Best 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo
Every load we price, sorted by cost per round delivered to your state
We track 8 5.56x45mm NATO loads from 4 dealers. The cheapest delivered to AR, shipping included, is PMC X-Tac 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr M193 FMJBT Ammo at $0.45 a round. By use: Target & Range from $0.45 and Competition from $0.61.
The 5.56x45mm NATO is the military loading of the .223 case, fired in AR-15s, M4-style carbines and most other US-market semi-autos. The US adopted it with the M16 in 1963 and 1964, and NATO standardized it in 1980. A 5.56 chamber has a longer, gentler throat than a .223 Remington chamber, so it handles NATO pressure and also fires .223 ammo safely.
Most loads here are range ammo. M193 is a 55gr FMJ at 3,180 to 3,270 fps. M855 green tip is a 62gr bullet with a steel penetrator, and many ranges with steel targets ban it. For longer shots, the Frontier 68gr and 75gr BTHP match loads want a 1:7 or 1:8 twist. Check your barrel stamp before you buy: 5.56 or .223 Wylde is fine, but a barrel marked .223 Rem only should not get these loads.
All 5.56x45mm NATO Loads
Compare ballistics and prices across 8 products
| PRODUCT ↕ | GRAIN ↕ | VELOCITY ↕ | ENERGY ↕ | BC ↕ | USE CASE ↕ | BEST PRICE ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Frontier Cartridge 5.56x45mm NATO 68gr BTHP Match Ammo
68gr
• 2960 fps
• Competition
|
68gr | 2960 | 1323 | .355 | Competition | $0.61/rd |
|
Frontier Cartridge 5.56x45 NATO 75gr BTHP Match Ammo
75gr
• 2910 fps
• Competition
|
75gr | 2910 | 1410 | .355 | Competition | $0.67/rd |
|
Hornady Black 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr FMJ Ammo
62gr
• 3060 fps
• Target & Range
|
62gr | 3060 | 1289 | .274 | Target & Range | $0.88/rd |
|
PMC X-Tac 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr M193 FMJBT Ammo
55gr
• 3270 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3270 | 1306 | .243 | Target & Range | $0.45/rd |
|
PMC X-Tac 5.56x45mm NATO 62gr LAP (M855) Green Tip Ammo
62gr
• 2920 fps
• Target & Range
|
62gr | 2920 | 1174 | .304 | Target & Range | $0.46/rd |
|
Winchester 5.56x45mm 62gr M855 FMJLC Ammo
62gr
• 3060 fps
• Target & Range
|
62gr | 3060 | 1289 | .304 | Target & Range | $0.55/rd |
|
Winchester 5.56x45mm NATO 55gr FMJ Ammo - 1000 Round Box
55gr
• 3180 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3180 | 1235 | .246 | Target & Range | $0.54/rd |
|
Winchester White Box 5.56mm 55gr M193 Ammo
55gr
• 3180 fps
• Target & Range
|
55gr | 3180 | 1235 | .246 | Target & Range | $0.53/rd |
5.56x45mm NATO Trajectory Calculator
Calculate drop, velocity, and energy at any range
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- A 5.56 chamber shoots both boxes, so you can buy 5.56 or .223 Remington for the same rifle.
- Against .300 Blackout: about 1,000 fps more velocity than its supersonic loads, for a much flatter path past 200 yards.
- Against 7.62x39: lighter cartridges, so you carry more rounds for the same weight in standard 30-round magazines.
- Light recoil in a carbine makes fast strings easy in rifle classes and 3-gun.
Cons
- It is only for rifles marked 5.56 or .223 Wylde; a .223 Rem bolt gun isn't built for NATO pressure.
- M855's steel penetrator gets it banned at ranges with steel targets and some indoor ranges.
- The FMJ that fills this page is not a hunting load; for game you need an expanding bullet, usually sold as .223.
- Against 6.5 Grendel: a 55 to 62gr bullet drifts much more in wind past 400 yards.