5.56 ball or 5.56 penetrator green tip?

[Guest Darth Maul]

Which should I buy and why? Federal 5.56 ball 55gr FMJ or 5.56 XM855 green tip Penetrator. I own some of the ball, never fired any of the green tip. My AR is a non chrome lined barrel with a 1:9 twist. If that helps.

[Sam1]

My suggestion is that you buy whatever you can find at a reasonable price.

[Guest Darth Maul]

My suggestion is that you buy whatever you can find at a reasonable price.

That's part of my dilema. I have access to several thousand rounds of each. The ball FMJ @ .68 per and the green tip @ .73 per. I can afford a chunk of one or the other, unless I buy some of each. Was hoping someone with more experience than me could tell me which is better one way or another. If it really doesn't matter then I would pick the penetrator. I hear it makes short work of body armor up to 200 yards. But I have no experience with it, just heard. Would have to research some more.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Has green tip gotten up to $730/1000? Damn! Glad I rolled a bunch of it myself.

[Caster]

Has green tip gotten up to $730/1000? Damn! Glad I rolled a bunch of it myself.

Yeah, tell David we thank him right?

If I'd known I'd sold a kidney and bought more. Edited May 4, 2013 by Caster

[TripleDigitRide]

That's part of my dilema. I have access to several thousand rounds of each. The ball FMJ @ .68 per and the green tip @ .73 per. I can afford a chunk of one or the other, unless I buy some of each. Was hoping someone with more experience than me could tell me which is better one way or another. If it really doesn't matter then I would pick the penetrator. I hear it makes short work of body armor up to 200 yards. But I have no experience with it, just heard. Would have to research some more.

At those prices, I wouldn't buy either. Just a month or so ago, I paid .25/round for 400 rounds and .40/round for 500 rounds. All was green tip. I wouldn't pay more than .50/round, but that's me.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Right, Caster. :D

 

Hey Darth, keep on looking, guy! That can't be right. Who's your connection? Cheaper than Dirt?

Otherwise, get the cheaper stuff until it maybe comes down.

 

I can't wait to see the zombies peddling that stuff at the Nashville Show tomorrow. They'll likely be trying to

dump it at 800/1000 if that's the new norm.

[Sam1]

That's part of my dilema. I have access to several thousand rounds of each. The ball FMJ @ .68 per and the green tip @ .73 per. I can afford a chunk of one or the other, unless I buy some of each. Was hoping someone with more experience than me could tell me which is better one way or another. If it really doesn't matter then I would pick the penetrator. I hear it makes short work of body armor up to 200 yards. But I have no experience with it, just heard. Would have to research some more.

 

 

I look at things (for the most part) from a practicality standing; what do you actually need and not what you want.  If you actually need certain specifications, then the cost will be irrelevant.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Well, at today's prices for components, if you can grab them, it could be that .50/round you mention, Paul,

could be unattainable, now.

[TripleDigitRide]

Well, at today's prices for components, if you can grab them, it could be that .50/round you mention, Paul,

could be unattainable, now.

True, but I refuse to pay "today's" prices. When I built my AR a couple months ago, I started out with zero .223/5.56. Since then, I've been able to pick up over 2000 rounds of mostly 5.56, none for over .50/round. I had to be patient, but I didn't have to pay .70-.75 per round. 

 

The trick for me was to buy almost any handgun calibers I could find at pre-craze price, then trade it. It was very difficult to buy with cash at a pre-craze price, but people were willing to trade.

[Guest Darth Maul]

I hate the prices too. I just don' t see them coming all the way back down. Another issue is I can buy 6000 rds from this one seller. Don't know anywhere else that can match that order, at any price. So it becomes a wait and pray and maybe go without when all hell breaks loose or buy now and over pay by .18 per on the ball FMJ.

[TripleDigitRide]

I hate the prices too. I just don' t see them coming all the way back down. Another issue is I can buy 6000 rds from this one seller. Don't know anywhere else that can match that order, at any price. So it becomes a wait and pray and maybe go without when all hell breaks loose or buy now and over pay by .18 per on the ball FMJ.

If you're that desperate and have the money to burn, buy away. If I had a ton of money just sitting around collecting dust, I may be willing to do the same thing. Because i have to be more frugal with my hobby funds than some, I try to look for good deals.

 

[Sam1]

True, but I refuse to pay "today's" prices. When I built my AR a couple months ago, I started out with zero .223/5.56. Since then, I've been able to pick up over 2000 rounds of mostly 5.56, none for over .50/round. I had to be patient, but I didn't have to pay .70-.75 per round. 

 

The trick for me was to buy almost any handgun calibers I could find at pre-craze price, then trade it. It was very difficult to buy with cash at a pre-craze price, but people were willing to trade.

 

 

I've got 2000 rounds of .223 and don't even have a gun to use it in :D

[TripleDigitRide]

I've got 2000 rounds of .223 and don't even have a gun to use it in :D

You could make some real good money...

[Sam1]

Nah, might get something for the wife in the future cause they're a wee bit easier to use over the ar10's for her :P

[Wyldk2]

I'm lucky I bought some green-tip ammo ( winchester penetrator) this summer. Figured I'd buy before these idiots in congress made it illegal to buy over the internet in large Quantities. Traded with some relatives and friends though.

 

Noticed not much a difference in the shooting of either .223 ball or the 5.56 ammo. They both shoot great. Never a jam or issue in my S&W m&p sport.