Bulk .223 Ammo for Bolt Action Rifle? Brand recommendations, please.

NL-Hunter

NL-Hunter

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Looking for some recommendations on purchasing bulk ammunition for my Savage Model 25 .223.

Have been using Winchester White Box, 55 gr for a while and have had good results as far as accuracy and reliability. Getting a bit pricey at $ 40.00 a box of 40 so I started looking for bulk options. I have tried some German Made Plated steel cases but found them rough and question if they may damage the chamber. I can only assume it was military grade 5.56 rather than scommercial .223.

Great prices out there on the Norinco ammo but various reviews in bolt action rifles, available at about $300.00 for 1120 rds.

Please offer some advice on brands that will provide good accuracy and reliability and not damage rifle and "gunk" it up too much.

Post not meant to crap on any brands, just looking for decent ammo for target practice and plinking.
 
NL-Hunter said:
Looking for some recommendations on purchasing bulk ammunition for my Savage Model 25 .223.

Have been using Winchester White Box, 55 gr for a while and have had good results as far as accuracy and reliability. Getting a bit pricey at $ 40.00 a box of 40 so I started looking for bulk options. I have tried some German Made Plated steel cases but found them rough and question if they may damage the chamber. I can only assume it was military grade 5.56 rather than scommercial .223.

Great prices out there on the Norinco ammo but various reviews in bolt action rifles, available at about $300.00 for 1120 rds.

Please offer some advice on brands that will provide good accuracy and reliability and not damage rifle and "gunk" it up too much.

Post not meant to crap on any brands, just looking for decent ammo for target practice and plinking.
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Where are you paying $1/round for WWB? Damn.. check out Federal, many site sponsors have it. Personally in a .223 gun I'd never use 5.56 and that's what you're getting with the Norinco cheap stuff.

https://www.ammosupply.ca/info/90/
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_108_109&products_id=6
http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/de...n-Full-Metal-Jacket-55-GR-500-Round-Case.aspx

And many others...
 
Local Wal Mart :( May have been 29.99 a box, but add the tax and you are fast approaching buck a round.



Have seem the supplier list stickied... I am looking for good brands available in .223

Wolf, American Eagle, Federal, ...
 
Aprilia Man said:
Have you considered reloading?
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Have considered, but availability of reloading supplies locally sucks.
I also shoot .30-06 and i am looking for another hunting rifle so reloading would make sense.

Again, local supplies is non-existing. I would not know what to order to get set up for reloading.
 
You could try the Tulammo. Comes in 55gr and 62gr HP. Shoots like junk in my Savage Axis though. I'd have to check my notes but I believe I was getting around 4-6" @ 100yds with both weights. I've been meaning to give them another go just to make sure it wasn't the sun in my eyes that day or something :p

You may have issues getting the Norinco stuff to go off as I believe they have harder milspec primers. Savage and Browning rifles commonly have issues setting off harder primers (great rifles, don't get me wrong, just not made for milspec ammo).
 
The norenco stuff is great in my T97 but useless because of the harder primers in my axis... American eagle .223 black box works reall well for me.
 
LUTNIT: My buddy brought his Axis to the range first time Tuesday evening, he had a hard time getting groups initially. I gave him some pointers in positioning and the last two groups were almost touching at 100 yds. Ammo was Hornady Zombie Max. Blew me away.

Thanks RDMC, getting good accuracy?

Have been researching some reloading stuff the last couple of days, probably a better option.

Now I have to figure out what Powder to get, did not realize there are lots of options.

Looking at the Lee 50'th to get me started and get the dies for .223 for now, If all works out - a set of .30-06 dies next.
 
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NL-Hunter said:
LUTNIT: My buddy brought his Axis to the range first time Tuesday evening, he had a hard time getting groups initially. I gave him some pointers in positioning and the last two groups were almost touching at 100 yds. Ammo was Hornady Zombie Max. Blew me away.

Thanks RDMC, getting good accuracy?

Have been researching some reloading stuff the last couple of days, probably a better option.

Now I have to figure out what Powder to get, did not realize there are lots of options.

Looking at the Lee 50'th to get me started and get the dies for .223 for now, If all works out - a set of .30-06 dies next.
Click to expand...

Initial expense will be the big kicker. As others have done here and me as well, it will work out cheaper in the long run. Another plus to reloading is that you can fine tune your reloads to your gun.
 
NL-Hunter said:
Have considered, but availability of reloading supplies locally sucks.
I also shoot .30-06 and i am looking for another hunting rifle so reloading would make sense.

Again, local supplies is non-existing. I would not know what to order to get set up for reloading.
Click to expand...

The Internet is a wonderful place - http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/

all that you need to get started and load 250 rounds will cost you $425 plus tax, seems like a lot... but that includes all the hardware which is a one time buy. Then component wise it'll cost you about 45 cents a round to reload with Hornady V-Max

$35 for 250 brass (you can easily get 6 firings out of these so ammortize value/cost of 250 as being 1500)
$42 for 1000 CCI primers
$57 for 250 vmax projectiles
$36 a lb of powder gets you about 269 rounds
$41 reloading book
$17 calipers
$52 die set
$145 anniversary single stage kit has everything else you need
You'll need a few little pieces here and there, shell holder, etc but very minimal

Then you are also set up for your 30-06 and you'll just need dies... cost won't change much when you change components
 
If you're not going to load, you need to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. The price of said ammo means nothing.
The steel used for steel cases is mild steel and will not bother the much harder steel of the chamber. Downside is that it's not reloadable and usually isn't loaded for accuracy. Most, like the Hornady, comes with Berdan priming. That's not a big deal one way or the other unless you're acquiring brass for reloading. Berdan primed brass isn't worth bothering with.
Buy a copy of the ABC's of Reloading and look into one of the beginner's kits. Partial to RCBS myself, but things cost less when I started. Redding will do as well. Lee is low end, but it only matters if something breaks after their 2 year warrantee runs out. RCBS covers everything forever even if you buy used kit.
 
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