223 (5.56) Ammo
.223 Remington ammunition and 5.56x45 NATO are closely related and sometimes interchangeable cartridges depending on the firearm they are to be used with. Manufacturers typically offer guidance on this point. In general, the 5.56 NATO ammunition the military uses and is for sale to the civilian market operates at higher pressures than .223 Remington ammo. Most, but not all, AR-15s are chambered for 5.56 NATO and can fire both types of ammo.
Many loads in both calibers follow the M193 or M855 standard, both of which are military specifications. M193 ammo typically fires a 55 grain full metal jacket bullet at 3,240 feet per second, while M855 ammo fires a heavier 62 grain FMJ bullet at about 3,100 feet per second. These common standards are very helpful when sighting in your optics and you'll find both cartridges in-stock and available in cheap bulk packs here at Widener's
Certain specialized loads deviate from these common standards. Competition grade .223/5.56 ammo fires a heavier bullet (most commonly a Sierra MatchKing) in the 77 grain range to provide better stability and more predictable trajectories; varmint loads, on the other hand, fire light 30-40 grain bullets at very high velocities to produce lethal fragmentation against pest animals.
One of the most sought after range loads for this caliber is Lake City ammunition, which is produced by Federal Premium Ammunition at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri. LCAAP production is typically excess from government contracts and is popular due to its military origins and high quality.
-
Federal 223 Rem 77 Grain Gold Medal Match HPBT - 20 Rounds
$25.85Manufacturer Federal Condition New Bullet Weight 77 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, plinking at the range Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU GM223M3 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 029465094201 Cost Per Round $1.29 per round The .223 Remington is one of the most popular rounds in modern target shooting and hunting. With tremendous velocity and energy, it is capable of long range hunting, as well as distance target shooting. Few brands make as trusted a round for the .223 as Federal Premium Ammunition.
This cartridge uses a 77-grain bullet that has a boat tail and a hollow point. It is not only accurate, it is also highly effective for small game hunting. The bullet comes out of the muzzle with a velocity of 2,720 per second and a muzzle energy of 1,265 foot pounds.
When you want a trusted brand for your hunting and target shooting, you can always turn to Federal Premium Ammunition. They have a wide range of options for nearly every popular handgun, rifle, shotgun, and rimfire, and they also have products for ammunition reloading. Whether you are hunting large game or spending a day at the gun range, Federal has the ammunition you need.
-
Hornady Varmint Express 223 Rem 55 Grain V-MAX – 20 Rounds
$25.85Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type V-MAX Use Type plinking at the range, varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 8327 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 090255383270 Cost Per Round $1.29 per round This .223 Remington ammo from Hornady's Varmint Express series delivers excellent performance against larger varmints as well as coyotes and other predators. These cartridges feature Hornady V-MAX polymer tipped hollow point bullets, which deliver excellent accuracy and fragment rapidly upon contact with an animal to effect a quick, clean kill with less risk of overpenetration.
Each cartridge in this box of 20 fires a 55-grain version of the V-MAX at a muzzle velocity of 3,240 feet per second. Compared to other varmint loads, this ammo fires a relatively heavy bullet at a medium velocity, producing external ballistics comparable to those of M193 ball. This is a plus for shooters who prefer minimal optics adjustment when transitioning between target shooting and hunting, and it enhances the load's terminal performance against larger animals.
Hornady ammo is loaded in Grand Island, Nebraska using non-corrosive Boxer primers and reloadable brass.
-
Fiocchi Exacta MatchKing 223 Rem 69 Grain HP-BT – 20 Rounds
$25.85Manufacturer Fiocchi Condition New Bullet Weight 69 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, plinking at the range, varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 223MKC Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 762344704166 Cost Per Round $1.29 per round The 223 Remington has been around for over fifty years and has been one of the most popular rounds in the Western World since it was introduced during the Vietnam War. Whether you are looking to bring down big game, eradicate varmints, defend yourself, or compete in a shooting match, the 223 Remington is just the proven, lightweight, high speed, incredibly accurate round you are looking for.
Fiocchi is the oldest firearms and ammunition manufacturer in Italy and is still owned and run by the same family that founded it back in 1876, producing some of the best guns and ammo in the world. These Fiocchi Exacta rounds come with Sierra MatchKing bullets, which fly more accurately than nearly any other round on the market. Firing at 2735 feet per second, these 69 grain, hollow point boat tail, brass cased, boxer primed rounds give you the phenomenal accuracy, increased speed and range, and fantastic trajectory you need to help you win your next competition.
-
Federal 223 Rem 69 Grain Gold Medal Match HPBT - 20 Rounds
$26.85Manufacturer Federal Condition New Bullet Weight 69 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU GM223M Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 029465089320 Cost Per Round $1.34 per round The .223 Remington has become one of the leading rounds in the country, and few brands make such a high-quality product like Federal Premium Ammunition. This round uses a hollow point boat tail bullet to deliver reliable downrange accuracy and effective performance upon impact.
This round has a muzzle velocity of 2,950 feet per second and a muzzle energy of 1,333 foot pounds. This makes it highly effective for medium to long range target shooting and hunting. With this box of 20, you should have enough for a full day of hunting.
Federal Premium Ammunition is one of the most recognized ammo brands for accuracy and reliability. They have been making high-quality rounds since 1922, and have provided rounds for hunters, target shooters, and all types of gun owners. With rounds for all the most popular calibers, as well as muzzleloading and reloading supplies, Federal is a go-to choice for all of your ammo needs.
-
Hornady 223 Rem 53 Grain V-Max – 20 Rounds
$26.85Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 53 Grain Bullet Type V-MAX Use Type varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 8025 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 090255380255 Cost Per Round $1.34 per round Hornady Superformance ammunition leverages advances in propellant technology to produce high-velocity loads that don't increase barrel wear or fouling. This higher velocity is a particularly useful advance for varmint loads, which depend on rapid fragmentation for their terminal effectiveness.
Each .223 Remington cartridge in this 20-round box fires a 53 grain polymer-tipped V-MAX hollow point bullet at a 3,465 feet per second.
Hornady ammo is made in Grand Island, Nebraska using non-corrosive primers and reloadable brass cases.
-
Winchester Match 223 Rem 69 Grain HPBT MatchKing – 20 Rounds
$26.85Manufacturer Winchester Condition New Bullet Weight 69 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, plinking at the range Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU S223M2 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 020892220157 Cost Per Round $1.34 per round Do you want to prove that you have the most accurate 223 Rem rifle on the planet? Then you’re going to need the right ammunition to make your case. Winchester’s Match series ammo is engineered to deliver the outstanding precision you need to start making people wonder whether you’re cheating physics.
This cartridge’s hollow point boat tail bullet is made by Sierra. It is the MatchKing, aka the bullet that has won more competitive target shooting events than all other manufacturers’ bullets combined.
The MatchKing begins as a thin copper jacket, which doesn’t deviate in concentricity by any more or less than 0.0003”. The opening in the MatchKing’s tip exists because the bullet’s lead was poured into place while it was molten, subsequently hardening to create an extremely uniform and voidless core. (The MatchKing’s nose cavity is not designed to initiate terminal expansion; it is not a hunting or self-defense bullet, and exhibits comparable terminal ballistics to an FMJ.) The MatchKing’s boat tail serves to minimize the bullet’s in-flight drag and increase its ballistic coefficient.
And this round’s ballistic coefficient is indeed high for a 223 Rem: G1 0.302, G1 0.152. The 69 grain HPBT should stay supersonic until approximately 780 yards, and its trajectory should rise by approximately 3.15” before it plows into a 200-yard bullseye. (Winchester recommends firing this match grade 223 ammunition through a 1:7” to 1:9” barrel for optimal accuracy.)Customer Reviews
-
Very nice .223 level heavy bullet load
-
Ran well and just the ticket for barrels that won't handle the 75-77 gr bullets
Review by Fr. Frog (Posted on 12/22/2016)
-
-
Sierra Prairie Enemy 223 Rem 55 Grain BlitzKing – 20 Rounds
$26.85Manufacturer Sierra Bullets Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type Polymer Tipped Use Type varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU A1455--09 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 604544658958 Cost Per Round $1.34 per round Varmints may be troublesome – but they’re not stupid. If you shoot one with an inferior bullet he’s going to use his dying breaths to make fun of you. Hunt varmints with extreme accuracy and commanding terminal performance with Sierra’s Prairie Enemy ammo instead!
This 223 Rem round delivers the awesome accuracy of Sierra’s BlitzKing. It is a streamlined bullet with a sloping boat tail base and piercing polymer tip, able to shrug off drag as it retains well over half of its starting velocity at the 400 yard mark. When its tip connects with a varmit, the BlitzKing’s thin-walled jacket instantly ruptures outward to overwhelm that target with disastrous fragmentation! Picture the accuracy of a MatchKing with the terminal effect of a firecracker, and you have a good grasp on what the BlitzKing has to offer.
Sierra carefully seats their varmint buster in a freshly minted brass case. The case’s uniform wall thickness and strong brass construction both lend themselves to intensely reliable performance. This round’s non-corrosive primer and clean burning propellant create a steady chamber pressure while reducing internal fouling. -
Winchester Varmint X 223 Rem 55 Grain Polymer Tip – 20 Rounds
$27.85Manufacturer Winchester Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type Polymer Tipped Use Type varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU X223P Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 020892219977 Cost Per Round $1.39 per round 20 rounds of Winchester 223 Remington ammo that'll have your gun firing for a while and your face smiling for even longer! The Boxer primer, 55 Grain Polymer Tipped bullet and Brass cases on these New rounds make for the perfect companion for varmint hunting. Pick up some rounds today and you'll get fast shipping along with Widener's world class service.
-
Hornady Non-Toxic 223 Rem 35 Grain PT – 20 Rounds
$27.85Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 35 Grain Bullet Type NTX Use Type varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 83266 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 090255832662 Cost Per Round $1.39 per round Developed during the Vietnam War, the 223 Rem has become one of the most popular rounds in the Western World among militaries, civilians, and law enforcement. Whatever your needs are, whether they be hunting medium game, eradicating varmints, defending your home, or competing in a shooting competition, the 223 Rem is the perfect round for you with its fantastic, low recoil, phenomenal accuracy, and amazing speed.
Hornady has been around since the end of World War Two and has come to be one of the most innovative ammunition providers in the world, making just the high quality and effective ammo you need. These Hornady Non-Toxic, 35 grain, polymer tipped rounds fire at the incredible velocity of 4000 feet per second and produce massive expansion and have fantastic terminal performance, making these the perfect rounds for taking out even the speediest varmints out there.
-
Remington Premier Match 223 Rem 77 Grain HPBT MatchKing – 20 Rounds
$27.85Manufacturer Remington Condition New Bullet Weight 77 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, varmint hunting Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU RM223R3 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 047700391304 Cost Per Round $1.39 per round Do you want to stamp true cloverleafs into your target? Then you’d better fire ammunition that was made for the job! Remington loads this 223 Rem cartridge with Sierra’s 77 grain MatchKing so you can squeeze the best accuracy out of your rifle yet!
The MatchKing is an extremely high-quality hollow point boat tail projectile. Unlike a pistol cartridge’s JHP, the BTHP’s nose cavity is not meant to deliver terminal expansion inside game. Instead it allowed Sierra to pour liquid lead into the MatchKing’s thin and concentric jacket, thus creating a uniform and flawless core. Together the MatchKing’s ballistic jacket profile and boat tail both minimize drag to the greatest extent possible. Its exceptionally heavy 77 grain weight also helps the MatchKing to retain momentum which prevents gentle breezes from blowing it very far off of its intended trajectory.
Remington’s highest-quality brass case and match primer tie the whole package together. So long as you’re using the recommended 1:6", 1:7" or 1:8" rate of twist for a 77 grain projectile, you can expect this ammo’s flat trajectories to retain supersonic velocity well past the 800-yard line! -
Remington Premier Match 223 Remington 69 Grain BTHP - 20 Rounds
$29.85Manufacturer Remington Condition New Bullet Weight 69 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting, plinking at the range Casing Type Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU RM223R1 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 047700385006 Cost Per Round $1.49 per round When a trophy is on the line, count on Remington Premier Match to deliver. These .223 Remington cartridges are designed to be as accurate as you are and feature Sierra MatchKing bullets. MatchKings are a favorite among many champion shooters due to their superb production quality and aerodynamic design.
Each cartridge in this box of 20 fires a 69 grain version of the MatchKing at a muzzle velocity of 3,000 feet per second. This above-average velocity increases recoil slightly but delivers flatter trajectories and improved long-range performance in return.
Remington Premier Match ammo is made in the USA and uses non-corrosive primers and brass cases.
-
Remington 223 Rem 55 Grain PSP – 200 Rounds
$309.85Manufacturer Remington Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type Pointed Soft-Point (PSP) Use Type hunting boar, hunting whitetail deer Casing Type Brass Quantity 200 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU R223R1 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 047700050911 Cost Per Round $1.55 per round This versatile .223 Remington load will serve well in AR-15s and other .223/5.56 NATO rifles in sporting, hunting, and defensive capacities.
Each round in this case of 200 fires a 55 grain pointed soft point bullet. The high velocity of the cartridge greatly enhances the expansion potential of the soft point projectile, making this ammo an excellent choice for hunting varmints and small to midsize game.
Remington ammunition is produced in Lonoke, Arkansas using non-corrosive Boxer primers and reloadable brass cases.
-
Black Hills 5.56x45mm 77 Grain OTM - Civilian MK262 Mod 1 - 50 Rounds
$82.85Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition Condition New Bullet Weight 77 Grain Bullet Type Open Tip Match Use Type match or precision shooting, plinking at the range Casing Type Brass Quantity 50 Ammo Caliber 5.56x45mm Manufacturer SKU D556N9 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710126408 Cost Per Round $1.66 per round Of all the manufacturers of 5.56 ammo, Black Hills is one of the very best. Even supplying the US military with all of their match 5.56 ammo and special rounds for specific missions, Black Hills ammunition is manufactured to the most stringent standards. If you want a high quality, military grade round, Black Hills is the way to go.
These civilian versions of the "MK262 Mod 1" 77 grain open tip match, or OTM, rounds are perfect for range training (they differ only from the military version of the round due to a slightly different powder and primer). With much more mass than the standard 5.56x45mm range round, you don't have to worry as much about wind interference, helping to increase your accuracy. These are some of the best training rounds on the market.
Customer Reviews
-
THE SDM Ammo for taking out the trash
-
This is the MK262 MOD 1 ammo used by Uncle Sam's DM's for use in 1:8" twist or faster barrels, with 556 NATO or 223 Wylde chambers. I tested a single 5-shot group from a bipod at 600yds and the elevation was a tick over 1/2MOA from a sample rifle used to train soldiers at Ft Benning.. Close enough for gov't work.
Review by Grant (Posted on 2/18/2022)
-
You get what you pay for.
-
Three five shot groups, each under .750 inches at 100 yards. Best ever from my Colt LE 6920. Let the barrel cool between groups.
Review by Gary (Posted on 11/22/2017)
-
-
Black Hills 5.56 Nato Barnes TSX 50 Grain Hollow Point - 50 Rounds
$89.85Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition Condition New Bullet Weight 50 Grain Bullet Type TSX Use Type hunting whitetail deer Casing Type Brass Quantity 50 Ammo Caliber 5.56x45mm Manufacturer SKU D556N1 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710126361 Cost Per Round $1.80 per round The 5.56x45mm NATO has been around for fifty years and is one of the most popular rounds in the Western World for civilian, military, and law enforcement use. With its high speeds, incredibly low recoil, and its high accuracy, the 5.56x45mm NATO is perfect for your big game, predator, and varmint hunting, match competing, range training, and self defense needs, giving you just the highly versatile round you are looking for.
Black Hills has been around for years and provides match ammo to every branch of the US military, proving just how incredible their ammunition is. These Black Hills rounds, however, are fitted with Barnes' TSX, 50 grain, hollow point bullets, some of the most effective, copper bullets on the market. Firing at 3275 feet per second, these brass cased, boxer primed rounds have the massive expansion and fantastic penetration you need to bring down the delicious deer on your next hunting trip.