So, tell us ……what criteria do you use to buy ammo. What factors do you use to decide?

Price:
Reliability:
Accuracy:
Look:
Versatility of Use:
Reload Option:
Decibel Level / Flash Production:
“Thrusts per Squeeze”   ( you knew I had to throw that one in )

This thought crossed my mind the other day when I was at the range with my AR and some samples of different ammo I had in the cache.

100yds: (iron sights)
LC lot# 088: very hot, but shoots almost 4”  high, but is consistent to shoot high as with the other lots that I have had. But you can put a 4” dia ring around the hits.

IMI XM193 : tends to go a tad left. But again is consistent, but requires correction to bring it back to center.

Q3131A:  Probably the most accurate of the surplus/bulk buy ammo for my AR. If it shoots bad, it’s most likely MY fault.

Santa Barbara SS109:   Accurate but tends to shoot low.

Black Hills 50-55gr. V-max :   Dead ON. Best ammo I’ve used. Super tight groups that you can cover with a quarter.  But….expensive as ammo goes.

Wolf:   Well , what can I say ….it goes bang, and smells bad.

So I was just wondering, do you find out which one shoots best and only buy THAT particular kind; or do you mix & match for a specific use;or do you just buy whatever cause you're an ammo whore. A Bad guy probably isn’t going to wait for you to check which ammo you chambered so’s you can adjust windage & elevation.

Do you separate your SHTF stuff from your 1000yd head shot super sniper ninja stuff?

What makes you buy ammo and why?

So far thw Wolf worked better then some Federal I had got cheap, thje federal kepy having the extractor not extract it

If I can hit a bowling pin or a prairie dog with it, I'm not complaining

I buy the most inexpensive goes bang everytime ammo I can find.  In 5.56, it's always Wolf.  In 7.62, it varies depending on whats on the market, and what I've read about it.

Reliability
Terminal Ballistics
Accuracy
Price
Flash
<­BR>In that order

For practice ammo its the cheapest 75 grain loads I can find with identical external ballistics.

Q3131A for up close hosing.

Wolf/Barnaul/whatever for plinking/quantity shooting. It's cheap, reliable in my gun, and has adequate accuracy for my use.
M193 spec for backup stash (at least 1000 rounds).
Winchester 45gr JHP's for varmints.

For me it depends on the type of ammo I'm buying.

Defensive:
-Reliability
-Terminal Performance
-Accuracy

Training/Range use:
-Reliability
-Storability (proper sealant etc)
-Value

For defensive use I'm partial to Hornady 75gr TAP. For training/ range use I prefer M193, M855, and AE (Federal) 55gr FMJBT.

As long as it doesn't say Wolf.....

dupe

I load my own, but if I'm going to buy any ammo, it depends on what I'm buying it for.

For hunting/self defense, I look at:

performance of round
reliability
accuracy
price
­reloadability

For target shooting/plinking I look at:

Price
accuracy
reliability
r­eloadability
performance of round


I don't really care about the look of the round so that's not a consideration.  I don't feel that damage to the rounds (ie dents, bent bullets, ect) counts as looks.

Hope this helps.

Quoted: The difference being that my "training ammo" is the same as my "defensive ammo".  Train as you fight. If I'm just shooting for groups at range, then it all comes down to accuracy vs price.  Reliability isn't really a factor during slow-fire target work for me.  Probably because I've never run accros an accurate round that isn't reliable.

I agree Brou, but unfortunately I just can't afford to go through that much TAP every month. My wife is really good about my monthly ammo bill, but she'd probably have a stroke if I tripled it.

1. Won't gum up my chamber. 2. reliability. 3. Price. 4. Accurate

I only shoot XM193 or Federal American Eagle 55g right now. Some time in the future I will be experimenting with TAP and other "tactical" loads.

XM193 at the range with 11.5 Bushy w/AK muzzle brake. 1 n 9 bbl
TAP 75 for defense
60 V-match for Colt Lt Wt Match Target 1 n 7 bbl

Lately, whatever is in stock......

For me, it's the cheapest stuff that runs reliably.

Since I haven't ever had any trouble with Wolf, WOLF (polymer coated) IT IS.

That being said, I have a couple thousand rounds of M193 around "just in case".

Quoted: Yeah, but my defensive ammo (well, SHTF really) includes XM193 :) So I practice with both BH 75/77gr and XM193/Q3131a.  Much more so on the latter.

That makes perfect sense I reckon

I too have a fairly large stockpile of M193/855 "just in case". With that in mind I guess the argument could be made that I train with my 'SHTF' ammo as well.

No Olympic.
No unknown reloads or remanufatured ammo.

1. Reliability
2. Terminal performance
3. Accuracy

SHTF
BH 75 gr. OTM
XM193

Practice
XM193
BH 75gr. OTM

Fun
Norinco yellow box
Wolf
The cheaper the better

Q3131A for less than $180/1000 shipped. Other than that, I load my own.

I buy whatever Troy says rocks.