This may be a stupid question but, I normaly shoot 69 grain federal gold and 55 grain winchester out of my SPR. I normaly only shoot the 55 Grain at 25M. I only use the 69 grain at 100M or more. My question is will the 55 grain winchester damage the Barrel? I think it should be fine as it is not surplus ammo. The 55 grain I use is the 40rd winchester value pack from walmart. So far I have put 60 rds of the 55 grain and 50rds of 69 grain through the barrel(of course cleaning/breaking in etc). The accuaracy is still sub MOA I just dont want to damage my barrel shooting the cheap ammo. For 25m (indoor range when 100m is closed)I cant justify shooting a $14(per 20rds) box of 69 grain when the 55 grain is $4.00(per 20rds).
          Thanks FREE
         

Free,

I am wondering the same as well.  Your barrel is .223 REM 1-7 or 1-7.5 right?  I do remember reading a debate whether the lighter/faster bullets were harder on the barrel, but I don't remember a real definitive answer.  I use the same walmart 55gr Winchester ammo.  I remember someone telling me they aren't as hot as other mil surplus stuff (M193?)  Are you getting sub MOA at 100M w/ the walmart stuff, or just at 25M.  I would guess that there would be only a negligible difference, if any, based mostly on what I've read here and there.

Yea its the Douglas 18" SPR Barrel from MSTN. 55 grain gives me sub moa at 25M(one ragged hole) At 100M it is about 1-1.5 MOA if I do my part. I think it will be fine just wanted some advice.
        FREE

55 grain winchester 100M
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The 55 grainers @ 3250 FPS will chew up your barrel lightly faster than your 69 grain loads @ 2800 FPS.  With your good barrel, I would only feed it the 69's and maybe some 77 OTM's and forget about the 25m shooting.  Good for a battle zero, but your kickin' SPR will hopefully stay at home for CQB situations.

If you are worried about cost, start to handload.  When it cost $17.00 to load up 100 rounds of 69 grain bullets it looks awfully attractive.

Yea Im going to stick with 69 grain ammo. 100rds for $17 that cheap, its time to get a reloader.
       FREE

The value pack stuff is not q3131a. It is a lighter load ment for 223 remington chambers. Should not be worth worrying about. Have fun shooting.