Breaking in new AR...need ammo.

R

Ranger260

New member
I was hoping you guys could help me find the price/performance "sweet spot" and help me narrow down some choices for ammo on my new rifle. I have perused this site and others for awhile. The more I read, the more I am overwhelmed by the choices. I would like to start examining the accuracy potential of this rifle, and would like to begin with some smart purchases on factory ammo (yes, I am one of those guys that needs to learn to reload). However, I do not want to throw money at the vendors haphazardly. I suppose I could load up on Black Hills, Hornady or Federal Match and that would be a safe place to start. But that stuff is expensive and I am hoping for some alternatives.

In the last year, I finally got around to putting together an AR-15 that I primarily intend to use for paper-punching (beyond 100 yards) and hunting (coyotes, jackrabbits, prairie dogs). Here are the specs on my rifle:
20" Rock River Varmint A4 upper, 1 in 8" twist SS barrel
Mohawk Lower
Magpul PRS stock
RR 2-stage trigger
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44mm scope
Leupold Tactical rings
Harris bipod

With a firm grasp of the idea that I am the weakest link in this system, that every rifle and barrel are different, and that ammo varies from lot to lot...do you have any suggestions for some ammo I should try? BTW, I do have experience with the M16A2 platform and open sights. But I normally just shoot what is cheap or available with an eye for practical accuracy. I am new to precision/long-range shooting.

I was hoping to start out with a modest purchase of around $100 on factory ammo to see what my rifle likes before I make an investment in a larger quantity. Here are some ideas I was looking at:

Shoot for accuracy...
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/50rds-223-black-hills-68gr-heavy-matc h-hollow-point-ammo/cName/223-556-match-ammo

A cheaper alternative...
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AP223HP75&name=Prvi+Partizan+.223+75grn+Ma tch+HP+20rd&groupid=21
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AP223HP69&name=Prvi+.223+69grn+Boat+Tail+M atch+Hollow+Point+20rd+Box&groupid=21
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/20rds-223-prvi-partizan-75gr-bthp-mat ch-ammo/cName/223-556-match-ammo

For varmints...
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=312291

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Every time I've latched onto a new AR, I've found that one of the better things I can do is to put about 100 rounds of the cheapest military surplus ammo through it before starting to concentrate on "the best" ammo for it's preference...

Be sure to swab out the chamber and barrel before the first round to remove any debris left by the factory/barrel maker, whether from the chamber reamer, or just lubricant and dust than may have accumulated...Then don't allow the barrel to get overheated during the first 100 rounds...

With a 1/8 twist, you should be able to shoot a fairly wide variety of bullet weights...50-70gr,,, so your selection will depend more on your pocket book than anything else...

Black Hills produces some quality ammo at reasonable prices, as does UltraMax... I've shot both with good results.. Since you don't reload, Federal crimps their primers on most stuff and I've run across some of their bulk offerings that shoot well...
 
Its wild how some guns fall in love with the most crappy, cheap, worthless ammo you can find. Yours might shoot sub 1" with junk other people would give away, and it might be slinging Black Hills match all over the place. You really have no idea till you shoot it.

I'd suggest buying two different boxes first, and make sure you test and document how each one shoots. (if one of them shoots very well, make sure you remember)

If you find that one box shoots good enough for you, then buy one of those every time you want to experiment and see if something else shoots better. Process of elimination.

In my opinion, its a mistake to just pick up 100 rounds of the same thing without knowing how it shoots. 5 different boxes would accomplish the same thing, but you could find that 2 of them shoot great, and 3 are worthless.
 
"m currently goin down the same road... I'm shooting the remington R-15 20" barrel with a 1:9 twist...Cabelas has a sale on 223 ammo now through the 17TH of Jan.. I plan on picking up a few boxes of twenty rounds in 55 grain up to 69... Shoot 3-5 rds spurts and see what it does.. Ill probably start at 50 yds 3rds 75yds 3 rds 100 yds and so on..Hope this helps.. Let us know what works for you.. Other than the expense involed this is the part of ownimg an ar that appeals to me... You get to familiarize yourself with your gun and its mechanics and see what works...

best of luck stay safe!!!!
 
Quote:Every time I've latched onto a new AR, I've found that one of the better things I can do is to put about 100 rounds of the cheapest military surplus ammo through it before starting to concentrate on "the best" ammo for it's preference...


Same here. Until I had about 100 rounds down the new barrel, it would have been very difficult to tell for sure what it liked best. It kept tightening up.

Then, I found mine likes those Hornady 55 gr. V-max loads the best, by a wide margin.
 
I have started out with some 55 gr. Prvi FMJ for break in. I have not been very impressed yet. But I was in a hurry the last 2 times I went to the range and my scope is not dialed in yet. Sounds like a crap-shoot...and that it is best I don't invest in any quantity of any particular type until I find a load that the gun likes. There is a gunshow tomorrow in Salt Lake City. HSM is usually there...any experiences with there ammo?
 
Thank you all for your input. Well I am always leery of ammo that one can find at a Gun Show. But I could not resist temptation when Bitterroot Valley Ammunition had ammo at $9 per box of 20. So I picked up some 69 gr Match HPBT, 75 gr Tactical, and 55 gr VMAX. Hopefully, I don't get burned on an impulse buy and my rifle likes some of their offerings. I gotta place an order with AIM Surplus for another project I am working on, so I may pick up some of the Prvi match ammo and try it out too. If none of that works, I guess I will try Black Hills. I need to start looking at a single-stage press for a future purchase. Any recommendations on quality kit here (Lee, RCBS)? Also, is there a good manual to learn how to get started in reloading? Now, if I can only get to the range!
 
Speaking of HSM ammo, it is what I shoot out of both my Ruger m77 and my Colt AR and I love it. I took my AR out to the range the other day and at 100 yards I shot about a .7" 5-shot group with it. I bought 500 rounds of it in 50 gr V-max from Cabelas not too long ago for pretty cheap. You might give it a try.
 
Never ceases to amaze me that folks will drop $1500+ on a rifle and optics and then try to figure out how to scrape by with surplus ammo so they can save $15 a box.

Do yourself a favor and buy 100 rounds of the cheapest brass cased ammo you can find just to break it in and test functionality, then take that $100 you were going to spend on testing ammo and buy yourself a reloading press. It's not hard to learn and you'll end up way ahead of the game in the long run. You pick your powder and bullet and play with charges till you find a combo your gun likes. Done!
 
What helps this process alot for me,,is racking and slapping shut 100 times plus after using a light weight oil on the bolt,,,,hose out all the filings with wd40,,,,then you only need to fire about 20 through a new barrel,,,,saves money and time...................X
 
Originally Posted By: TCSNever ceases to amaze me that folks will drop $1500+ on a rifle and optics and then try to figure out how to scrape by with surplus ammo so they can save $15 a box.
I tend to agree with you. I understand there are no free rides when it comes to accuracy. It took me a long time to scrape up and put that rifle together. That was in better times. For some of us, harder times have set in. Despite economic and medical issues, I would like to continue with my hobby and not let my rifle collect dust. Ammo is very expensive. I shoot a lot of handgun ammo, besides getting interested in rifles now. So I do not think it is out of line to try and save on ammo.
 
BTW,
Someone had sent me some links to a thread on a rifle that was setup nearly identical to mine. He tested over 60 different factory loads and posted his results. I thought this was very interesting and that it could help me set a benchmark for my rifle in selecting ammunition to test. I do however understand that my results may vary...

Range Report 1
Range Report 2
 
Originally Posted By: Ranger260Originally Posted By: TCSNever ceases to amaze me that folks will drop $1500+ on a rifle and optics and then try to figure out how to scrape by with surplus ammo so they can save $15 a box.
I tend to agree with you. I understand there are no free rides when it comes to accuracy. It took me a long time to scrape up and put that rifle together. That was in better times. For some of us, harder times have set in. Despite economic and medical issues, I would like to continue with my hobby and not let my rifle collect dust. Ammo is very expensive. I shoot a lot of handgun ammo, besides getting interested in rifles now. So I do not think it is out of line to try and save on ammo.

I understand...the world certainly has changed the last few years. Do you know anyone near you who has reloading gear? If you're a member at a range or a gun club sometimes you meet people who are retired and just love to reload. I shot skeet for 2 years using nothing but reloads that an old timer used to make and sell to me at cost. Someone like that might be willing to load for you and teach you how to do it if you provide the components. That would be cheaper, better ammo, and you'd learn a new skill.
 
If your gonna gi the cheap route for your first hindered I suggest walmart. The one here has some cheap russian ammo. Its 55g fmj for 4.75 a box. So 30 bucks for a hundred rounds don't sound bad to me unless.someone knows of a cheaper alternative
 
I got my first AR (Bushy Predator)for Christmas. I have been hunting with the same ammo I've always used (55 grain V-Max). I've been plinking and playing and I broke in with American Eagle 55 grains. They have brass casings and have given me no problems so far. I paid around 35 per hundred at Gander Mountain.

I'm no expert, but the AEs have worked out pretty well for me.

Here they are
 
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Agree with OT and Brad, I finally got my build together and decided since I have a chrome moly barrel I might as well try the proper "barrel break in", and decided I wasn't shooting for accuracy just to shoot 100rds or so with frequent cleaning. It wasn't until about 30rds that it stopped spraying, at first I thought it was the cheap American Eagle AE223 ammo. Then with windage of my dot sight maxed to the right, and still hitting 2" right I thought I had an optical problem... kept shooting another 20rds, and it was dead on/to the left a little. I only have about 50-60rds through the rifle and it's tightening up every group, with cheap ammo and an unprecise 4moa dot sight. I intend to finish up the 100rd box and then start looking for factory rounds it likes, that is until I finish setting up my reloading station soon. The first factory rounds I will be purchasing for accuracy and hunting will be Hornady 55gr Vmax though.
 
I whiffed on a coyote Wednesday...thought it was the gun. I guess not, dang it! Bushmaster Predator, Leupold Mark AR, Hornady Super Performance Varmint 53gr VMax @ 100 yards. 3 shots...that's a quarter on the target.


01-15-11quarter_0926.jpg
 
Something you might like to try just to see how it turns out is do a test like the guy did in the link.But,get your shooting buddy to load your mags out of your sight and keep the log book closed to you till your done.
I think a fellow has an opinion about ammo that may change his groups a little,with everything you read and hear how could you not.
 
Originally Posted By: BradB41 I whiffed on a coyote Wednesday...thought it was the gun. I guess not, dang it! Bushmaster Predator, Leupold Mark AR, Hornady Super Performance Varmint 53gr VMax @ 100 yards. 3 shots...that's a quarter on the target.


01-15-11quarter_0926.jpg


Yeah, that's the bad thing, there's no longer any excuse for a miss. (Well, maybe you hit a stick)

Nice shooting.
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