ammo recommendation

[rossim92]

My son bought a armalite 15 in the 5.56/.223 set-up unfired condition for a good price..We took it to the target range and was shooting the 5.56 american eagle ammo. After about 300 rds, it would jam it's butt off.It was very filthy when we cleaned it later.Yea I know, ar's blow the gases into the receivers. He is really into ak's and shotguns, but just couldn't pass the deal up. It is very accurate out of the box. My question is, is there any ammo that anybody can recommend that will shoot cleaner and less fouling of the receiver? We know they make short stroke kits for ar's, but don't won't to spend the bucks. I have not asked on an ar forum.. The other two guys had m@p's ar's and they had worse problems then we did. Any recommendations for other solutions. Thanks for the advice. All the jamming turned me off of ar's for now. I prefer my levers

[rainyday]

I would recommend loading ammo for yourself. I use accurate arms 2230 in my bolt 223 and its fairly clean, there may be cleaner powders but not that I know of. since I don't shoot much factory ammo, I am not shure what to recommend.

[GunnyMack]

First off, ARs need to be wet with lube. When you/he cleans it make sure to lube the bolt head, bolt carrier. A few drops and spread it around with fingers. I'm betting that is why you started having problems.
As long as it's wet it should run thousands of rounds.
Is the gun marked 5.56 OR 223? If 5.56 any ammo is good. If 223 make certain you DO NOT USE 5.56!!!5.56 pressures are different then 223.

I have had best accuracy out of my guns using IMR 4895. Sure is a PITA getting stick powder into small cases but works best for me.

Yeah AKs are great but I think you'll find the AR platform is just as good if not better the more you will use it.

[FWiedner]

It's not the ammo, it's the gun.

Lube it, do some break in, clean and lube it.

Then lube it again.

[earlmck]

I'm betting GunnyMack and FWiedner have you properly diagnosed. I have a garden-variety M&P and reload into mostly salvaged military cases with Alliant Varmint powder just because I want to easy flow of a ball powder when using the progressive press. I keep it just a little wet and have never had jam problems: I think I cleaned it once somewhere around the 600 to 800 round mark.

I can't imagine any appropriate burn-rate powder being particularly dirtier than any other these days.

[GunnyMack]

Also, it's been my discovery that CMMG bolt carriers do NOT work worth a darn! Buddy of mine that has put together many more AR's then I have called me and said he was having lots of failures to feed, extract. Normally one or the other but both from same gun at same time from same mag with same ammo just don't make sense. So we met, he brought a couple different AR's as did I. Tried his ammo in all, worked fine EXCEPT 1. Ok, try different mag, NG. Tried one of my uppers his lower, ok, tried my BCG in his upper ,ok. Tried his BCG in my upper NG! Tried BCG in different upper, NG, and another NG.
Since that time whenever someone tells me they are having an issue with an AR I ask them what BCG they have. If it's a CMMG I tell them to get rid of it!
Hold on, it is not necessarily the BCG as much as the BOLT. Seems the CMMG bolts don't play well with others. What it is I'm not sure. Wet, dry they just don't work well. If I had to bet my life on an AR I sure as heck wouldn't have one in my gun.

[rossim92]

the gun is marked 5.56 thanks for the knowledge

[jeepnik]

You mean to tell me that an AR15 jams. Why that can't be true. Why 50 or 60 years ago they told us it wouldn't ever jam and never needed cleaning. You don't think they'd lie to a low ranking GI do you?

Note to self: If I ever need to use any type of M-16 or it's semi auto kin, keep a fully loaded 1911A1 in Condition one immediately to hand.

[Blaine]

First off, ARs need to be wet with lube. When you/he cleans it make sure to lube the bolt head, bolt carrier. A few drops and spread it around with fingers. I'm betting that is why you started having problems.
As long as it's wet it should run thousands of rounds.
Is the gun marked 5.56 OR 223? If 5.56 any ammo is good. If 223 make certain you DO NOT USE 5.56!!!5.56 pressures are different then 223.

I have had best accuracy out of my guns using IMR 4895. Sure is a PITA getting stick powder into small cases but works best for me.

Yeah AKs are great but I think you'll find the AR platform is just as good if not better the more you will use it.

Don't tell, but I always had a little pocket-sized aerosol can of WD-40 at the range with M-16...Even today, I keep some in my truck for everything, including sticky cycling....

[Rusty]

WD-40? Say it ain't so

[GunnyMack]

WD-40 is fine to re-wet a lubed surface but it's FAR from the wonder lube people think it is.
Wd-40 was originally developed to displace water. The formula has since been changed, no longer has fish oil in it. Some guides in Alaska used it, soak a sponge in wd and drop it to the bottom for halibut.
Personally I prefer FP-10 or Marvel Mystery oil for my stuff. It doesn't turn to varnish like wd does over time.
Ever take an old double apart? See that flakey stuff inside? That's dried WD-40!