5.56 ammo

[MTMilitiaman]

FMJ is required by the rules of law for war, and aides greatly in functioning of machine guns. It would certainly not be the best first choice for self-defense or anything else that required immediate lethal results. Deep straightline penetration is important, but reliable expansion or fragmentation makes the real differences.

FMJ is not required by rules of war.

 

[kwg020]

If all you are doing is personal and home self defense, you are probably shooting across the room and nothing even close to 50 yards. Much passed 50 yards and you are not in a defensive mode, you are in an offensive mode. Anything much above 55 grains puts you in a completely different category. This is not "stand your ground" and "personal protection" this is long distance sniping. Civil attorneys are going to have a field day on you.
kwg

 

[BSA1]

Why heavyweight bullet?

PMC 55 gr. FMJ.

5 rounds @ 25 yards.

The low bullet hole is from the first round (fouling shot) which was fired from a new cold oiled barrel. 1 in 7" twist 16" barrel with carbine gas system.

100 yard testing comes later this year when the range dries out and it gets warm.

(Ignore the pasted bullet hole to the right. This was a target left at the range by a previous shooter who either apparently didn't shoot very well or didn't believe in shooting very many rounds).

 

[BSA1]

PMC 55 gr. FMJ at 25 yards from 1 in 7" 16" Carbine barrel.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

If all you are doing is personal and home self defense, you are probably shooting across the room and nothing even close to 50 yards. Much passed 50 yards and you are not in a defensive mode, you are in an offensive mode. Anything much above 55 grains puts you in a completely different category. This is not "stand your ground" and "personal protection" this is long distance sniping. Civil attorneys are going to have a field day on you.
kwg

That is ridiculous.

I already explained the advantage in terminal ballistics that the heavy OTM rounds have over lighter rounds as well as the fact that these rounds have been very effective from short barreled carbines at room clearing distances for tip-of-the-spear guys in Afghanistan. They are proven performers and would look much better to a jury than 55 gr FMJ.

 

[C-grunt]

There is no magic number that turns self defense into "offense". I've investigated shootings from various ranges and never has the range been a factor other than being part of the scene info. A good shoot is a good shoot. A bad shoot is a bad shoot.

No district attorney is going to say "Well Mr Smith, I know you came home to your property and stumbled across a robbery crew that opened fire on you. But when you shot the guy from the end of your driveway to your front porch, we measured that as 51 yards so that makes it murder. The fact that his bullet hit you in the leg and shattered your knee at the same distance is immaterial."

 

[brutus51]

As stated earlier I bought this rifle as a fun gun, At my age the 30/06 is starting to hurt, the days of shooting 100 rounds out of it are long gone and it's nice to have a rifle I can take to the range for the day and shoot hundreds of rounds with no ill effect.
For serious shooting I'll take the 30/06, 30/30, 45/70 or even my chosen assault rifle a Marlin in 44mag over the 5.56.
In my neck of the woods you can't legally hunt with one for anything other than varmints.
Guess that's why I think AR stands for Anemic Rifle.

 

[Riomouse911]

It’s surprisingly effective against soft skinned critters, two or four legged. I wasn’t ever a big fan of it for deer, but the new bullets that are designed for hunting have changed my mind.

For your purposes a 62-64 gr SP bullet from any of the regular ammo makers will suffice for defense and for coyote/rabid varmint work as well. It can be bonded or not, find what works best and you’re golden.

I issue Win Ranger bonded 64 gr .223 ammo to the 60 guys who are issued Mjni 14 rifles for duty use.

Stay safe!