5.56 for "apartment defense," ammo suggestions?

[SFShep]

Can anyone recommend a good proven 5.56 brand and load for use in a Ruger Mini-14 rifle for home defense? And when I say "home defense," I mean more specifically "apartment defense" (i.e. Shared walls with neighbors who might be disturbed by bullets coming through the walls).

I've been using standard M193 ball ammo up till now since I heard it tumbles and fragments more than the standard NATO M855 round, and is less likely to overpenetrate.

But I'm wondering if I can do better, with all the ammo out there on the market. Anyone have any suggestions?

[kygen]

Hollow points would be my guess.

[PyroFox79]

Probably not using a rifle round would be a good idea. Granted just about any bullet is gonna go through drywall like a warm knife through butter. But I'd go with a pistol Personally.

[HUTCH 7.62]

5.56 is about as good as 45-70 for apartment defense.

[elx144]

Maybe you can look up how well frangible ammo breaks up when it hits a wall. What ever you pick, make sure it cycles reliably in your rifle. For HD ammo I buy an extra box to test it at the range, I also buy more every two years and shoot up the old stuff.

[NapalmCheese]

This thread will eventually become a complete crap show I think...

That being said there are a few truths to take into account.

Anything that will perform up to the FBI protocol for effective ammunition will penetrate a few interior walls before stopping. Conversely, anything that will not go through a few walls will not pass the FBI spec. So, if you believe that the FBI spec is how the potential effectiveness of ammo needs to be judged, then don't get so caught up on the idea of over penetration. If you are truly worried about using ammo that won't 'over penetrate' then be prepared to load ammo that most people believe is less than ideal for a defense round (i.e. using varmint killing ammo instead of bad guy stopping ammo).

As far as over penetration is concerned, realize that you live in a 3d environment and that the chances of someone being behind a wall you've just shot is small. It is not impossible, but it is less probable than many people make it out to be.

After saying all that, varmint ammo (light V-Max style bullets) will break up faster and go through less drywall than FMJ.

[Old4eyes]

Here's an article that states that a 223 round may be have less potential of over penetration or less capable of being dangerous after going through drywall compared to handgun ammo:

http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:223-penetration-information&catid=13:technical-info

[AreWeFree]

Do not buy frangible ammo, it will behave exactly like FMJ until it hits a very hard surface.

I will definitely be in the minority here, but I believe a fast moving .223 is better than a slow moving pistol round. My suggestion is a Federal 64gr Power-Shok soft point, it's outstanding.

You should do your own research, but my conclusion from various evidence is a slow moving pistol round has the same, if not more, potential for penetrating multiple surface.

A high velocity rifle round has potential to disintegrate, a slow moving pistol round does not. Both will cause 'distress' in the event of unintended collateral, however I'd put my money on the physics with the faster/lighter round.

[uechikid]

Hornady 223 VMax 55gr. Assuming you hit your target, you don't need to worry about over penetration.

[DRM6000]

Soft points.

[sanjoseskater]

Mossberg 500

[uhlan1]

Use what ya got, but in the close confines of an apartment I'd personally rather have a pistol.

[Mr.1904]

American Eagle 50gr "gray tip" hollow point. It's a 50gr polymer tipped bullet. It's what i have in my rifle for "apartment defense"

[sl0re10]

Can anyone recommend a good proven 5.56 brand and load for use in a Ruger Mini-14 rifle for home defense? And when I say "home defense," I mean more specifically "apartment defense" (i.e. Shared walls with neighbors who might be disturbed by bullets coming through the walls).

I've been using standard M193 ball ammo up till now since I heard it tumbles and fragments more than the standard NATO M855 round, and is less likely to overpenetrate.

But I'm wondering if I can do better, with all the ammo out there on the market. Anyone have any suggestions?

Anyone sell subsonic?

I make my own... so if you have a reloader friend I know it can be done.

[jwkincal]

Box o' truth

Read every test on this site:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/

Not the "Educational Zone," you want the "Original Chapters"

It will provide all the info you need to really understand the problem space.

...but the TL/DR version is just what NapalmCheese said in his third paragraph.