Steel-cased Tulammo or brass-cased Federal for my AR15? (Or something else...)

[jdouglas]

I know there are lots of threads discussing what ammo is good and what isn't, but they are never very conclusive. I haven't fired a shot out of my Stag Arms AR15 yet, and I need to figure out what ammo to get. Obviously the 25 cents per shot Tulammo is a tempting buy, but do I want to "risk" running cheap-o ammo like that? I will be travelling way out into a remote part of Alaska for a good part of this summer (with plenty of shooting opportunities), and I'd hate to have something fail on me during that time due to going with low-quality ammo. Federal XM193 seems to be the cheapest of the better brass-cased stuff, but currently seems to run around 42+ cents per shot.

I'm currently leaning towards Federal (due to it being nicer on the gun); but being able to shoot 30-40% more for about the same price is tempting. Although the extra cleaning involved with shooting cheap ammo makes it slightly less tempting...

Anyway, what would you guys recommend? Should I just pay a little more and be nice to my gun, and hold off on the cheap stuff till I'm very familiar with my gun and all?

[Don29palms]

I would check your warranty and make sure taht firing steel ammo doesn't void it.

[gemini1]

The only way you can find out if your rifle is built the way its suppose to be, then feed it with all sorts of ammos. If your worried about anything breaking down while your out in the bonnies then you should order some parts kit and take it with you, you're going to need this sooner or later anyway. The only reason I've been using 62 grain green tip ammos lately is because I got a tac scope that was calibrated for this ammo type, otherwise I use Tula or whatever cheap Russian ammos I can find.

[ZX-10R]

Steel new ammo/ Yugo brass for AK pattern...Brass for my Daniel Defense. I rarely shoot it now so my shooting costs has gone down a ton!

[vintagearms]

Dont buy the Russian ammo. There will be more for me...

[SureShot241]

I use the Federal Bulk Pack from Walmart and it works just fine, and doesn't make my AR to dirty. Pretty dang accurate too.

[rareair]

Steel cased is dirty stuff. Get the Federal XM193

PMC X-TAC "Green tips" seem to be fairly cheap too, around $7/box of 20

[missiontrails]

Ya, I was the one who started the last 2 LONG threads about the ammo debate................ look them up...

[IronColt]

if that steel jacket is not coated with lacquer, then it shouldn't be a problem.

[missiontrails]

if that steel jacket is not coated with lacquer, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Like the "Silverbear".... which is zinc coated.

[neal0124]

I went through a case of Tula and it worked ok. It was dirtier than the brass I shot. It would only cycle out of my 16" carbine. It wouldn't cycle my 18" rifle. It is underpowered compared to brass ammo. I'd get a case of PMC X-tac, Palmetto is selling it for $309+$12 shipping. Try some of whatever you were thinking of buying before committing to a case of something that may not work or you don't like. Then stock up.

[Hoop]

PMC 223 55 grain bronze. It's non-crimped so easy to reload and you can get it everywhere for 300 per 1k.

If you never ever ever ever plan to reload then just get tula crap, as long as your stag is a carbine with the loosey-goosey chamber like my stag carbine had it'll eat russian all day long.

[Hoop]

I'd get a case of PMC X-tac, Palmetto is selling it for $309+$12 shipping.

Crimped primers and IIRC has a small steel penetrator so might be hard on steel targets. Otherwise it's good stuff.

[jdouglas]

I'll look into the PMC X-tac ammo. It sounds like a decent deal. I guess I'll wait on the Russian ammo till I have more experience with my gun (both shooting and maintenance); then I might reconsider.

And yeah, I have the Stag Arms Model 1H (16" carbine, 1:9 twist).

I don't really plan on reloading, mostly because I don't plan on shooting enough to make it worth the extra time/effort. ;-)

[neal0124]

You won't be sorry with the X-tac.