This question has been asked before and I remember a lot of guys saying that they would choose the IMI 55gr M193.

They say it "hot" and loaded to M193 spec. and is loaded with flash retardant powder.

I have never used it before, but got a case of it on the way.

Damned Kevin, those are EXACTLY my favorites, & almost the same order of preference.

Absolutely # 1 - IMI M193, M855  

# 2 - S A 300rd battle packs, and a lot of it - it should last for 50+ years!    
I love that stuff!

# 3 - "WB" Q3131  I'm aware of the bad lots, but I've NEVER had a single problem.
The "real thing"

# 4 - Federal 55gr. FMJBT  Great ammo!

# 5 -  Spanish SS109 - more of the "real thing"  This is some great stuff, I don't keep too much around, don't need it, I just can't pass it up when I run across a good price. It's not a better man-stoper than 193 up close, but I think it makes any AR more versatile. For anyone serious, you never know when you'll have to "reach out, & touch someone", maybe through light sheet metal (about as thick a car door), etc.

Tracers have their place, but I can live without 'em.  I only manage to get about 80, or 90% of pulled ones to light up, but even if they were 100% (From personal experience) THEY POINT TWO WAYS, & the 100% reliable end is at your muzzle!  
They're a lot of fun though.

On reloads, I trust my own more every time - from a revolver, or straight walled shells 40 cal, 10mm, 45acp.  
I'm not sure about tapered (9mm), if I'm careful enough I'd trust them about the same. But for the price we can get "real" NATO, even the Commie stuff for these days - it doesn't make sense to reload right now. The military stuff is usually sealed better than I can do it in [u]every[/u] way (sealed primers, bullets, containers, cans, battle packs).
Exactly the same for 223s, maybe worse - you can't crimp your primers in.
Christ - Watch out for high, or soft primers in 223 - if you're going to reload them!  
I DO go out of my way to find boxer primed shells, & will pay extra,,, you never know.


We all bitch about how terrible things are, but the availability, price, & selection we've got today is incredible, and this can't last forever. NOBODY will believe me, but it's never been like this before, & one day when it's way too late, we'll all know THESE were the golden days of firearms (Sshhh - don't let Sara hear that).

I've been through this before, I never called my Road Runner, Mach 1, or GTO (68, 69, 66 res.) "muscle cars" - someone made that up later. We all thought they'd just keep getting more powerful, & faster FOREVER,,, then 1973 hit - oil crunch, long lines, great new regulations.
Guess what - it's happening again, & almost no one sees it.

Not to insult anyone's vintage car (I collect 'em myself), but these hot a$$ new L-4/5? Vetts, Cameros, & the SO Mustangs are quicker than any 66 through 72 factory cars ever made. They're also more nimble, can actually turn at speed (One G side force!!! Any competent 60s engineer would've told you that's impossible, & you're NUTS), AND the new ones have brakes that really work!




Sorry about the rant, I just mean STOCK UP NOW - on whatever you can afford, this can't last much longer boyz.

Wilson,

    I thought that Q3131A was made by and sold by IMI as M193, and the Winchester Q3131 was the white box stuff.

    My understanding the "bad ammo" were certain lots of Winchester Q3131 "white box" ammo from 1999.  

    Is this correct or have I been misinformed?

I also thought that Q3131A was just white-box IMI M193?  Someone want to tell us the difference between the Q3131A and IMI M193?  (besides the packaging?)

-Gloftoe

Anyone with the difference between Q3131A and IMI M193?  Enquiring minds (or just mine) want to know.

-Gloftoe

You're right, I shouldn't have added the "A," wasn't thinking. I meant that I've never had problems with plain WB Q3131.

The M855/SS-109 ammo penetrates better *at long range*, but M193 penetrates better at close ranges, due to it's velocity advantage.  M193 also has 50-100% more effective range than M855 has, due to it's higher velocity.  Both types of ammo rely on high velocity to induce bullet fragmentation, which is what causes the large wounds that the M16 is known for.  In order for fragmentation to occur, the bullet must strike the target at 2700 fps or faster.  M193 starts off at 3250 fps or so, vs. 3100 fps for M855.  From a 20" AR, M855 drops below 2700 fps at about 150', while M193 stays above 2700 fps out to about 200'.  From a 14.5" M4 barrel, those distances are about 50' for M855, and 100' for M193.

Unless you expect to engage targets at ranges beyond 300m on a regular basis, M193 is the better choice.  It is also cheaper, so the same money will buy you more ammo.

S&B's "M193" isn't; the S&B ammo uses steel-jacketed bullets that won't fragment.  Real M193 ammo that's new-production and readily available is:

IMI M193
Winchester Q3131
Winchester Q3131A (subcontracted by IMI; identical to IMI M193)

-Troy

The headstamp and the packaging.  IMI M193 comes loose in 30-round kraft boxes, per Mil-Spec.  Win Q3131A comes in commercial 20-round boxes with cardboard seperator, and takes up twice as much room.

-Troy

While this is nice, reliable range ammo, it's considerably underloaded, and is a poor choice for defensive ammo.

Sixgun,

Don't get me STARTED about Wolf.  Use it for range blasting only; it's one of the worst choices for defensive ammo.


-Troy