Best 223 Ammo: Tested & Ranked By 223 Rem Experts

You're here for the best 223 Remington ammo, but a disclaimer needs to be made first because many believe that 223 Remington and 5.56 NATO are the same.

The two cartridges are *not* the same despite having virtually identical external dimensions.

With that out of the way, let's load up on some of the best .223 ammo for every shooter.

If you can't wait, the best 223 ammo is Federal American Eagle 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJBT. It's reasonably priced and made by a well-known ammo manufacturer.

Best 223 Target Ammo

The best target ammo depends on your preferences. If you intend to have a fun day of plinking, then you'll want cheap .223 ammo.

However, suppose you're target shooting competitively. In that case, you'll likely need to handload your rounds to dial them in perfectly for your gun's barrel twist rate. You can alternatively use match-grade ammo that is more consistent than inexpensive rounds, but you give up the control you would have exercised via handloading.

Wolf 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJ

Wolf 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 55 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Steel
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 55 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,241 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,283 ft lbs

Why I Chose It

These Wolf rounds are a happy compromise between price and reliability, which is why I consider them one of the best for plinking.

Steel-cased ammo like this tends to deposit more fouling inside the firearm. Steel cases are also virtually impossible to reload. Worse yet, they are normally loaded with "magnetic" projectiles which contain steel and are accordingly forbidden at many commercial ranges.

Wolf ammo is for budget-minded shooters who don't mind buying bulk ammo that they can't handload or fire at several gun ranges. It's not the most reliable or accurate, either, but its low price tag can't be beat.

Best AR 15 Ammo

Federal American Eagle 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJBT

Federal American Eagle 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 55 Grain FMJBT Ammunition

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$14.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 55 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,240 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,282 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

You can burn through a lot of 223 Remington ammo when firing an AR. You may not want high-end expensive ammo, but you *do* need a reliable round that will allow your firearm to operate smoothly.

That's this 55 grain brass-cased ammo in a nutshell. It's not terribly expensive, although it's still perfectly fit for target shooting.

This ammo wouldn't be my first choice for home defense. Its FMJBT bullet is not designed to undergo terminal expansion, and is therefore inclined to (A) inflict less damage to the threat, and (B) pass clean through the threat and jeopardize innocent bystanders.

This round's 55 grain bullet has a decent muzzle velocity, but it's too lightweight to reliably smack into targets at the farthest reaches of the rifle range.

Best 223 Hunting Ammo

The 223 is not the most popular hunting round, as it lacks the power to harvest big game ethically. You can use .223 Rem for deer hunting, in some states, however, and it is an indisputably solid varmint round.

Winchester Deer Season XP 223 64 Grain Extreme Point

Winchester Deer Season XP 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 64 Grain Extreme Point Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Extreme Point (XP)
• Bullet Weight: 64 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,020 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,296 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

You're not meant to pump magazines full of hunting ammo into plinking targets, which is why you can justify spending more money on it. The most important things you need from your .223 ammo for deer hunting are reliability, consistency, and stopping power. Winchester Deer Season XP 223 64gr offers these in spades.

The 223 Remington is not known for its stopping power, which is why it's banned for deer hunting in some states. However, increasing bullet weight will aid in upping the stopping power to a point.

This round's heavier 64 grain bullet has a lower muzzle velocity relative to lighter bullets, but that trade-off is needed for increased stopping power.

Even though this round is designed for deer hunting, it's effective in other hunting situations.

Best Varmint 223 Round

Hornady 223 Rem 55 Grain V-MAX

Hornady 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 55 Grain V-MAX Ammunition

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$26.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: V-MAX
• Bullet Weight: 55 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,240 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,282 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Varmint hunting typically involves firing much more often than deer hunting, so having a dependable, reasonably priced round is critical. Varmints are generally smaller animals, so the knockdown power doesn't have to be as much as when hunting big game.

Lightweight, fast-flying 223 bullets are a solid choice for hunting coyotes, prairie dogs, and other varmints. The Hornady 55 grain V-MAX is no exception.

For more options, check out our Hornady 223 ammo page.

Best Home Defense Round

AR-15s excel in urban combat areas; however, that doesn't mean they're the best home defense weapon.

That title belongs to the shotgun because projectiles from a shotgun are less likely to over-penetrate.

However, if all you have is a 223 rifle, then, by all means, use it to defend yourself using some of the ammo choices below.

Federal Tactical Bonded 62 Grain BSP

Remington 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 77 Grain HPBT Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Bonded Soft Point (BSP)
• Bullet Weight: 62 grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,050 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,281 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Federal Tactical Bonded 62 grain BSP is the best home defense round because it's designed for tactical use by a trusted brand.

You can trust that these rounds will go bang every time you pull the trigger. The nickel-plated brass helps ensure the cases cycle smoothly, so you experience fewer malfunctions. I've trusted Federal ammo at the range and in the field for years and see no reason why these rounds wouldn't perform at the level I've come to expect from Federal ammunition.

The biggest drawback is the price and the fact that few places sell it to civilians.

Best Hollow Point 223

Winchester 223 Rem 69 Grain HPBT

Winchester 223 Rem Ammo - 20 Rounds of 69 Grain HPBT Ammunition

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$25.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Hollow Point Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 69 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,060 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,434 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

The Winchester 223 Rem 69 grain hollow point boat tail ammo might not be the cheapest or fastest. But it does pack more of a punch than the lighter loads, and it's not overpriced despite being manufactured by a trusted brand.

This round's ballistic performance won't blow anyone away. But considering its bullet weight, it certainly holds its own.

These rounds' 69 grain hollow points attain higher muzzle velocity and energy than other heavier bullets, so maybe you can have your cake and eat it too.

I wouldn't hesitate to use Winchester 223 Rem 69 grain HPBT in a home defense situation. It's also not so expensive that it will prohibit you from enjoying lots of target practice.

For more options, check out our Winchester 223 ammo page!

Cheapest 223 Ammo

TulAmmo 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJ

Specs

• Case: Steel
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
• Bullet Weight: 55 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,241 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,283 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

If you want cheap 223 ammo, this is it. It's a third of the price of most 223 Rem hunting and self-defense ammo, so if you take it to the range, you'll be able to stay longer.

Despite being cheap, TulAmmo 223 Rem 55 grain FMJ offers shooters comparable ballistics to more expensive 55 grain ammo, which means you can train with it and get similar results as you would have with the costlier stuff.

How to Choose the Best 223 Ammo Based on Your Needs

There are always several considerations that you need to make when purchasing ammunition.

Budget

The primary consideration for the average firearms enthusiast is their budget. How much are you able to spend on ammo?

My personal preference is to shoot for somewhere in the middle. However, there were times when I was pinching every penny, so I was only interested in the cheapest ammo I could find.

Remember that cheaper ammo tends to be less reliable than more expensive ammunition.

Reliability

The reliability of the ammo is critical, especially if it's self-defense ammo. You need to know that the round will fire when you pull the trigger.

I've purchased ammunition that regularly didn't fire despite having indentations on its primers. This was very frustrating when firing at the range, but it could have resulted in tragedy had I needed it during a defensive situation.

I tend to stick with well-known brands, but sometimes the reliability of the ammo also depends on your firearm.

Some guns function better with specific ammunition brands. This means you'll need to test several brands to determine which one your firearm likes best.

Ballistics

The accuracy you need out of the ammo will depend on what application for which you're using it. If you're plinking at the range, then accuracy won't matter as much as when you're shooting in a competition.

For a competition, a heavyweight bullet typically works best. But once again, it will depend on what your gun likes. Sometimes the lighter, faster bullets work best, and sometimes the heavier bullets work best.

How to Save Money on Ammo

As ammo demand and prices continue rising, shooting enthusiasts seek ways to save money.

Here are a few recommendations I have for saving money on 223 ammo.

Buy in Bulk

When you buy bulk 223 ammo, the manufacturer and retailer give you a slight discount per round. While it might only be a few cents per round, those cents add up quickly when you're firing a few hundred rounds or more on every visit to the gun range.

The worst part about buying bulk ammo is the initial cost. You have to spend several hundred dollars to get significant savings.

However, ammunition lasts for a long time when properly stored, so an investment in it is way more secure than ... I don't know. Let's say "putting it all on red in Vegas."

Handload

Handloading (aka reloading) is another way to save money on factory ammo. It also enables you to exert total control over your ammo's performance, so you can design the optimal load for your rifle.

Reloading has the same problem of upfront cost as buying bulk. It's a significant investment, but it pays for itself over the long run.

If you're really keen on saving money, buy in bulk *and* handload: a potent one-two combo!

Parting Shots

The best 223 ammo for you will depend on your gun and the circumstances in which you intend to use it.

For hunting, that will likely be Winchester Deer Season XP 64 grain Extreme Point.

For target shooting, I recommend Wolf 223 Rem 55 grain FMJ because it's inexpensive.

Written by

Wes Littlefield