Yeah I have about 600 rounds right now but at $5.99 a box I was just going to Academy every time they changed shifts at the ammo counter. But that's just because that was half of anywhere else around here and I can't find anything online.$8.99 is the going rate around here for 20rd boxes too. Luckily, I have no .223 shortages so I don't have to mess with the "gouging".
Ideally, I'd prefer to pay no more than .30 per round. But, if I had none and needed some.... well, y'know.
There is a big difference between TulAmmo and AE. The TulAmmo is going to be steel cased while the AE is brass. Some guns don't like the poly coating when hot. I prefer Federal XM193 for mine and have some XM855 also. 5.56 SP 65gr cost me $340/1000 before the madness started and XM855 was going for $1.00/round a month ago.Our local Academy Sports had tons of 20 round boxes of TulAmmo .233 for $5.99 and I was buying it up as fast as I could (they only let you buy 1 box per day...bastards!). Now the best they have is American Eagle 20-round boxes for $8.99. That seems to be getting up higher per round than I'd like to be paying, but it's still a decent bit lower than anyone else's prices. So given the current availability of ammo, what's the highest per-round price you'd pay for .223?
I don't reload though so I don't really care if its brass or steel. I've put about 3-400 rounds of the TulAmmo through it so far and haven't had the first issue. I don't plan on getting it any hotter than that.There is a big difference between TulAmmo and AE. The TulAmmo is going to be steel cased while the AE is brass. Some guns don't like the poly coating when hot. I prefer Federal XM193 for mine and have some XM855 also. 5.56 SP 65gr cost me $340/1000 before the madness started and XM855 was going for $1.00/round a month ago.
I have a case of 1000rds of AE, XM193. I have another, almost 1000rds of Tula 55gr FMJ and some tracers floating around too.
.223/5.56 isn't my primary loading, so I don't keep too much on hand.
ARs (& other close tolerance weapons) will see failures with prolonged use of steel case ammo without recurrent cleanings. The reason is, as stated, the tolerances. The close tolerances of the AR serve to create exceptional accuracy potential but lend themselves to less room around the steel case for the dirty gases, eventually leading to a malfunction. With recurrent cleaning, this should be a non-issue. Steel cases do not expand to the degree of brass while combustion takes place. Brass, on the other hand, expands to seal the chamber... preventing excessive amounts of gas from entering. So, it lends itself better to prolonged use in such a weapon as the AR, between cleanings. Accuracy is also another factor between brass and steel. If you're going for what's referred to as "combat accuracy", you will likely get the results desired from both types of ammo. If, however, you're going for maximum accuracy... brass should be your choice. The reasons are the same, chamber sealing under combustion thus reducing the amount of play in the cartridge/bullet during firing. Under normal circumstances, most will see no real difference in accuracy... maybe an inch at 100yrds.
Cheaper, steel case loadings are great for lower cost training and they aren't too shabby at dropping your intended target. At extended distances, one should look to quality, brass loadings. Another thing to think about with most steel case loadings... they usually have a bi-metal jacket and don't lend themselves to impressive expansion or deformation. However, in combat, this is much less of a concern and the penetration advantage of a harder jacket is good for punching through light cover.
When the price jumped up to $8.99 for 20rds for AR Ammo. I just quit shooting my 223/5.56 AR rifles. I can still get 7.69x39 AK Ammo. for $6.99 20rds so I will just shoot my AK. Sadly the 5.45x39 AK Ammo. is tough to find at any good price.
I picked up everything I could, when I could. Up until about a month into the initial buying spree, I was still able to get 5.45x39 for $6.99 per 30rds. I picked up a 1,080rd spam can and about another 1,000rds of the 30rd packs before it was all gone. All in all, I've got almost 4,000rds of that particular round. I was shooting up about 300rds a weekend of 7.62x39 before all this hit... no more. I haven't bought any '39 in months, I'm saving what I have... which is plenty, mind you.
When I head out to my local outdoor range and when it's 98 in shade it's not often in summer. But when I do it's about 100 to 150 rds as to conserve what Ammo. I still have. I even bought some 12ga Slugs just so I could do some other shooting. I have given up trying to find range .380 9mm .40 and .45acp. it's just not to be found around here.
I also invested in a little stock of M855 and MK232 Mod 1, for appropriate circumstances. Covered all the bases I needed. Also got proficient with the irons, red dot, and Nikon BDC600 scope for my long gun. This is a do-it-all long gun, and the only one I own, besides some sidearms. The long gun stays setup for CQC, home defense duty. A brilliant platform that does nearly everything, in spite of naysayers admonishments. Have .38 special SD rounds for my wife's Taurus, as well as .45 Ranger-Ts for my carry sidearm. Don't think we are lacking for anything, unless the unthinkable comes to pass.
Very nice group.Here are my AKs, simple but effective.
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