Best .223 Remington Ammo
Compare loads for defense, target, competition & more
The .223 Remington, introduced commercially in 1962, represents a benchmark in small-caliber rifle cartridge development. Originally designed as a commercial variant of the military 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, it has evolved into a distinct offering that excels in precision shooting, varmint hunting, and competitive applications. The cartridge's inherent accuracy and mild recoil have made it a favorite among civilian shooters seeking optimal performance in both bolt-action and semi-automatic platforms.
While similar to its military counterpart, the .223 Remington operates at slightly lower pressures and features more precise dimensional tolerances. This emphasis on precision has led to its widespread adoption in match-grade rifles and custom hunting platforms. Modern ammunition development has further enhanced its capabilities, offering shooters an extensive selection of loads optimized for specific applications, from prairie dog hunting to precision rifle competitions.
All .223 Remington Loads
Compare ballistics and prices across 17 products
| PRODUCT ↕ | GRAIN ↕ | VELOCITY ↕ | ENERGY ↕ | BC ↕ | USE CASE ↕ | BEST PRICE ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ADI World-Class .223 Remington Sierra MatchKing 69gr HPBT Ammo
69gr
• 2760 fps
• Competition
|
69gr | 2760 | 1289 | .301 | Competition | $0.76/rd |
|
Barnes .223 Remington 55gr VOR-TX TSX Flat Base Ammo
55gr
• 3240 fps
• Hunting
|
55gr | 3240 | 1282 | .209 | Hunting | $1.79/rd |
|
Federal .223 Remington 50gr Varmint & Predator JHP Ammo
50gr
• 3325 fps
• Hunting
|
50gr | 3325 | 1227 | .204 | Hunting | $1.25/rd |
|
Federal .223 Remington 53gr Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip Ammo
53gr
• 3400 fps
• Hunting
|
53gr | 3400 | 1360 | .29 | Hunting | $1.65/rd |
|
Federal .223 Remington 62gr MSR Fusion Bonded Soft Point Ammo
62gr
• 2750 fps
• Hunting
|
62gr | 2750 | 1041 | .31 | Hunting | $1.88/rd |
|
Federal Gold Medal .223 Remington 69gr BTHP Ammo
69gr
• 2950 fps
• Competition
|
69gr | 2950 | 1333 | .301 | Competition | $2.32/rd |
|
Hornady Black .223 Remington 62gr FMJ Ammo
62gr
• 3100 fps
• Self-Defense
|
62gr | 3100 | 1323 | .274 | Self-Defense | $0.81/rd |
|
Hornady BLACK .223 Remington 75gr BTHP Match Ammo
75gr
• 2790 fps
• Competition
|
75gr | 2790 | 1296 | .395 | Competition | $1.55/rd |
|
Hornady Critical Defense .223 Remington 73gr FTX Ammo
73gr
• 2790 fps
• Self-Defense
|
73gr | 2790 | 1262 | .265 | Self-Defense | $2.42/rd |
|
Hornady Frontier .223 Remington 55gr FMJ-BT Ammo
55gr
• 3240 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3240 | 1282 | .243 | Target & Range | $1.67/rd |
|
Hornady Frontier .223 Remington 68gr BTHP Match Ammo
68gr
• 2960 fps
• Competition
|
68gr | 2960 | 1323 | .355 | Competition | $1.77/rd |
|
Hornady Varmint Express .223 Remington 55gr V-Max Ammo
55gr
• 3240 fps
• Hunting
|
55gr | 3240 | 1282 | .255 | Hunting | $2.32/rd |
|
PMC Bronze .223 Remington 55gr Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail Ammo
55gr
• 3200 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3200 | 1250 | .243 | Target & Range | $0.44/rd |
|
Remington UMC .223 Remington 55gr MC Ammo
55gr
• 3240 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3240 | 1282 | .202 | Target & Range | $1.57/rd |
|
Winchester .223 Remington 69gr Sierra MatchKing BTHP Match Ammo
69gr
• 3060 fps
• Competition
|
69gr | 3060 | 1434 | .297 | Competition | $2.22/rd |
|
Winchester USA .223 Remington 55gr FMJ Ammo
55gr
• 3240 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3240 | 1282 | .255 | Target & Range | $1.62/rd |
|
Winchester Varmint-X .223 Remington 40gr Polymer Tip Ammo
40gr
• 3600 fps
• Hunting
|
40gr | 3600 | 1151 | .2 | Hunting | $1.52/rd |
.223 Remington Trajectory Calculator
Calculate drop, velocity, and energy at any range
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Exceptional accuracy potential
- Minimal recoil aids precise shot placement
- Wide variety of match-grade ammunition
- Excellent barrel life with quality ammunition
- Affordable practice ammunition available
Cons
- Limited for larger game hunting
- Wind-sensitive at longer ranges
- Terminal performance depends heavily on bullet selection
- Maximum effective range limitations