• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Gunpowder grade in .223 rounds

B

brandonb

Diamond Member
I went to the online armory to buy some AR-15 .223 rounds and noticed they had different grades in ammo 52 grade, 55, etc. Does anybody know the difference between those and could tell me what a normal person would need? Theres like a $40 price increase each time you step up a grade and thought I'd ask here before buying.

(Don't turn this into an anti gun/pro gun thread, I already bought my gun, I just need to buy ammo for it now. If you have nothing constructive to say, then move onto the latest britney spears/paris hilton thread)

Thank you much! 😉
 
They are probably referring to the weight of the bullets. 55g is most common.

Check out ammoman.com too for ammo, he has a bunch of 5.56/223 in stock right now. Prices are good considering he has free shipping on everything.
 
Link?

As said above, I dont think thats grade but bullet weight. I would go with a 55gr and 62 gr for a 1-9 twist, 69 or heavier for 1-8 or 1-7 although even the lighter stuff will run in the 8's and 7's.
 
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at 55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
 
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...


Thanks to those who responded. I'll look at my barrel twist before making a purchase.

I was looking at http://www.georgia-arms.com btw.

 
Originally posted by: brandonb
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...


Thanks to those who responded. I'll look at my barrel twist before making a purchase.

I was looking at http://www.georgia-arms.com btw.
Click to expand...

I have shot about 4-6 thousand rounds of the GA canned heat in classes, and I was pretty pleased with it for the most part, but that was before the prices went through the roof. I used to get it for $160 per thousand.

I did have one failure:

Text
Text
Text

And a few others have reported catastrophic failures.... so buyer beware.

My own personal experience with it was favorable.

What make of rifle do you have? In most cases the rate of twist will be stamped on the barrel just in front of the front sight base...
 
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Wow, every time I see ammo prices it makes me glad I reload!
Click to expand...

Makes me want to start reloading...bleh. How many rounds does it take to recoup your initial investment?
 
Originally posted by: BuckNaked

What make of rifle do you have? In most cases it will be stamped on the barrel just in front of the front sight base...
Click to expand...

I have a DPMS panther arms. I don't remember the model or anything. But I will look at it when I get home tonight.
 
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Wow, every time I see ammo prices it makes me glad I reload!
Click to expand...

Makes me want to start reloading...bleh. How many rounds does it take to recoup your initial investment?
Click to expand...

Hard to say actually. Depends on how much you spend on equipment and what your reloading.

Fact is, its damned hard to reload for what Wolf goes for ($200/1k) BUT when you do your getting a vastly better round.

I can load a BH Blue Box 77gr equivalent for just over .20 per round. Consider a box of 50 sets you back $30 bucks, thats .60 per round. So I save .40 cents per round reloading. Or shoot 3 times as much 😉 Of course that doesnt count your time, but seeing as shooting and reloading are a hobby for me I dont really consider that.

If you want just plain jane ole blastin ammo I would almost recommend sticking with Wolf. If you want match grade ammo, or want "mil spec" blasting ammo reloading is about the only way to do it without breaking the bank.

As for the cost of equipment, its just like PC's. You can have a "get the job done" setup for $150 or so. Or, you can have a Cadillac setup thats over $1000.

I would say the nicest thing about reloading isnt so much the cost savings as it is the ability to load what *I* want. Exactly what I want.

You could get started for under $100 bucks (minus components) with this

I use some of the following....

Press
Scale

I also built my own bench using these plans. Its a damned sturdy bench, I do like it!
 
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.

 
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
 
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
Click to expand...

Exactly, This last weekend we went to the river and shot crap up. Used mostly Wolf and Monarch stuff through my guns. I also got to shoot my newest addition to the Commie collection. A Mosin Nagant M44 Carbine. My buddy got to test out his new Colt AR with a beta-c mag.
 
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what you do the advice i gave is still good.

If i'm not mistaken FMJ bullets are harder on gun barrels by accelerating wear. No biggie though.
 
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what you do the advice i gave is still good.

If i'm not mistaken FMJ bullets are harder on gun barrels by accelerating wear. No biggie though.
Click to expand...

Regardless if true or not, if you can afford to shoot enough rounds to wear out a barrel, you'll have no problem affording a new barrel.
 
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what you do the advice i gave is still good.

If i'm not mistaken FMJ bullets are harder on gun barrels by accelerating wear. No biggie though.
Click to expand...

:laugh:

 
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: BuckNaked
What are you intending to use the ammo for, plinking, shooting varmints or as defensive rounds? Generally for plinking and shooting, you would be looking at <<<<<<55gr FMJ rounds.... generally the lowest cost. If you want to use these for something else, you would want to know what the rate of twist of the barrel is to determine what weight bullets you want to go with.

EDIT for spelling and/or grammar...

I will put a note on the Dillon 550 so I don't make that mistake again....

😀
Click to expand...

Actually for plinking you want to use bullets that are frangible and will disintegrate on impact. FMJ bullets will ricochet and are dangerous for plinking. At least when i used to shoot that is the advice i was given.
Click to expand...

Not me, I use whatever is cheapest. That means FMJ rounds.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what you do the advice i gave is still good.

If i'm not mistaken FMJ bullets are harder on gun barrels by accelerating wear. No biggie though.
Click to expand...

:laugh:
Click to expand...

:beer::laugh:
 
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Regardless of what you do the advice i gave is still good.

If i'm not mistaken FMJ bullets are harder on gun barrels by accelerating wear. No biggie though.
Click to expand...

Nope. FMJ just means full copper covering as opposed to partial copper jackets. If you want to go semi-exotic you can even use zinc bullets as well. Much harder then lead and lighter too. A 55gr mold will give you a 35 grain bullet, give or take.

If you want to go full on exotic you can also do a powdered tungsten round which I've heard fly spectacularly well but are quite pricey.

In fact, your normal copper jackets are actually a copper zinc mix anyways. In pistol calibers lead bullets are limited in velocity to due the composition of the bullet. With zinc this isnt a problem, and in rifles zinc doesnt wear anymore then normal and I've been told actually vaporizes on the outside skin which reduces heat and wear on the barrel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top