[El Capitan]

Hi all, new to this forum.

Don't laugh too hard, but I'm pushing for a Mini-14 for Christmas for myself (or at least some funds from the wife to help towards one), and with the recent ".223 evil caliber" scare going on, figured I might as well start stocking up on it now before it and the rest of the 'high powered military nuclear rifles' are banned. Especially don't laugh, seeing I live in LA, where they just banned the 50bmg, and are pusing to ban all sales of 'hunting calibers' like 00 buck!! I also figured I might as well order/buy it on the National Ammo day, Nov 9th.

Anyway, I know about Zero, zilch, nada, about the .223 variations and am looking for a generic decent quality, inexpensive brand/grain/type of .223 to order before I start all the reading up on it. Any basic ideas of where to start?

For instance, if someone asked me the same question, but regarding 10mm auto for pistols, I would direct them to Georgia arms 180gr gold dot jhp's. Cheap, reliable, effective for SD and practice.

thx! :usa:

 

[barkinglab]

My personal flavor of .223 is remington UMC. priced moderately, accurate well within acceptable
1.5"@100YDS depending on your machine.

Barkinglab

 

[El Capitan]

how about this Wolf 55gn fmj stuff: LINK

I guess I'm looking for fmj stuff for plinking and varminting, and also wondering if you would use the same stuff or jhp for 2 legged animals? Does JHP really make much of a difference with .223 because of its small caliber yet very high speed? Seems like tip makes more diff with bigger, slower handgun stuff.
then again, I could very well be talkin out my arse like the 223 noob i said i was..

 

[Kalifornia Citizen]

I've experienced Wolf .223 from time to time that doesn't fire on the first strike. I once had a MAK-90 that seemed in harmony with Wolf 7.62x39. That's where I got my favorable impression of Wolf ammo. But in the mini-14, I've had .223 that misfires occasionally. Others in this forum have reported the same. However, mine have always fired on the second strike. To accept this as safe does take some faith, since the usual advise is to wait at least one minute before ejecting the round. And then, what if it goes off when it bounces on the ground? What if it goes off while you're picking up the round to put it back in the rifle? My opinion is that Wolf .223 is somewhat risky. That's based on my own personal experience with an uncomfortable ratio of misfires to fires. I'd have to estimate the ratio to be about 1 out of 50.

KC

 

[Dennis]

I've heard a lot of positive comments about Georgia Arms "canned heat" .223.

Maybe you can wrangle a sample?

Dennis Jenkins

For instance, if someone asked me the same question, but regarding 10mm auto for pistols, I would direct them to Georgia arms 180gr gold dot jhp's. Cheap, reliable, effective for SD and practice.

thx! :usa: [/B][/QUOTE]

 

[El Capitan]

Dennis,
embarrassingly enough, I didn't even bother to check that Georgia Arms had .223. I guess I was only thinking of them as a pistol ammo manuf.

I was thinking the canned heat sounded great also. $153 per 1000 + $12 shipping. Not bad for American stuff, right?

 

[Dennis]

I'd still try a sample before buying a thousand. I learned my lesson when I bought a case of ammo that shot 18 inch groups in my Mini-14.

The Federal American Eagle is good stuff. The 50 grain JHP flat base seems to shoot well in a lot of rifles.

You can buy just a box or two of this stuff to try.

Dennis Jenkins

Originally posted by El Capitan
Dennis,
embarrassingly enough, I didn't even bother to check that Georgia Arms had .223. I guess I was only thinking of them as a pistol ammo manuf.

I was thinking the canned heat sounded great also. $153 per 1000 + $12 shipping. Not bad for American stuff, right?

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome to the forum El Capitan. Listen to Dennis. He gave you very good advice, don't buy a large quanity of ammo because it is cheep before you shoot it. NO TWO GUNS SHOOT THE SAME! Get you a sand bag to shoot off of, and shoot a box or two of different brands, and bullet weights, to find out what your mini likes. When your mini finds it, it will let you know. The groups will be smaller than the rest. You may even find a couple of kinds it likes. When you find it then buy quantity, it will save you money in the long run.

If you haven't seen it yet there is also a search button in your upper control panel. Just click on it and enter key words, all related posts will come up with your key words, in red. It comes in handy.

 

[El Capitan]

thx for the info, both of you.

and cajungeo, i definitely know about the search button, I'm being admittedly lazy at first because I know there is soooooo much info about the .223 it will take awhile to sort through.
Figured I'd ask for the 'answer' then start researching about how you guys got it.

 

[Ron Y]

I think you are making a good move by purchasing a Mini-14 this year. Kalifornia gun laws are changing next year again and with the sniper problem back East, things may continue to get tougher. I shoot only brass cased ammo in my Mini and have never had a problem provided good magazines are used. Try to save your reloadable brass. Some day you may try to roll your own accurate loads for your rifle.

 

[ksregulator]

El Capitan -

Try your local Wal-Mart; I get Remmington UMC there for around $3.99 a box. You can also get great deals on Winchester Rounds made in Isreal right on the net. I would also shop at Turners if I lived in So. Cali.

We can't let a wacko in D.C. put the rest of us Red Blooded Law Abiding Americans to shame.

They used to hang a man for stealing a horse.

You don't see this idiot trying to sniper in Texas!

Take care bud and get that Mini!

 

[blzn69]

What's up El Capitan!

I live in ELA, California and have a few friends that reside in
San Pedro. I buy most of my ammo from the Gun Shows in
Orange county. I bought a thousand rounds of PMC 55 grain for about $130.00 dollars. Shoots great in my mini-14. Turners sells
the PMC 55 grain from about $3.00 dollars to $4.00 dollars a box
depending on sales for that week.

Best of Luck!
:2guns:








I bring brash and flash

 

[westfork]

For the money I've found the Federal Lake City XM193 to be the most accurate for my mini. Great quality and loaded a bit hotter than the civilian stuff. Only use it if you don't mind noise and a huge fireball. Look for sales at the normal places (Midway, Kiesler's, CDW, Ammoman) sometimes for just over $3.00 per box. Not as inexpensive as the Russian steel cased rounds or the S&B which my mini doesn't like.
Lloyd

 

[valleypine]

Originally posted by El Capitan
Hi all, new to this forum.

Don't laugh too hard, but I'm pushing for a Mini-14 for Christmas for myself (or at least some funds from the wife to help towards one), and with the recent ".223 evil caliber" scare going on, figured I might as well start stocking up on it now before it and the rest of the 'high powered military nuclear rifles' are banned. Especially don't laugh, seeing I live in LA, where they just banned the 50bmg, and are pusing to ban all sales of 'hunting calibers' like 00 buck!! I also figured I might as well order/buy it on the National Ammo day, Nov 9th.

Anyway, I know about Zero, zilch, nada, about the .223 variations and am looking for a generic decent quality, inexpensive brand/grain/type of .223 to order before I start all the reading up on it. Any basic ideas of where to start?

For instance, if someone asked me the same question, but regarding 10mm auto for pistols, I would direct them to Georgia arms 180gr gold dot jhp's. Cheap, reliable, effective for SD and practice.

thx! :usa:

I order American Eagle 55 grain FMJ from Natchez. I never let the supply dip below a thousand rounds. You can never predict when the government (local, state or federal) may restrict ammo sales. Once they do, its too late. Hypothetical example- terrorists set off a nuclear explosion within the US. Local anarchy occurs because of strained government resources. In the government's infinite wisdom, ammunition sales are cut-off to law abiding citizens. I understand ammunition sales were restricted during the Cuban missile crisis. More recently, K-mart barred ammunition sales for a few days following the World Trade Center attack. Just a few real life examples.

 

[DKRichards]

I've shot a bit of PMP's 223 and UMC 223 and the former did better in my Mini-14.