[Road Dawg]

Okay, I've talked the wife in to letting me buy some ammo to store just in case.

I have heard bad things about Herter's, Silver Bear, Brown Bear, Wolf, ATI, etc.

I liked the ATI because it's brass cased and boxer primed, but it's a little more expensive and would cause me to buy less ammo for my AR-15.

I want to get 1000 rounds of ammo for my MIA's and 500 rounds of of ammo for my AR-15 that I can just store in the basement.

In order to get the wife to go along with my plan, I need some ammo that is cheap and works well. I also know those two things don't always go together, but any imput would be appreciated.

Perhaps it would be better to just buy brass, powder, bullets and primers and load my own? If I can find the brass and bullets that is!

PM me if you have any suggestions or just respond. I'll keep checking this post.

Thanks,

Dawg

 

[USMC Dog Handler]

It's going to cost quite a bit to get into hand loading, with all the equipment & supplies, primers. powder, bullets & brass. You will always have the equipment for future use, it's a good skill to have and it's enjoyable to me.

I just bought 1,000 rnds new Federal 55gr 5.56 for $300.

Haven't bought any 7.62 NATO lately, but i would imagine 1,000 rnds (Radway Green my favorite) to be in the neighborhood of $500. Be prepared to spend more for quality, Boxer primed, like Hirtenberger.

I bought ammo first, then started acquiring reloading equipment & supplies later. Equipment & supplies will cost more than the ammo cited above. In the meantime, I had ammo ready to shoot.

 

[stevelish]

For 7.62 try Wideners for DAG (German) with shipping ~$.50, 5.56 look at XM193 at Natchez ~$.30 to the door. Shop it out, you may find better. Look locally too, to avoid the freight and hazmat.

Reloading would, however, end up saving you money over the long run if you shoot enough to justify the cost. I'd find a way to get into it, maybe share the equipment with somebody and split the input costs of the tools. It is a hobby in and of itself.

 

[Road Dawg]

It's going to cost quite a bit to get into hand loading, with all the equipment & supplies, primers. powder, bullets & brass. You will always have the equipment for future use, it's a good skill to have and it's enjoyable to me.

I just bought 1,000 rnds new Federal 55gr 5.56 for $300.

Haven't bought any 7.62 NATO lately, but i would imagine 1,000 rnds (Radway Green my favorite) to be in the neighborhood of $500. Be prepared to spend more for quality, Boxer primed, like Hirtenberger.

I bought ammo first, then started acquiring reloading equipment & supplies later. Equipment & supplies will cost more than the ammo cited above. In the meantime, I had ammo ready to shoot.

I'm sorry I should have stated that I do reload already. I have a Dillion 550. Sorry about that.

 

[XXIV Corps]

Research, the only good game in town anymore......

Any of these top twenty are good..... Plus looking here will help out and cost.DI5

1, M118LR Lake City from 2003. Top score of 200-13X, on a SR-1 NRA standard 100 yard target, 1-20 round mag only with my NM M1A.
2, German DAG, surplus from 1993, 200-12X.
3, M118SB Lake City from 1963, 200-10X.
4, Radway Green surplus from 1990, 200-10X.
5, M118SB Lake City from 1985, a 199-12X.
6, Australian MF surplus from 1966, 199-10X.

7, Portuguese m/963 surplus from 1979, a 199-10X. ​

8, M852 Lake City from 1985, 198-13X.
9, Radway Green surplus from 1985, 198-12X.
10, Belgium surplus from 1977, 198-10X.
11, Bosnian surplus from 2003, 198-10X.
12, Radway Green surplus from 1995, 198-8X
13, South African surplus from 1980, 198-6X.
14, Santa Barbra surplus from 1980, 197-14X.
15, Argentine surplus from 1983, 197-8X.
16, German DAG, surplus from 1976, 197-8X.
17, Austria surplus from 1980, 197-6X.
18, Greek surplus from 1980, 197-6X.
19, German MEN 41, surplus from 1969, 197-6X.
20, Singapore surplus from 1986, 196-11X.
21, Israeli surplus from 1974, 196-10X.
22, Australian ADI surplus from 1988, 196-8X.
23, Bosnian M118 surplus from 2003, 196-8X.
24, Yugoslavia surplus from 2002, 196-6X.
25, Malaysian surplus from 1982, 195-6X.
26, Malaysian surplus from 1983, 194-9X.
27, Lithuanian surplus from 2003, 194-6X.
28, Yugoslavia surplus from 1989, 194-2X.
29, Venezuelan surplus from 1989, 194-2X.
30, Denmark, surplus from 1993, 193-2X.
31, Canadian, surplus from 1970, 192-8X.
32, Chilean, surplus from 1976, 191-4X.
33, Portuguese m/963 surplus from 1978, 190-4X.
34, Austria surplus from 1978, 190-3X.
35, South African surplus from 1981, 189-1X.
36, Pakistan military surplus from 1979. Score of 188-4X.
37, Indonesian surplus from 1985, 187-1X.

Plus here for reloading info on brass.

 

[charlie98]

I have both... A stash of Radway Green (about .42/rd last time I bought some in a 750rd case) and I reload. Reloading allows me to load different bullets (147grn, 168grn BTHP's, etc) and have some ammo I can use if I think I will loose some or all of the brass (RG is Berdan primed, as is much of the surplus available.)

I have components for the 5.56mm but I shoot mostly surplus... I hate reloading the 5.56mm... GI9

 

[Wayne M]

Widner's DAG 7.62 runs $400K, shipping on top but usually reasonable. Right now DAG is what I'm buying, it's very good ammo. Check their site also for your 5.56; haven't bought any for a long time so can't advise whether it's priced right or not. The Ammoman also has DAG at $449K and their price INCLUDES shipping. I've used both sellers with no complaints on either.

 

[mercman]

Wolf type steel cased ammo is a definite no-no in you M14 type rifle. DAG is good, but is nonreloadable. I've shot several hundred rounds of it, along with Port, Santa Barbara, Privi, RG, SA and such. A bonus is, of course, is shooting whatever you can reload. Try ammoman.com, that's where I buy most of my ammo. Shipping is included in the price.

http://www.ammoman.com/

I have however shot a large amount of steel cased ammo in my AR's. Accuracy won't be as good, but out of the 3000+ rounds that I've shot I've never had any functioning problems. The AR's are so easy to put alot of ammo through that shooting 3-400 rounds at a sitting is pretty easy to do.

 

[M2API]

Take a look at Centerfire Systems if you decide to buy steel case .223

 

[ripsaw]

Oh, I can answer this one. It is costing me .96 cents a round to load my own with having to buy brass also, and thats at .20 cents each for brass. Cheap, its usually 30 cents, ohh yeah, you can find it for less and it is called once fired, yeah right !!
The crimp will let you know. I only use lake city nato brass so its easy to tell it is once fired, but the machineguns make it tough to resize sometimes.

The reloadable stuff is usually around 70-73 cents each for a good deal, and you can not beat that reloading....but I will beat you every time at the range, if you are using mil-surp ammo. My average group with it is 2 1/2" to 3 1/2"......handloads 1"

 

[cat doctor]

Try Wideners. They will sell 960 rounds in 6 ammo cans for $63.20 per can. The plus is you have 6 ammo cans and ammo at .395c per round plus shipping. I have yet to have a misfire or jam with this ammo.

 

[Road Dawg]

Today I ordered 1000 rounds of the DAG 7.62x51 in battlepacks from Wideners and a sealed can of Wolf 556 from Sportsman's Guide.

I have shot Wolf ammo through my AR in the past as well and it has always worked very well.

Thanks to all for the imput.

Dawg

 

[Hgunner]

For the AR you might consider this also.

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1101.php

 

[High Desert]

For the AR you might consider this also.

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/1101.php

+1, I have made several purchases from Palmentto and have been happy with their services. (They also carry the low recoil federal buckshot.)

HD

 

[dozier]

Oh, I can answer this one. It is costing me .96 cents a round to load my own with having to buy brass also, and thats at .20 cents each for brass. Cheap, its usually 30 cents, ohh yeah, you can find it for less and it is called once fired, yeah right !!

Wow Rip, while I haven't figured out exactly what it cost per round to reload, I would have estimated much less than that. If you already have the brass, I would have estimated less than $0.50 cents per round. Of course I buy in bulk, 32lbs powder/primers 5k+/Quality Horn SST bullets to minimize shipping and hazmat. Is my figuring screwed up? dozier

 

[USMC Dog Handler]

It is costing me .96 cents a round to load my own with having to buy brass also, and thats at .20 cents each for brass. Cheap, its usually 30 cents, ohh yeah, you can find it for less and it is called once fired, yeah right !!
The crimp will let you know. I only use lake city nato brass so its easy to tell it is once fired, but the machineguns make it tough to resize sometimes.

I was wondering about that too.....

My numbers:
Brass @ $0.05 (once-fired LC NATO brass, avg 3~4 reloads)
Primer, CCI 34 @ $0.03 (5,000 bx)
Powder, H4895 @ $0.10 (8lb jug)
SMK 168gr bullet @ $0.28 (500 bx)
TOTAL = $0.46

 

[Trung Si]

I have both... A stash of Radway Green (about .42/rd last time I bought some in a 750rd case) and I reload. Reloading allows me to load different bullets (147grn, 168grn BTHP's, etc) and have some ammo I can use if I think I will loose some or all of the brass (RG is Berdan primed, as is much of the surplus available.)

I have components for the 5.56mm but I shoot mostly surplus... I hate reloading the 5.56mm... GI9

Not all RG is Berdan Primed,if You can find some from 1990 on, it is Boxer Primed with Excellent Brass, same with Aussie( if You can find some) from 91on!ICONWINK

 

[mercman]

Today I ordered 1000 rounds of the DAG 7.62x51 in battlepacks from Wideners and a sealed can of Wolf 556 from Sportsman's Guide.

I have shot Wolf ammo through my AR in the past as well and it has always worked very well.

Thanks to all for the imput.

Dawg

I think that you'll be happy with what you bought, especially if you want casings that you can walk away from. Reloading 5.56 is a bit of a PITA to me.

I also bought a K of DAG from ammoman last time that I bought some 7.62 NATO. The buy before that was Privi, but although it's reloadable it's not NATO. Shoot on!!

 

[ripsaw]

My fault, I forgot a division step, I ended up with 58.4 cents each, not counting case lube, scott towels, electricity for lighting, case prep center, music if any, and probably some shipping extras such as hazmat and folks that charge shipping for item cost instead of actual shipping charges.....Oh, anyone that gets LC once fired with the crimp in place for 5 cents each, needs to contact me and share your source !

 

[mercman]

My fault, I forgot a division step, I ended up with 58.4 cents each, not counting case lube, scott towels, electricity for lighting, case prep center, music if any,

Isn't loud music mandatory for reloading? I guess not for some! I've got a buddy who must have his hearing going cuz when he comes over to use my bench the first thing he does is turn my music down. He gets visibly agitated. Of course, I don't take advantage of that situation..............GI2