5.56/223 Defense ammo question

[Balrog]

I know it has been talked about, but I want to ask about ammo recommendations in the following specific scenario:

What is the best ammo for:
16" barrel
Unarmored target
Short range, 50 yds or less
Possible use indoors for home defense
Moderate concern for overpenetration of interior walls

I am specifically not concerned about long distance shots or penetrating body armor.

I am thinking Hornady 55g TAP would be a good choice.
How would plain old M193 ball do in the above scenario?
Does ammo choice at these ranges even matter?

 

[sellersm]

Here's a good article that summarizes the results of the work of Dr. Gary Roberts from FirearmsTactical.com:

approved list of 223/556 SD/Duty Ammo

 

[briansmithwins]

Duty ammo can have different criteria than self defense ammo. Ability to shoot through cars would be one example.

Personally, mine is loaded with 50gr varmint bullets. They have almost no penetrating power but transfer energy into flesh explosively.

BSW

 

[Balrog]

For my scenario, penetrating an automobile windshield would not be needed. Penetrating drywall might be.

 

[bfoosh006]

If barrier penetration is NOT an important factor AND your rifle can stabilize them (minimum 1:9 twist rate, recommended 1:7 or 1:8 twist rate):
##Hornady 75gr OTM loads
##Nosler 77gr OTM loads
##Sierra 77gr SMK loads
##Sierra 77gr TMK loads

If barrier penetration is NOT an important factor AND your rifle can't stabilize the heavy 70+ grain bullets:
##Sierra 69gr TMK loads
##Sierra 69gr SMK loads
##Hornady 68gr OTM loads
##Winchester 64gr JSP (RA223R2)
##Federal 64gr TRU (223L)
##Hornady 60gr JSP

If your rifle is 1:12 or slower twist rate or can only shoot lighter-weight bullets: ##55gr Federal bonded JSP load (LE223T1 or P223T2)
##Barnes 55gr TSX/TAC-X
##50gr TSX loaded by Black Hills*

If barrier penetration IS an important factor: ##62gr Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (TBBC) bonded JSP (XM556FBIT3)*
##64gr Winchester solid base bonded JSP (Q3313/RA556B)*
##50gr TSX loaded by Black Hills*
##Speer 55 & 64gr Gold Dot JSP (5.56)*
##Federal 62gr Mk318 Mod0 (T556TNB1)*
##62gr Federal bonded JSP Tactical (LE223T3)
##55gr Federal bonded JSP load (Tactical––LE223T1 or identical Premium Rifle––P223T2)
##Swift 75gr Scirocco (usually requires 1:7 twist)
##60gr Nosler Partition JSP
##Remington 62gr bonded JSP
##Federal 55gr TSX (T223S)
##Speer 55 & 64gr Gold Dot JSP (.223)
##Federal 62gr Fusion JSP (Same construction as the Gold Dot)


From here... http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#mozTocId803443

Well worth reading the whole link.

 

[benEzra]

My home carbine is loaded with Winchester 55gr SP or Federal 55gr JHP, *not* bonded core.

 

[M1key]

The home carbine is currently loaded with 20 Prvi Partizan 55 Soft Points and extra mags with XM193.

PPU gel test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG5PQzteJio

M

 

[md7]

My HD carbine is stoked with 69 grain SMK's. Best? Not sure.

Extra mags contain federal xm193, as that's what I buy for plinking. Best? No, but it'll do.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I load mine with 55gr Sierra SPs, and don't put much worry in to it.
Within the home, I put more focus on which lanes of fire to avoid, if at all possible.

 

[Balrog]

How would M193 ball perform in this setting?

 

[md7]

M193 should be ok in the setting you mentioned. While not my first choice, it's not the last either. At least not in my opinion

 

[heymarine1833]

i think, after tests involving steel cans filled with water, that a 55 or 60 grain vmax or blitzking would be ideal for home defense. because it explodes on impact, a hit anywhere on the body would be devastating...plus, the bullet will not pass through the target and into your neighbors home. the military has to use ball ammo but we dont

 

[bfoosh006]

IMHO... ball ammo would be my last choice.

It does work, and I wouldn't want to be shot with it... but its true downfall is its inconsistent in performance.

It is a heavily yaw dependent bullet....in other words it doesn't perform the same regardless of a slight difference in impact angle.

You can see .. sometimes it fragments where you want it to... and sometimes it doesn't.

This is M193 hitting gel at different degrees of yaw:



I believe M855... and its yaw dependency ...




Modern designed bullets ( Including the M855A1 ) are FAR less dependent on the angle of impact.

That is one reason the M855A1 bullet was adopted... far more consistent performance. And not a yaw dependent design.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_epymWduYs


Another less yaw dependent bullet is the Sierra TMK... it performs more consistently.

Rapid expansion, without being dependent on impact angle.




This is why I recommended new design bullets.

The ones I mentioned earlier are proven performers. And well tested by numerous well respected ballistician's.


You wouldn't want to go Deer hunting with a "maybe" ( yaw dependent ) it will work bullet.... you want one that performs in a reasonably predictable manner.

 

[GAF]

My experience shooting pumpkins at various distances with Winchester 45 grain .223
HP`s 3600 fps. Not a human analog i know, but it shows how these round react at distance.

At 25 yards you will get a hole in the front of the pumpkin about 6 inches across (the bullet explodes on impact) none of the bullet fragments comes out the other side, but everything inside the pumpkin is liquefied and you have chunks of pumpkin that make it almost all the way back to your shooting bench.

At 50 yards the hole is a little smaller and some of the bullet fragments pass all the way through . Most the insides of the pumpkin are liquefied.

At 100 yards the hole the bullet makes in the front of the pumpkin is about the size of a silver dollar, but it blows a 6 inch hole out the back of the pumpkin .

My main concern would be lighting off one of these rounds in a room or hallway without hearing protection. Hearing damage will surely result.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I personally use 50 gr. Hornady Z-max handloads. They're not hot loaded or anything, just much cheaper to load than buy, as I purchased large quantities of the Z-max (a green tipped V-max) on sale awhile ago.

I live in a rural area, bit not so rural that there is no worry of over penetration. 5.56mm rounds are about the least likely of any common rifle or handgun round to leave a structure, but we can further minimize that likelihood by selecting bullets that will break up when they hit things. I'm not worried about penetration in the threat, as even if they come up short of 12", you've got a devastating wound, and if someone has broken into my home at O'dark thirty, you can bet it's likely gonna be a triple tap at minimum. I have a little boy to protect, won't take any chances.

 

[MechAg94]

The best deal I have seen lately is the Speer Gold Dot 55 grain that Palmetto State Armory has for $9.99 per box. I will have to check it out more as far as penetration.

 

[Walkalong]

I personally use 50 gr. Hornady Z-max handloads. They're not hot loaded or anything, just much cheaper to load than buy, as I purchased large quantities of the Z-max (a green tipped V-max) on sale awhile ago.

I did the same thing, except I got the 55 Gr Z-Max when they were so much cheaper than the V-Max.

Sure to ruin anyone's day. People are fragile.

 

[2zulu1]

Currently, Winchester 64gr Power Points, very effective against hard charging pit bulls.

I'm loading some Hornady 75gr BTHPs, Nosler 69gr and 77gr HPBT and Sierra 77gr tipped match king, may be useful for home defense.

The above 77gr TMK gel test is very impressive.