What is your favorite .223/5.56 match round? (On a budget!)

[joshua.neal2012]

Hey my dudes and dudettes!

So wanting to reach out and start a little discussion around light-caliber precision shooting!

For the discussion at hand, I would like to keep all ammunition and discussion around the AR-15 in 5.56/.223/.223 Wylde. I know there are better precision rifles out there, but with the group of dudes I shoot with are entrenched in 5.56 enough that swapping platforms (and calibers too) is not really on the table (and yes, that even means "swapping to .224 Valkyrie or 6.5 Grendel is off the table too.)

SO - that being said - what are some .223 and 5.56 rounds that you guys have had good "long" range results with? I am on a mini-quest to find the best bang for the buck factory match ammo to shoot (small) precision rifle matches with. Something that, with a good rifle, will shoot at least a minute of angle, and run less than fifty cents a pop.

And - are there any budget rounds that have been good to you?

I have had decent luck with Hornady Steel Match 75gr BTHP (about $0.50 a round) - my three shot groups (with a run of the mill AR) were averaging just over an MOA. (And yes, 3 shot groups are junk... but enough 3-shot groups in a row can give you a decent idea of what it does).

Hornady Frontier 5.56 - 75gr BTHP was decent - 3-shotters around a minute and a half.

PPU 75gr .223 has been okay as well, but I cannot remember my groupings with that.

 

[ReservoirDawg10]

I was gonna to throw out the Hornady Steel Match, but you already covered that. Haven't had a whole lotta luck (under 3/4 -1 MOA in a gasser) with cheaper ammo. If cost cutting is the main interest, roll your own. I'm not gonna guesstimate your skills, but if your are skilled, you may be held back by the rifle itself as well, but you know that already.

 

[Hayata]

I bought a variety of different manufacturers and weights...just haven't got to shooting yet...

 

[palmettomoon]

I roll my own so I'm not going to be much help.

What are you defining as "long range?"

 

[Burdy]

Yes, need to know how long is long range. There is a reason I bought 4k rounds at walmart of Federal 55g for 20 cents a round, it shoots awesome in my rifle and has a 100y POI very similar to my match round. Its plenty good out to 300. Beyond that 73 grain ELD-M, but I know thats not exactly budget.

I have heard good things about that Frontier round but have never shot it. You say you are gettin 1 MOA out of that...what kind of accuracy can you get from the very best rounds through your rifle regardless of cost? You may not be that far off.

As for 3 shot groups, in my mind those prove the capability of the rifle, which is what you are looking for, the 5 shot group proves the capability of the shooter. Ive got a lot of really good 4 shot groups.

 

[Mr. Goodbar]

Yes, need to know how long is long range. There is a reason I bought 4k rounds at walmart of Federal 55g for 20 cents a round, it shoots awesome in my rifle and has a 100y POI very similar to my match round. Its plenty good out to 300. Beyond that 73 grain ELD-M, but I know thats not exactly budget.

I have heard good things about that Frontier round but have never shot it. You say you are gettin 1 MOA out of that...what kind of accuracy can you get from the very best rounds through your rifle regardless of cost? You may not be that far off.

As for 3 shot groups, in my mind those prove the capability of the rifle, which is what you are looking for, the 5 shot group proves the capability of the shooter. Ive got a lot of really good 4 shot groups.

Wanted to look at that 73 gr rd

 

[Burdy]

Wanted to look at that 73 gr rd

It's a bad dude in my little 13.7".

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Mr. Goodbar]

It's a bad dude in my little 13.7".

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Good to know, will eventually get some

 

[bulletpaluza]

62gr fmj copper jacket lead core tullammo steel case. I load my own ammo but I absolutely hate loading 223. Once I figure my time into it it's cheaper to buy ammo. Now my match grade ammo I can tune to my rifle I will always load but target practice and competition up close it that. Hold close patterns up close similar to my match loads .

 

[NewLeaf]

Black Hills is the most accurate commercial ammo I have found. Bout $550 for 500rds