Bulk 223 Ammo & Bulk 5.56 Ammo

QUESTION: Where can I buy 223 bulk ammo?

ANSWER: The 223 Remington rifle cartridge is one of the most popular rifle rounds in the United States, if not the world, so it's a staple wherever ammunition is sold.

You can find it in big box retail sporting goods stores, gun shows, pawn shops and small gun shops. You can also find it as one of the rounds available online at web stores like Ammunition Depot.

QUESTION: What is the best 223 bulk ammo?

ANSWER: The best bulk 223 ammo is the one that best suits your needs. Factor in your plans for using it along with the kind of rifle you have and see what is available. At that point, you've probably found a few choices for your situation. Decide how much you want to purchase and consider your budget restrictions.

If your preferred retailer has the 223 ammo that's at the top of your list in bulk, this is the best ammo for you. If they don't, you can move on to the next one on your list.

QUESTION: What is the difference between bulk 5.56 and 223 ammo?

ANSWER: The two main differences between 223 and 5.56 are the sizes of the cartridge and the amount of pressure generated by each. Both are similar in size, but a 5.56 cartridge has a slightly longer leade. This gives the 5.56 a shorter distance between the place where the rifling engages the round and the cartridge.

The difference in leade is what causes the different amount of pressure generated in the chamber. The pressure generated by a 5.56 round is higher than that of a 223. Additionally, a gun chambered for 5.56 can fire a 223 round, but a gun chambered for 223 cannot safely fire a 5.56. It could cause a catastrophic failure.

QUESTION: Brass vs Steel Cased 223 Rounds

ANSWER: While there is some evidence that steel-cased rounds can cause more wear and tear on your rifle than brass-cased rounds, typically the price difference will make up for the cost of barrel replacement or maintenance.

Typically, steel cased rounds are cheaper than brass, which may allow you more time at the range for your money, even if you take into account replacement barrels and other expenses of that sort.

QUESTION: Are 223 and 5.56 Interchangeable?

ANSWER: While similar, the two rounds aren’t the same and shouldn’t be treated as interchangeable. While you can safely fire 223 Ammo from a firearm chambered in 5.56x45 NATO, it doesn’t work both ways.

In other words, you shouldn’t fire 5.56 in your rifle if it is chambered for 223. Basically, 5.56 is loaded at higher pressures than 223 and using the 5.56 in your AR-15 could lead to a catastrophic failure and serious injury.

QUESTION: How much does bulk 5.56 and 223 ammo cost?

ANSWER: The price per round (PPR) cost of both 223 and 5.56 is much lower than many other rounds due to their popularity. Barring unforeseen shortages, the PPR for these two rounds when bought in bulk can be in excess of 10 cents per round cheaper than buying non-bulk.

QUESTION: How should you store bulk 223 or bulk 5.56 ammo?

ANSWER: Storage is key for bulk ammo. To preserve effectiveness, your bulk ammunition should be stored in its own separate climate-controlled area if possible.

If that's impossible, your storage efforts should be focused on mitigating heat and moisture. More than anything else, these are the biggest threats to ammo.