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Posted: 9/27/2003 2:53:15 PM EDT
[#1]
At least 2000 rounds of Americal Eagle thru several AR15 & M16 Rifles. The only difference between this and M193 is a lighter powder change which results on slightly slower muzzle velocity. And it's not laquer sealed.
-- Chuck |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 2:55:21 PM EDT
[#2]
Oh, yeah, not a real scientific way to post a poll with two negative answers and only one positive.....
-- Chuck |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 3:03:53 PM EDT
[#3]
Fired about 300 rounds of AE through my AR and one FTF which matches the XM193 failure rate. It's cheap, good plinking ammo and SOOOO shiny.
The Federal XM193 is great. My only problems with Federal were not with this caliber. |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 3:51:13 PM EDT
[#4]
Federal American Eagle .223
Positives: This ammo is nice and clean like most commercial ammo, is generally very consistant, and usually runs very well in nearly any gun of this caliber. The bullets have a cannalure and are crimped to prevent bullet set-back. Fed AE is widely available. The 50gr HP version is quite accurate for bargain-line ammo. Negatives: Like all commercial .223, Fed AE is loaded about 200 fps slower than M193 specs, and therefore is a poor choice for defensive use. Like most commercial ammo, the bullets aren't sealed (primers are), and the primers aren't crimped. But the biggest problem is the brass. Federal's .223 brass is unlike any other .223 brass I've run across. The case walls are thicker, but the case head is MUCH thinner than normal, being 30-50% the thickness of other brass. This means that the case head won't be supported in most guns, and that the case head will expand significantly when the round is fired. One nasty result of the case-head expansion is that the primer pocket will no longer hold the primer, and on an AR15, the primer will often end up either in the barrel extension or under the fire control parts, locking the gun up in either case. Reloading these cases should be avoided! The mild factory loadings probably pose little danger, but the reduced case capacity and unsupported case head will quickly lead to case-head separations or much worse, and many pieces of brass won't even hold a primer after their first firing. IMO, if Federal is going to make such non-standard brass, they should make it Berdan-primed to prevent attempts to reload it. But they REALLY should just manufacture the cases correctly in the first place. NOTE: None of the above applies to XM-193, which uses Lake City brass, not commercial Federal brass. -Troy |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 5:37:29 PM EDT
[#5]
I have used Thousands of the 55 grain and the 62 grain American Eagle rounds in all of my AR's and my Winchester Model 70 stealth.
Not 1 problem ever. Buy American Made Ammunition |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 7:25:58 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted: Oh, yeah, not a real scientific way to post a poll with two negative answers and only one positive..... I don't want to get into a huge debate about the way the poll is set up. There was a simple idea behind it, and that was to let people determine if the ammo is reliable, had some minor problems, or if it was generally unsatisfactory. The more poll topics you add, the more difficult the results are to interpret. There's nothing scientific about it. If you'd like though, I'll postulate a null and alternate hypothesis, you tell me the confidence factor, and we'll do a sample t-sqaure and chi-square analysis. |
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Posted: 9/27/2003 9:23:44 PM EDT
[#7]
Only about 150 rounds of AE used, but no probs
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Posted: 9/28/2003 4:08:24 AM EDT
[#8]
I have gone through several thousands of rounds of American Eagle in various calibers:
.22LR for my 22 rifle .223 for my AR-15 .30 Carbine for my M-1 Carbine 30-30 for my Marlin 336C 30-06 for my M-1 Garand plus XM-193 for my AR-15, and never a problem. Good, consistent quality. It has become the standard by which I compare all other brands. And Made in the USA! |
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Posted: 10/3/2003 2:20:23 PM EDT
[#9]
I have used somewhere in the neighborhood of 350-400 rounds of the Federal American Eagle 50 gr JHP and 55 gr FMJ with no problems. It seems like reliable, clean ammo. I would rate it a good practice load but as Troy points out, I would not want it for reloading.
In addition, I have used about 200 rounds of the Federal Premium 55 gr BTHP with good results. It is accurate, has low muzzle flash and seems very reliable. This is my standard load of choice for varmints in the coyote size on down. I have no problems to report with these either. I've also fired off a few 20 round boxes of the Federal Gold Medal 69 gr SMK's, but not enough in my opinion to be a good test. However it seemed plenty accurate and I saw no problems with the few rounds I shot. -CH |
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Posted: 10/3/2003 2:58:33 PM EDT
[#10]
Our agency issued AE .223 55FMJ ammunition for several years. We used approximately 6-7K rounds through several department-issue Bushmasters, a variety of personally-owned rifles (ArmaLites, Colts, Olympics, Ruger Mini-14s) with absolutely no problems whatsoever which could be attributed to the ammunition.
Since I had a choice on state purchase ammunition this year, we now issue Federal XM193, for the additional velocity & the fact that it has sealed primers & case necks. But I would have no hesitation in choosing AE for defensive loads over most of the other non-milspec ammo on the market. With the exception of Winchester USA, the AE is, IMHO, the best of the available choices. |
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Posted: 10/3/2003 4:14:09 PM EDT
[#11]
Have used lots of 90's production American Eagle with no problem. Have seen a lot of it laying around lately with the bullet pushed in though.
Have used large amounts of "Classic" 63 gr. FMJ with only one failure. |
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Posted: 2/6/2004 3:55:45 PM EDT
[#12]
16" RRA upper, Bushy Lower American Eagle 55 grn FMJ 120 rounds had some really really hot rounds huge muzzle flash cracked case mouth, bulged primers and cases (head space is correct)
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Posted: 2/6/2004 6:32:53 PM EDT
[#13]
No problems either with 55 g AE or 69-75 g GM. I've probably shot over 500 rounds of each. The AE was primarily through a Steyr USR and GM was through a Colt CAR-A3.
Some cratering around the firing pin was noted when the GMs were shot through an H-S Precision bolt action, so I stopped after two rounds. I've noticed the brass tends to be long, above the maximum trim length after resizing. I've not had any problems with reloading, but I use relatively light loads. |
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Posted: 2/7/2004 5:35:24 AM EDT
[#14]
8900 rounds fired (in one morning and afternoon)
Colt M-16's (x40) Military issue M-193 1 failure to fire - good looking primer strike |
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Posted: 2/7/2004 6:41:43 AM EDT
[#15]
The 55gr AE seems to shoot OK out of the several ARs I have (2 kit 1:9 A2s, a RRA 1:8" CMP rifle, a 1:6.5" WOP CMP upper, a 1:8" space gun). THe 77gr ammo from CMP blew primers out into my RRA at a match at Parris Island in Oct 02. Wouldn't have been so bad except it happened to several people's rifles of various makes. THe Marines had to shut the match down because of the unsafe ammo (everyone had to use the supplied ammo, no reloads allowed). They made the right call. Federal, when contacted made a firm stance that their ammo was loaded safely. THey refused to refund the ammo and weren't interested in examining the fired cases. THe CMP very quickly refunded the ammo and after discussion with Federal, opted out of selling any more of the Federal 77gr ammo. Good service from CMP, very poor from Federal.
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Posted: 2/7/2004 6:48:24 AM EDT
[#16]
On another interesting note, while active duty, we were training with the MK46, a shorter, lighter version of the M249 SAW. The MK46 would shoot the M855/M856 linked ammo without a hitch. Ran over (20) 200rd packs thru 4 MGs with no problems. When we ran the M193/M196 ammo (linked for use in Stoners) thru the MK46, it wouldn't shoot more than 4 or 5 bursts without a stoppage. I would guess it requires the increased impulse of the 62gr rounds to reliably function.
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Posted: 2/21/2004 1:28:35 PM EDT
[#17]
Shot of few hundred rounds of the Fed .223 through my Colt and Bushy ARs, plus a few from a mini14 and zero problems. It doesn't seem as hot as the 5.56MM XM-193 stuff, but accuracy is fine.
Phoenix27 |
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Posted: 3/29/2004 9:23:30 AM EDT
[#18]
RRA 20" chrome-moly HBAR
Approximately 200 rounds fired. No problems of any kind. I was plinking, so no accuracy info. |
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Posted: 3/29/2004 10:18:03 AM EDT
[#19]
Thousands of rounds of both American Eagle as well as 55gr. JSP...a very little 52gr. HP. Not a single ammo problem that I recall through probably 25-30 different ARs...mostly Colts...three Steyer AUGs, about 8-10 HK 93s and G33s, one FN FNC, several Mini 14s, an HK 53 and five or six Ruger AC 556Ks...probably some other weapons I can't recall right now as well. FA on the select fire guns was mostly with the FMJ but I have shot a fair amount of the JSP through the AUGs in FA...no problems at all over mayne ten years worth of shooting.
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Posted: 4/9/2004 1:25:15 PM EDT
[#20]
55 and 62 grain with never a FTF or FTE with all rounds through a RRA Varmint AR15.
Great ammo at a great price. Some may disagree but I have a lot for SHTF. I really do not plan on being underwater so the lacquer sealed bullet and primer I can do without. I have many rounds of .300 Winchester I reloaded over ten years ago and all are sure fire and still accurate without the lacquer. Semper Fi, Jerry |
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Posted: 4/10/2004 12:16:33 PM EDT
[#21]
A.E. 55gr. fmjbt.
Bushmaster 16" postban w/ Armalite brake, Colt 20" MT pre ban 5k down range. Very clean and reliable. Cost effective plinking and local action matches. Not as accurate as xm193 lots 4/10. |
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Posted: 4/22/2004 2:27:27 PM EDT
[#22]
400+ rds through bushmaster 16" mod. carbine. Zero failures of any kind. Good groups and consistency. better accuracy than xm193, but not nearly as hot. I just ordered another K.
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Posted: 8/23/2004 9:07:18 PM EDT
[#23]
RRA 16" & 20" 1K rds in one day with no problems. perfect for the range.
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Posted: 8/24/2004 10:44:08 AM EDT
[#24]
I have shot many thousands of rounds of Federal American Eagle. I have never had troubles with it in any of my guns. It is good ammo, although there were reports of the brass having troubles for reloads.
I use Q3131A most of the time now. |
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Posted: 8/24/2004 2:35:41 PM EDT
[#25]
Here on Kauai in Hawaii it is very difficult for us to get any other ammo then AE 55gr. FMJ. We have used a few thousand rounds with NO failures. It is pretty slow out of a short barrel. We haved used the brass to work up loads with the 64gr. Winchester PP and with IMR 4895. With the max recommended IMR 4895 load we saw no problems(we reload brass only once). However we worked up a load with Reloader 7 in an attempt to get more velocity out of the short 16" barrels that we use, and saw some blown out primers along with erratic velocity at the max levels. Dropping back down on the Reloader 7 charge we found more velocity then IMR 4895 with reliability. This thin brass is troubling though. Looks like it may be back to the bench. |
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Posted: 8/24/2004 3:21:13 PM EDT
[#26]
The brass blows!
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Posted: 8/30/2004 9:29:46 AM EDT
[#27]
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Posted: 8/30/2004 2:08:47 PM EDT
[#28]
AE 55GR. Bushy 20" HBAR --short cycle-FTF. Works fine in Mini 14
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Posted: 9/20/2004 6:01:26 PM EDT
[#29]
500 rnd case just arrived and noticed something different from what I'm reading here...
These cartridges are the AE 55gr, but the brass seems pretty thick. In comparison to the PMP (gazelle box) 55gr rounds the case head thickness seems very close. The stamping on these are LC 03 and has the NATO symbol (cross in circle). The box states 3240fps / 1280 fpe...this doesn't seem far off from the LC XM193's at 3250fps / 1289 fpe. Does this seem normal? I'm anxious to shoot & chrono this stuff now...I'll post my results this weekend. ar15_finatik |
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Posted: 9/21/2004 11:11:07 AM EDT
[#30]
I think you got a case of Federal, but not American Eagle. It sounds like you got some stuff from Lake City, military ammo. The stamping on the cases that I bought had FCC 223 on them. But who knows maybe they mixed up the ammon in the boxes and you were left a nice suprise. Were all of the headstamps like that in all of the boxes? |
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Posted: 9/21/2004 3:42:12 PM EDT
[#31]
Yup!...
That thought was crossing my mind... I'll know more when I chrono I guess...hopefully tomorrow. ar15_finatik |
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Posted: 9/24/2004 2:28:17 PM EDT
[#32]
This is NOT Federal cased. It is AE boxed 500 rds in Factory cardboard just like any other AE. It even looks like AE, nice and shiny except for the headstamp of LC 2003 NATO. Maybe they are just using overrun brass or making it more cost effective producing one case but at any rate I hope it continues. VERY CHEAP ammo with high quality brass.
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Posted: 9/24/2004 4:01:15 PM EDT
[#33]
M199, I posted in your thread my impression of how hot these rounds were...
I haven't shot the 'plain jane' AE .223's so let me know your impression after you pop a few... I have a case of LC XM193's arriving next week and I'll take some caliper dimensions of the brass from both and post the measurements. ar15_finatik |
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Posted: 9/24/2004 5:04:10 PM EDT
[#34]
I love this ammo. Fires perfect every time.
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Posted: 9/27/2004 1:55:51 PM EDT
[#35]
400 rounds of AE223, 55gr FMJ Boat Tail. Ranges out to 150 meters. All rounds shot out of 20 round magazines in a 20" Colt HBAR. All rounds shot within 4 hours. No malfunctions or ammo related problems what so ever. Accuracy was about par. Good, clean-burning ammo.
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Posted: 10/15/2004 6:58:07 AM EDT
[#36]
I have heard that Federal is using Lake City brass in their new production of American Eagle. I have not seen it yet, but I will let you know if I come across some.
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Posted: 10/23/2004 5:11:33 PM EDT
[#37]
I just bought a five hundred round case today and it is all lake city stamped brass. Does anyone have any confirmation on the velocity labled on the back? Says 3240 from the muzzle. Seems awfully close to lake city velocities. This ammo is way to pretty to be lake city though.
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Posted: 10/24/2004 3:58:32 PM EDT
[#38]
Finally chronoed some strings of New production AE with Lc brass.
_____________ 14.5" ________20" New AE ______ 2785fps _____3041fps Old AE _______2843fps _____3066fps LC 2002 ______ 3000fps_____3229fps The New AE is actually lower in velocity abit and this could be to the larger case volume of the LC brass as compared to the old AE Federal brass. I haven't done a case vol. comparision but I think it's the case. The end result for the time being is better components which is a + in my view. The cheapest quality ammo available. Edit for columns not lining up? |
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Posted: 1/18/2005 11:02:58 AM EDT
[#39]
Bump to make sure it doesn't get archived.
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Posted: 2/6/2005 9:44:20 AM EDT
[#40]
I just received a few cases of AE 55gr .223 and every round I've looked at (480 so far) have the LC 01 and NATO cross headstamp.
BTW, just to clarify something that some of us already know, the muzzle velocity listed on the box (3240 FPS) is from a 24" bbl. They don't state the test bbl length on the box but they do list on the Federal website. But, this doesn't really matter to me since this is just practice ammo. The XM193 I have is for a "rainy day". |
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Posted: 3/18/2005 10:43:47 AM EDT
[#41]
New AE223 is packed in a smaller 500 rd case. The 20 rd boxes are the same size at XM193 boxes.Still shiny brass but with fc 223 rem headstamps. so far have not seen any LC headstamps
Ammo was purchased the end of 2004 |
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Posted: 3/18/2005 10:52:06 AM EDT
[#42]
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Posted: 3/18/2005 12:04:58 PM EDT
[#43]
I purchased 500 rounds from Sportsman's Warehouse this past January, and have shot all but 200 rounds of it.
1) 55gr FMJ 2) Used in numerous AR15s, including: A1 upper (mixed pedigree) 1:12 A1 upper (Colt) 1:12 A3 Cav Arms Midlength 1:9 A2 DPMS 20" 1:7 A3 Armalite 20" 1:9 All uppers fired and cycled fine. The 1:12 twist barrels liked it more than the 1:9 or 1:7. Noticeably softer report and recoil than XM193 or Q3131A. None of the brass was Lake City marked. |
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Posted: 4/18/2005 9:26:09 PM EDT
[#44]
Recent (3 days ago) AE .223 I purchased.
 Maybe 80% of the rounds are marked this way, the rest are marked the old way. |
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Posted: 4/18/2005 11:47:10 PM EDT
[#45]
Have shot literally thousands of rounds of the AE223. I have never had a problem (that could be directly linked to the ammo).
Usually 55gr AE is my practice ammo (along with PMP). Have fired it through at least five different Bushmaster rifles over the past several years. 100 rds of the 55gr AE is currently loaded in my Beta. |
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Posted: 4/19/2005 12:24:19 AM EDT
[#46]
I've fired thousands of rounds of AE through several Bushmasters of mine, 14.5" M4A3 type, 16" Modular carbine, and 16" Patrolman's carbine with zero issues. Can't speak to accuracy outside of "Minute of Man," did not shoot off the bench for accuracy, but always hit the target.
ETA: All fired rounds were: 55grain AE |
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Posted: 5/8/2005 8:45:02 AM EDT
[#47]
Shot 240 rounds of Federal American Eagle yesterday with zero issues. Some of the cases were XM193 brass with LC 04 stamps. The rest were Fed 223 brass. All of it was very clean and shinny, went bang every time!
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