I know there is most likely no such thing as best ammo but can you recommend brands/type/grain, etc. that is really good or pretty good. That way I can be on a lookout for them. I don't do reloading yet.

.22LR - CCI Mini Mag
.223 -
9mm - S&B
.308 Win - Federal Gold 168gr
.38 Special -
.45 - S&B
.50 AE - Speer 300Gr

The ones you can find or afford. Nah nah
Cci are pretty cheery for .22 ammo. Everyone always wants them.

The ones you can find or afford. Nah nah
Cci are pretty cheery for .22 ammo. Everyone always wants them.

I'm looking more for specific types since there are so many. My friend says CCI mini mags are good. I have CCI HP and federals at home. I'm not sure which ones are supposed to be more accurate.

that's what i was gonna say too

The ones you can find or afford.

I like the S&B brand for 9mm & 45.

I like the S&B brand for 9mm & 45.

Can you be a little more specific? Like the grain size or anything else so when I call around they know what I'm talking about.

5.56
i have federal xm193- loaded to a gov't standard, so it shouldn't matter what brand
i also have hornady BTHP supposed to be more accurate, but i suck at shooting rifle anyways, so it doesn't matter

9mm i've tried most of the cheap brands
i've liked s&b, and i have some fiocchi that is supposed to be good too
i think the euro brands may be loaded to NATO standards, which is closer to +P

that's what i was gonna say too

s & b
http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/
not a commonly carried brand at most shops
a long time ago, ogc had some
i seem to remember magnum was using it for a bit too

Can you be a little more specific? Like the grain size or anything else so when I call around they know what I'm talking about.

I was out at the range today with my .300WM trying different ammo, shooting groups of each one I had. The two hornady types of ammo were consistently better than the winchester and federal I also shot, even though they were lighter bullets and my gun should favor heavier ones...

I just wish I could find some good match grade ammo locally. Every shop on the big island pretty much just stocks the cheep stuff. I am not in a position to reload yet, though as soon as I move back to the mainland I am buying all the equipment and getting started. It's hard to tell how well I can shoot when I don't have proven good ammo.

Ugh... I hit quote...  I meant to add that the winchester and federal I shot were heavier bullets that should have done better.

5.56
i have federal xm193- loaded to a gov't standard, so it shouldn't matter what brand
i also have hornady BTHP supposed to be more accurate, but i suck at shooting rifle anyways, so it doesn't matter

9mm i've tried most of the cheap brands
i've liked s&b, and i have some fiocchi that is supposed to be good too
i think the euro brands may be loaded to NATO standards, which is closer to +P

I have a Steyr Aug which can do .223 and 5.56. I heard from most that you can't feel the difference between the two. Also my Aug is not meant for long distance so .223 is good enough. Do you think that is true and I'm wasting money on 5.56?

I have a Steyr Aug which can do .223 and 5.56. I heard from most that you can't feel the difference between the two. Also my Aug is not meant for long distance so .223 is good enough. Do you think that is true and I'm wasting money on 5.56?

When I was shooting regular PMC .223 and shooting PMC Xtac 5.56, I could definitely tell a difference in not only the sound of the rifle but recoil seemed slightly heavier.

Too bad you don't reload yet, because your reloads will probably the best because you can load by purpose....For plinking, accuracy, hot loads, competition, etc..   For factory accuracy load, you can't go wrong with the Federal match gold medals.

I have a Steyr Aug which can do .223 and 5.56. I heard from most that you can't feel the difference between the two. Also my Aug is not meant for long distance so .223 is good enough. Do you think that is true and I'm wasting money on 5.56?

There's the argument that 5.56 will cycle through with more force, so it can be more reliable.  Not sure where I stand on that...
I guess that you are looking for what others have had success with.  I don't own all the calibers that you listed so I'll just post what I do have and what I think are the most "most accurate" factory loads for my guns.

16" CL barrel 1/7 twist223
223
- 69gr HPBT SMK
- 75gr HPBT Hornady

556
- 77gr Black Hills OTM

20" Barrel 1/10 twist
308
-175gr HPBT Federal Gold Metal Match (FGGM) SMK

FYI if you are a member, CMP has Federal XM118LR in stock.

Too bad you don't reload yet, because your reloads will probably the best because you can load by purpose....For plinking, accuracy, hot loads, competition, etc..   For factory accuracy load, you can't go wrong with the Federal match gold medals.

Haha I just started doing research. My wife said go ahead with buying one.

9mm - speer lawman 115gr or fiocchi 124 gr

In a few of my AR's I've had issues with short stroking using 223. Especially on newly built AR's. The problem was using heavy buffers and hydraulic buffers, more so with hydraulic. On well seasoned AR's I don't have issues with 223 using a heavy buffer. Switching to 556 with the exact same AR and hydraulic buffer remedied the short stroking. IMO 556 is more reliable with a wider range of guns and configurations. I'm a fan of Federal XM193 has always been reliable and consistent for me for the price.

There's the argument that 5.56 will cycle through with more force, so it can be more reliable.  Not sure where I stand on that...
I guess that you are looking for what others have had success with.  I don't own all the calibers that you listed so I'll just post what I do have and what I think are the most "most accurate" factory loads for my guns.

16" CL barrel 1/7 twist223
223
- 69gr HPBT SMK
- 75gr HPBT Hornady

556
- 77gr Black Hills OTM

20" Barrel 1/10 twist
308
-175gr HPBT Federal Gold Metal Match (FGGM) SMK

FYI if you are a member, CMP has Federal XM118LR in stock.

There is really no best ammo/load for every gun. It's whatever your gun likes. 308 fgmm shoots great in a lot of rifles but not all. I have had guns that didn't shoot very well with it. That is the unfortunate truth.

As for 223 short stroking in an ar. That is an issue with the gun having tight gas rings or mismatched buffer or maybe misaligned gas block. It shouldn't happen. 556 has a higher max pressure than 223 but my money says the commercial 556 is closer to 223 than you think for liability reasons.

That's a hard question to answer! With this ammo drought happening, Any ammo that is cheap and available would be the best ammo for me.

Haha I just started doing research. My wife said go ahead with buying one.

Great!  You'll love reloading..and it is way cheaper.