Observations on the Availability of 5.56mm and .223
BY Herschel Smith
6 months ago
I have nothing scientific to convey, just an anecdotal reference point. My local Academy Sports, which almost always has fairly inexpensive 5.56mm and .223 for sale, has no 5.56mm at all. They have very little .223, and what they do have is off-brand.
I’d be interested in your experience. It appears as if there is a rush to buy this caliber and that can be seen at the local level.
Nationally, if you do Ammoseek 5.56 you’ll see a lot of 5.56mm in the price range from 50 – 60 cents per round.
On November 5, 2023 at 11:46 pm, JST said:
Here in southern Oregon, its spotty. Most places are low inventory and high priced (sportsmans warehouse). However the local Bi-mart had pallets of 9mm and 5.56 in 55 grain and this week 62 grain green tip. Insider said that this store was 1 of only 5 stores in a chain of 20 to receive the shipments. All at equal or better price that the best online prices. In my opinion supply is wobbly. And demand is variable. Bi-mart is nearly sold out.
On November 6, 2023 at 12:23 am, Dan said:
Any time there is a social event of some kind that causes great apprehension there is a “run on ammo”. The Israeli/Hamas conflict is just another event causing such a run. Eventually people will cut back on the stockpiling, the supply chain will catch up and things will return to a semblance of normalcy. Of course thanks to Pedo Joe and his handlers ammo will likely never return to the price levels it once existed at.
On November 6, 2023 at 6:15 am, jrg said:
I don’t recall what I saw last week in regards to 5.56 or .223 available. I did notice that ALL handgun ammunitions on shelf were FMJ bullet design, no self defense expanding rounds..
On November 6, 2023 at 7:33 am, HouseWolf said:
I recall in the ‘good old days’ the early 21st century, buying cases of South African surplus m193 for $200. These cases were mid 80s surplus, containing 300 round sealed battlepacks, 9 to a case. Yep. 2700 rounds for $200.
No, those days aren’t coming back.
On November 6, 2023 at 7:44 am, george said:
Dillonprecision.com
Give a man a box of 223 and he will shoot for a few minutes. Give him a dillon, and he will shoot for a lifetime.
On November 6, 2023 at 8:13 am, June J said:
I buy bulk at SGAmmo.com, prices are up, availability is down on .223 and 5.56. However the last few months has been the opposite and I have increased my stores of rifle and pistol ammunition.
If we can avoid the war hawks of both parties getting into WW3, this time of higher prices and limited availability will pass just as it did during Plandemic.
On November 6, 2023 at 9:17 am, Romeo Foxtrot said:
Here in the Charlotte region, i have seeen 223/556 available from various sources like at reasonable ppr of 50-70 cents
Watchdog tactical of fexit 18
lawmans off clanton
PSA in denver may have some, have not been there, same w Blackstone.
I’m gonna check the Range at LKN as well, but if one does not have the bulk of ones ammo, now is the time.
I haven’t hit the gun range in Belmont either, but they usually have ammo…
Will check out bass pro in concord too…
On November 6, 2023 at 9:37 am, Romeo Foxtrot said:
Update:
Browsed BP’s website in Concord, they had Winchester M855 Green Tip 5.56x45mm NATO 62 Grain FMJ Centerfire Rifle Ammo – 150 Rounds online @ 90.00 per.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/winchester-usa-white-box-bulk-ammo
On November 6, 2023 at 10:29 am, Dirk said:
I was at Sportsman wear house in Medford last night, zero 223/556 ammo. I did find a lower parts kit, it’s a bottom feeder, S&W unit. Was surprised to discover a decent selection of high end straight m4 triggers available.
Lots of magpul parts. Finally found BAD levers, I run em, never had a problem.
Also purchased 10 mags, five magpul and five’ MFT’ brand mags, never seen these before, about 4/5.oo cheaper than magpul.
If anybodies us3d em has any experience with these MTF units please share your thoughts.
Dirk
MFT = Mission First Tactical. Few hundred rounds thru em should be enough to determine quality function. If I didn’t know better I’d think I just picked up another magpul mag.
Anyway these mags are gifts for my grand sons.
On November 6, 2023 at 12:22 pm, Grunt said:
Hey George, does your Dillon come with an unlimited supply of primers, cases, powder and bullets? If so, I’m selling all my stuff and getting a Dillon!
On November 6, 2023 at 3:48 pm, Matt said:
Dirk, my experience with one MFT magazine was it had ribs inside it to reduce capacity, which was ridiculous. It worked otherwise. My (now ex) wife bought it thinking it was a Magpul, since with looked similar. I subsequently passed it on to a co-worker who remarked that I wasn’t funny giving him a reduced capacity magazine.
On November 6, 2023 at 7:04 pm, Steady Steve said:
By now everyone serious about prepping should have all their long term SHTF stock. Anything I purchase now is for practice only. If I run across any deals on battle pack sealed ammo I might buy it to have for trade or in order to arm the neighbors.
On November 7, 2023 at 12:48 pm, Latigo Morgan said:
@Grunt The thing with reloading supplies is that a bunch of the old guys who were hoarding them are dying off, leaving their hoard to be sold at estate sales for pennies on the dollar. If you keep your eyes and ears open, and get out some, you may just run across some of those deals like I have, which has left me with several thousand primers of various sizes, and enough powder to fill the many cases I’ve accumulated over the years several times over along with bullets to top them off.
@HouseWolf I miss those good old days. A group of us would go in together and order surplus 7.62×51 by the pallet, then go out and have a great old time burning it up and then do it again a few months later.
On November 7, 2023 at 5:50 pm, Romeo Foxtrot said:
Lawmans off Clanton has mo ammo coming in, and various calibers on shelves, reasonable prices, no gouging..
Learned from BP guy that Herters brand is actually Winchester,for a better price.
On November 7, 2023 at 9:08 pm, Dirk said:
Matt, thank you, all I’ve done is open a package. I’ll take em back, when I’m next in Medford and get Magpul.
Dirk
On November 8, 2023 at 10:40 pm, X said:
The Fake Indian Squaw and her henchmen have just introduced national legislation “to prevent bulk sales of ammunition” by adding all ammo sales to the NICS system and requiring ammo can only be sold by FFLs and cannot be transferred among individuals.
Like they have already done in California and NY.
Yeah, you had better stock the hell up:
https://robertgarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-robert-garcia-along-senator-elizabeth-warren-and-congresswoman