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.223 / 5.56

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223 Remington ammunition and 5.56x45 NATO rounds are among the popular cartridges for American civilian shooters. Both are light-weight cartridges with relatively low recoil and a ton of muzzle velocity, making them easy on the rifleman to fire consistently and quickly.

223 ammunition is the most popular rifle caliber in terms of rounds sold in the United States today. Commonly paired with the AR-15 Armalite rifle, these rounds a capable for defense but most commonly used by recreational sport shooters who like the flexibility the very fast, light-weight bullet provides. You can expect muzzle velocities in the neighborhood of 3,000 feet per second with most rounds along with a muzzle energy rating that's around 1,300 foot pounds.

Look for a wide assortment of in-stock 223 ammo along with 5.56 with bullet weights primarily in either 55-grain or 62-grain. We carry both bulk full metal jacket loaded rounds, like these from PMC and hollow point bullets that are better suited for hunting or competition shooting, like these match-grade rounds from Fiocchi. All of our 223 ammo for sale is in-stock with fast shipping.

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50rds – 223 Rem Black Hills 50gr. V-Max Ammo

$47.95

$0.96/ppr

144 In Stock
20rds - .223 Federal LE Tactical TRU 55gr. SP Ammo Video
☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

$20.95

$1.05/ppr

172 In Stock
500rds – 5.56x45 Black Hills 69gr. OTM Ammo

$524.95

$1.05/ppr

24 In Stock
50rds - 5.56 Nato Black Hills 69gr. Open Tip Match Ammo

$53.75

$1.08/ppr

184 In Stock
20rds – 223 Rem Remington Premier 50gr. AccuTip-V BT Ammo

$21.85

$1.09/ppr

132 In Stock
50rds - 223 Black Hills 62gr. Barnes TSX HP Ammo

$74.99

$1.50/ppr

145 In Stock
50rds - 5.56 Black Hills 62gr. TSX HP Ammo Video
☆☆☆☆☆ 3 Review(s)

$75.49

$1.51/ppr

160 In Stock

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Hornady Ammo

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More About .223 & 5.56 Ammo

.223 and 5.56x45 ammunition are nearly identical but there are a few subtle differences that may help you decide which caliber is best for you. Generally, if you own an AR-15 or other rifle chambered for 5.56x45, you can safely shoot .223 or 5.56 ammunition in your firearm without any trouble. However, if you own a rifle that's designated for .223, you may not want to shoot 5.56x45 ammo. 5.56 cartridges are loaded to slightly higher pressures than most commercial .223 ammunition.

M855 vs. M193

Both the M855 and M193 cartridges are popular 5.56x45 loads. The M855 is 62 grain and has a steel core, which can help it penetrate armor slightly better than M193. For more details on the differences, check out this article on our blog about M855 vs. M193.

How Much is 223 Ammo?

Generally speaking, .223 and 5.56x45 ammunition is pretty cheap to shoot compared to other rifle options. You'll save money by buying your ammo in bulk and we carry a huge variety of 1,000 round cases for sale here that'll have you shooting all day. If you need a precision round, look to match-grade ammunition. This ammo is loaded with higher quality components and should give you more accuracy than cheaper, bulk range options.

Steel Cased Ammo vs. Brass Cased

Many shooters prefer to shoot steel-cased .223 ammo because it's cheaper than most brass-cased options for sale. Generally, steel cased ammo works well in AR-15 rifles and you shouldn't have any trouble. Some shooters believe steel cased rounds do lead to more wear and tear on your firearms but depending upon your level of knowledge, you may be able to swap out barrels and other rifle components on your own and the money saved on ammo will make it well worth your time.

Steel-cased ammunition manufactured today is not corrosive and it will not harm your .223 or 5.56x45 chambered firearm outside of regular wear-and-tear that you'd get from thousands of rounds of use.

.223/5.56x45 Bullet Types

Range Use

If you're shooting at the range, we recommend you go with a full metal jacket (FMJ) or full metal jacket boat-tail loaded ammunition. These rounds are typically cheap so you can get in as much training as possible within your budget.

Hunting with .223

Yes, you can hunt wits .223 ammo and an AR-15 or other rifle. It's very common to hunt hogs and even whitetail deer with .223 ammunition. If you're going to do so, we suggest picking up ammo loaded with soft point bullets or a more sophisticated, polymer-tipped .223 round. These ammunition options are typically a little more expensive but the more sophisticated projectiles will help bring down game humanely.

Precision Shooting

Look for rounds branded as "match" by the manufacturer. We carry some of the best commercial loads available, featuring Federal Match, Winchester Match, Hornady and Barnes.

.223 / 5.56

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