of them.
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62 grain fusions when the shut hits the fan. Reasonable price and available everywhere. Shoots very close to my plinking XM193 too
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If money's no object? A 50gr TSX load to 5.56 pressures. Downside is, it's definitely spendy! And I selected the light weight TSX load because yes, the 70gr and other heavy weights do great work, but I have a retro "thing." I'd want my do-all ammo to be compatible with any rifle I own, no thinking required.
Real world, with budgetary concerns? Probably one of the reputable M193 loads or facsimiles thereof that are on the market at decent prices. Sure it gives up soft-tissue performance and won't be barrier blind. But it's way more possible to both have a decent stash salted away, and to keep buying enough to keep in practice. I'd love, for example, to be able to expend at least 10k/year in quality practice, to say nothing of less-rigid plinking time or actual training/classes/etc. And I'd want to have at least a 6 month supply salted away as a minimum reserve, exclusive of the training stock; call it my SHTF stash if you like. Can't do that on any budget I'm likely to have in the next 5 years with premium ammo like TSX! |
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This, at least in principle. If I'm paying and want the deepest stack possible of a single load, then a good 55fmj. If money wasn't an issue (which isn't realistic for me personally), then a good modern softpoint or 69-77 grain HPBT. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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M193 ^this, if I'm paying. Federal Fusion if it's on someone else's tab. This, at least in principle. If I'm paying and want the deepest stack possible of a single load, then a good 55fmj. If money wasn't an issue (which isn't realistic for me personally), then a good modern softpoint or 69-77 grain HPBT. +1 - I've got both--A lot of M193 for my 1x12 twist M16A1 clone, and a lot of high quality 77 grain OTM for my 1x7 twist guns. I try to keep it simple: 5.56x45, 7.62x51, .45 ACP and .22 long rifle and I try to minimize the number of different loads in each chambering. KISS. |
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