Stan's Selections
Looking to take your AR-15 to the range for some plinking? These are ideal choices for training that are popular among our customers.
Top Range Rounds
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.
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Hornady 223 Rem 53 Grain V-Max – 20 Rounds
$27.45Product Type Ammo Manufacturer 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 90255380255 Cost Per Round $1.37 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.
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Remington Premier Match 223 Rem 77 Grain HPBT MatchKing – 200 Rounds
$274.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Remington Condition New Bullet Weight 77 Grain Bullet Type Hollow-Point Boat Tail (HP-BT) Use Type match or precision shooting Casing Type Brass Quantity 200 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU RM223R3 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 47700391311 Cost Per Round $1.37 per round Accuracy is not something that is handed down to you from heaven on a silver platter. You’ve got to reach out and take it for yourself! That means owning an excellent rifle and honing first-rate marksmanship. And if the 223 Rem is your cartridge of choice, it also means ordering at least one case of Remington Premier Match.
This cartridge is loaded with a heavy hollow point boat tail: the 77 grain MatchKing by Sierra of Sedalia, Missouri! The match grade bullet combines a narrow meplat, sleek and concentric copper jacket, and optimally angled boat tail so it can exhibit superb rotational stability, retain superior downrange momentum and resist the influence of crosswinds. The MatchKing’s nose cavity does not make it a hunting bullet. It cannot expand, because its tip’s aperture only serves to grant passage to the liquid lead that formed the MatchKing’s evenly distributed core.
Once this round’s top-grade brass case, Boxer primer and propellant have all done their jobs, its HPBT will achieve a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.362. The bullet’s trajectory will climax at 2.72” before it reaches a 200 yard target, and will only drop to -9.24” at 300 yards afterward. -
Hornady Superformance Match 5.56x45mm 75 Grain HP-BT - 20 Rounds
$27.75Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 75 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 5.56x45mm Manufacturer SKU 81264 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 90255812640 Cost Per Round $1.39 per round These heavyweight 5.56x45mm loads stretch the limits of their caliber thanks to Hornady's Superformance Match standards. In general, Superformance loads utilize unique propellant blends to achieve muzzle velocities that are well beyond the norm; that's why these rounds launch 75-grain BTHP projectiles at 2,910 feet-per-second from a 20-inch barrel, lending them amazing range capability for match use or long-range shooting in general.
The powder is contained within a reloadable brass casing which has a small amount of moisture-sealant in its primer pocket along with a Boxer primer; this arrangement guarantees reliable ignition under any conditions. The 75-grain BTHP at the top of the cartridge has a boat tail rear, tapered ogive, and tiny hollow tip for drag resistance which contributes to smaller groups. The bullet is built by feeding lead through the bullet's hollow point in order to build a dense core free of distortion while leaving the copper AMP jacket's pristine dimensions untouched.
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Hornady Non-Toxic 223 Rem 35 Grain PT – 20 Rounds
$27.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer 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 90255832662 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.
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Remington Premier Match 223 Rem 77 Grain HPBT MatchKing – 20 Rounds
$27.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer 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 47700391304 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! -
Federal Gold Medal 223 Rem 77 Grain HPBT MatchKing – 200 Rounds
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Hornady Critical Defense 223 Rem 55 Grain FTX – 20 Rounds
$28.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Hornady Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type Flex-Tip-Technology (FTX) Use Type home defense Casing Type Nickel-Plated Brass Quantity 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 80270 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 90255802702 Cost Per Round $1.44 per round This 223 Rem cartridge from Hornady’s Critical Defense line of ammunition is optimized in every way to help you keep your home uninfluenced by burglars. The round’s 55 grain FTX projectile features the Flex Tip, which compresses into the bullet upon impact in order to initiate rapid expansion. The Flex Tip works reliably even at lower velocities, and optimizes performance in lever action rifles as well.
The FTX bullet also features an InterLock ring, which mechanically locks its high antimony lead core and specially engineered heavy jacket together to provide stellar weight retention during penetration. This bullet additionally offers a flat trajectory and great accuracy thanks to its secant ogive profile.
Thanks to this round’s casing’s nickel plating, it’s very easy to spot during a chamber check in a darkened environment. Furthermore, its specially formulated propellant reduces both recoil and muzzle flash, so you can count on firing rapid follow-up shots in the dark as well. -
Black Hills 5.56x45mm 69 Grain Open Tip Match – 50 Rounds
$73.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition Condition New Bullet Weight 69 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 D556N12 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710127405 Cost Per Round $1.48 per round Competitive shooters prize Black Hills ammunition for its consistently high performance. These 5.56 NATO cartridges are perfect for precision shooting with an AR-15 or other 5.56x45mm rifles.
Each round in this box of 50 fires a 69 grain open tipped match bullet at 2,875 feet per second. The use of a relatively heavy bullet provides more stable and predictable trajectories for your shots at the cost of some muzzle velocity; since terminal ballistics is irrelevant for match use, this trade-off is a no-brainer!
Black Hills ammo is loaded in Rapid City, South Dakota using reloadable brass and non-corrosive primers.
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Black Hills Barnes Multi-Purpose Green 223 Rem 55 Grain HP - 50 Rounds
$73.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition Condition New Bullet Weight 55 Grain Bullet Type Frangible Use Type steel target plinking Casing Type Brass Quantity 50 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU M223N16 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710124503 Cost Per Round $1.48 per round Grab a few of these 50-round boxes of .223 Remington ammo from Black Hills for tactical training and home defense with your AR-15 or other .223/5.56 NATO chambered rifle. These cartridges fire Barnes Multi Purpose Green (MPG) frangible bullets. Unlike other frangible projectiles, Multi Purpose Green bullets have a gilding metal jacket that protects the powdered copper-tin core. This ensures reliable cycling alongside heavy fragmentation upon impact. The fragmenting effect virtually eliminates the risk of ricochets for safe training while delivering strong terminal performance for varmint hunting or self-defense emergencies.
Each cartridge in this box fires a 55-grain version of the MPG at a muzzle velocity of 3,150 feet per second. In terms of external ballistics, this ammo is roughly comparable to M193 mil-spec ball and should not require large adjustments to optics for users of either M193 or M855 ammo.
Black Hills ammunition is made in the USA using non-corrosive primers and brass cases.
Customer Reviews
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very quick shipping
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quick shipping
Review by charles (Posted on 8/16/2020)
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Black Hills 5.56x45 77 Grain OTM – 500 Rounds
$744.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer 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 500 Ammo Caliber 5.56x45mm Manufacturer SKU D556N9 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710126385 Cost Per Round $1.49 per round When the U.S. military needs match grade 5.56x45 ammunition, it turns to Black Hills Ammunition. It’s no coincidence that the family-owned South Dakota company also produces some of the finest long-range target ammunition the civilian market has to offer. Order yourself some today and start shooting faraway targets soon!
This cartridge gives you accuracy like only a 77 grain open tip match bullet can. The huge chunk of lead and copper has a lower muzzle velocity – 2,750 fps out of Black Hills’ own 20” test barrel – but also a trajectory that’s less susceptible to wind deflection. The OTM’s form-fitted core was created by injecting the thin copper jacket with molten lead. The hollow point gave access to that lead, but it does not give the OTM the ability to deliver terminal expansion.
Black Hills loads this ammo with match primers, match brass, and standardized charges of proprietary propellant blend. Despite what the discoloration around their shoulders might suggest, this ammo’s cases aren’t previously fired. They’re a great choice for handloading – might as well stock up on component bullets while you’re at it!Customer Reviews
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Excellent!
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highly coveted mk262mod1 with fast shipping! Excellent company. Excellent service.
Review by Milspec (Posted on 6/29/2020)
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Black Hills 5.56x45 77 Grain OTM – 50 Rounds
$74.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer 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 $1.5 per round You’ve got two things on your mind: precision, and your 5.56x45mm rifle. That means you only need one kind of ammunition: this 77 grain OTM ammo by Black Hills of South Dakota.
Let’s get one thing straight: the open tip match may look like it’s designed for terminal expansion, but it really isn’t. If you’re looking for hunting or home defense ammo, then your journey continues. The OTM’s open tip has already served its only purpose, which was to allow its manufacturer to inject liquid lead into its thin and concentric copper jacket. The voidless core that formed is the driving force behind the OTM’s excellent rotational stability and resultant high accuracy.
This round’s bullet is relatively heavy, which helps reduce its reaction to the cross and vertical winds awaiting at a long-distance target range. A 1:8” rate of twist barrel or faster is the ticket. Black Hills loads these fine rounds with match grade components, as well as brand new reloadable brass cases.Customer Reviews
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THE SDM Ammo for taking out the trash
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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 2/19/2022)
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You get what you pay for.
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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)
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Black Hills 5.56x45mm 77 Grain TMK Sierra MatchKing - 50 Rounds
$79.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Black Hills Ammunition Condition New Bullet Weight 77 Grain Bullet Type Polymer Tipped Use Type match or precision shooting Casing Type Brass Quantity 50 Ammo Caliber 5.56x45mm Manufacturer SKU D556N19 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 612710130719 Cost Per Round $1.6 per round Competitive shooters of AR-15s and other 5.56 NATO rifles prize Black Hills match grade ammunition for its unerring precision and reliable performance.
Each round in this box of 50 fires a heavy 77 grain Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2,750 feet per second. As with most match loads, this ammo trades a bit of muzzle velocity for enhanced stability and more predictable points of impact. Tipped MatchKings are an iteration building on the classic MatchKing bullet and feature an aerodynamic polymer tip.
Black Hills ammo is made in Rapid City, South Dakota using non-corrosive Boxer primers and reloadable brass cases.
Customer Reviews
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Good stuff!
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Hard hitting stuff. Perfect ammo if you're using a suppressed SBR for HD. Black Hills always makes quality ammo. Can't go wrong with this ammo.
Review by NV_gunner (Posted on 5/10/2020)
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Barnes Precision Match 223 Rem 77 Grain OTM BT – 20 Rounds
$32.85Product Type Ammo Manufacturer Barnes 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 20 Ammo Caliber 223 Remington Manufacturer SKU 32018 Primer Type Boxer Magnetic No UPC Barcode 716876223770 Cost Per Round $1.64 per round Barnes Precision Match ammunition is here to treat you to some of the best accuracy you’ve ever witnessed! This 223 Rem cartridge features the Match Burner – a 77 grain open tip match boat tail projectile that is designed for competitive shooting events!
First things first: an OTM bullet is not intended for hunting or home defense, simply because its hollow point nose cavity isn’t engineered for terminal expansion. The OTM’s meplat has a narrow aperture because liquid lead was poured through it – hence the bullet’s voidless, balanced, and rearward-situated core. The bullet’s narrow tip, tapered tail, and sleek, thin jacket are all in the service of minimizing drag, increasing downrange momentum, and enhancing precision. Its massive 77 grain weight gives the bullet greater resistance to wind drift as well (Barnes recommends a barrel twist of 1:8” or faster for this ammo).
This round has a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.349. Many variables will determine exactly which trajectory the bullet follows, but you can realistically expect around -9.57” drop at 300 yards when you set your rifle’s 1.5” high sights on a 200-yard zero.
Barnes loads this ammo in Utah with match primers, fastidiously measured propellant charges, and new brass cases that belong at a reloading press once they have been emancipated from their bullets.
