556/223 for HD

[Tacit Blue]

So I have about 80 rds of Fed " Varmint tipped" 50-55 grain polymer tipped ammo. I'm using for HD. I know it's NOT Hormandy TAP, or Winchester Ranger etc.

How do you think such ammo would perform?

[Germz]

unless I absolutely knew what my house was made of, I don't use 5.56 for HD. because I know if I miss for whatever reason, that bullet is going to go through my walls…and my neighbor's walls, and possibly my neighbor's neighbor's walls.
EDIT: I also currently live in an apartment with families with children on either side. so I stick to 12ga HD slugs are (for what its worth) designed to "break apart" when they hit walls.

[Tacit Blue]

I think the the ballistic tip doesn't penetrate too much. It's supposed to displace all energy into the target then fragment into pieces. From what I understand.??

The FMJ ball ammo you posted, yeah that will go through drywall and etc.

[BigBronco]

Stick to a pistol or a shotgun for HD for Heavens sake. An accident with a caliber of this nature and a child asleap in it's crib next door should be harmed would give the anti's just what they want.

[Tacit Blue]

I get what you guys are saying. Velocity is too high. On that note, I think you guys are also overestimating the penetration power.

The 556 in military operations in Afghanistan, doesn't even usually go through mud walls on their houses! Think about the materials houses are made of in the U.S. Plywood, stucco, drywall.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20100215/NEWS/2150312/Corps-to-use-more-lethal-ammo-in-Afghanistan

[mark501w]

12ga bird shot inside.

[Lifeon2whls]

I get what you guys are saying. Velocity is too high. On that note, I think you guys are also overestimating the penetration power.

The 556 in military operations in Afghanistan, doesn't even usually go through mud walls on their houses! Think about the materials houses are made of in the U.S. Plywood, stucco, drywall.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/arti...in-Afghanistan

I dont think so. Mud walls on those homes can be as tough as concrete. Sand has been tested and will stop any standard round. Handgun and rifle rounds (223 and up) will penetrate and keep penetrating drywall with no issues...even .22lr.

Go here for more http://www.theboxotruth.com/

[DelDanko]

use what youre most comfortable with. ARs work, shotguns work, pistols work. Experience with the weapons is far superior than any other aspect.

[Tacit Blue]

I don't own a shotgun. I do have a XD9, guess I'll use 147G speerdot's.

Back to the argument. I think Ballistic tip will be fine, if you use ball M885 or 193 FMJ. Yeah that will go through walls no problem.

I guess the issue in Iraq and Afghanistan stems from the use of 16" barrel's and lack of velocity.

[Germz]

from experience, those mud huts and walls in AFG are tough; much tougher than any drywall and sheet rock.

I wish they made low velocity .223 but that cartridge was designed to be fast flying.

What screams home defense to me is a nice big 230gr 45 auto flying at about 800 FPS.
or what Mark said:

12ga bird shot inside.

in a boomstick without a choke.

I'm sorry if it is not what you would like to hear but unless your walls are brick throughout, I (and I'm strictly speaking for myself, respectfully) cannot recommend .223/5.56 as HD.

When I was in AFG i was issued hollow point 5.56's. we then were told not to load them as they were inhumane or something dumb like that. maybe those? I never actually got a chance to shoot those rounds.

[Tacit Blue]

Your right Germz,

I'd rather use my XD in a shooting anyways. I think the police would confiscate for use evidence in the shooting. Until they cleared it as a " good shoot". Much rather have them take the XD than get a " hard on" for AR15.

I live in a residential area. Not a apartment, next door house to be is prob 20 ft away. 556 would go through if you missed the target.

[Whatisthis?]

What people don't seem to understand is that ANYTHING that will penetrate human flesh will penetrate dry wall. It's honestly that simple. In the event of a miss, any bullet that could actually do harm to someone will also penetrate through at least a couple sheets of drywall.

If you actually want to learn about ballistics, read through this entire document and take it to heart.

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/

There is a reason why people say you must train and keep your skill level up. And that's because there is no magic bullet that will put down a bad guy reliably yet not penetrate drywall.

[rsrocket1]

Whatever you have is better than a pointed stick or harsh language!

Go for it.

.223 in a marginally stabilized twist at close range is devastating, ask Victor "Charlie".
.223 in a stabilized rifle twist ain't very pleasant either.
If you opened up on a bad guy with those rounds, I think his first thought is to get out of there ASAP, not "well if he misses me, he might hurt the kids down the block".

This is for home defense, not "SWAT team worry about collateral damage/liability" ammo. When you have to grab something to protect yourself and your loved ones, don't worry about what load is in your gun, just be sure your gun is loaded.

[ireload]

I've done some testing on wallboards i.e drywall several years ago. The set up was done with the same wall cavity as you would normally find inside a newer house. Simulated two walls with a 9 foot gap you would normally find in a typical bedroom. I can tell you off hand that a "straight" shot a .55 gr fmj bullet just kept on going. A .55 sp nosed bullet also did the same. I did not have any of the "varmint type" load at the time but I would bet that it would have also penetrated the same....several layers before "fragmenting". You also have to consider that the outer walls of newer houses has OSB plywood and stucco so that can slow or deform the bullet in some way but can still pose a hazard. Mind you the test I performed is not scientific.

From what I can conclude and having a very limited amount the type of bullet style I have on hand at the time of testing make your shot count. Know before hand your field of fire.

[JohnnyMtn]

Great question OP. I keep a pistol, shotgun, and rifle in 5.56 (in that order) for HD. I have always worried about the rifle round because it would be terrible sadness if you prevented a bad guy from hurting your family but you took out your neighbors kid in the process.

In the end, guns are guns and rounds will go through walls regardless of the round. Some more than others though, relatively speaking. I would never (hopefully) use my M1 for HD.

Not sure if "the best round for HD will ever get a definitive answer so "accuracy" probably becomes the primary factor.