AR ammo question PICS ADDED

[Hilltop123]

Well I was up at Hooked on Toys, yesterday and ended up walking away with Rock River Arms, Elite Operator 2.
Now what to feed it? Being that this is my first AR, I'm tempted to go as cheap as possible on ammo, right now Cabelas seems the cheapest, with their Herters brand and they open in Yakima thursday I believe .  Does anyone have any experiance with this brand? I did read the reviews, it seems either hit or miss. If you think I should be headed a different direction, let me know...........

[Austrian Hunter]

ssamory.com cheap and good.  What cal did you get??

[Austrian Hunter]

Oh and their service is unbeatable, order today you have it tomorrow

[Hilltop123]

5.56    thanks I'll check them out....

[actionshooter]

Herters is fine for plinking, just stay away from steel case ammo.

[Huntbear]

OK, now am WAY JEALOUS.. been wanting one of those....   

If you check around online, you can get some pretty good deals on 1000 round cases..  If you order through Cabelas, it might be cheaper to drive and pick it up than to pay for shipping....

Oh, and if you are not set up to reload... I think you know someone that is... 

[Caseyd]

Herters is fine for plinking, just stay away from steel case ammo.

Isn't steel in moderation fine?

What's the problem with steel?

[Hilltop123]

Oh I'm setup to reload....just need dies and components and more brass

[Hilltop123]

Herters is fine for plinking, just stay away from steel case ammo.

Isn't steel in moderation fine?

What's the problem with steel?

Herters are steel cased I believe?

[Stinkyrat]

The russian steel cased stuff is great for running in AK type rifles with fairly loose tollerances, however I'd avoid it in an AR-15. That stuff runs pretty dirty. For a couple bucks more you can pick up XM193 or M855 Lake city bass cased stuff under the American eagle label, Federal or Olin factory packages. Russian ammo in an AR is like buying a Ferrari and putting Arco unleaded in it. You spent the extra denero to get an AR over an AK, buy good ammo for it and you have that rifle last a lifetime.

I had a buddy to raved about how great wolf 5.56 (another steel cased brand from Russia) was in his AR till he started getting stove piping problems to the point that it would not operate in semi-auto. Powder gunked up the gas tube and he got to spend a couple hours scrubbing it out.

Many may disagree, but I have 6 AR's and running brass cased stuff has kept failures to zero.

Stinkyrat

[Huntbear]

Herters is fine for plinking, just stay away from steel case ammo.

Isn't steel in moderation fine?

What's the problem with steel?

Herters are steel cased I believe?

Herters does make some brass cased ammo.. You can buy both at Cabelas, I think..

[cwuwildcat]

You can usually get PMC cheap, and use the cases to reload afterwords.  Goes bang everytime in mine, and is acurate.  you can find it on sale at Cabelas a lot.  Herters sprayed all over the target for me.

[actionshooter]

Herters is fine for plinking, just stay away from steel case ammo.

Isn't steel in moderation fine?

What's the problem with steel?

Herters are steel cased I believe?

Herters does make some brass cased ammo.. You can buy both at Cabelas, I think..

yes

[actionshooter]

The russian steel cased stuff is great for running in AK type rifles with fairly loose tollerances, however I'd avoid it in an AR-15. That stuff runs pretty dirty. For a couple bucks more you can pick up XM193 or M855 Lake city bass cased stuff under the American eagle label, Federal or Olin factory packages. Russian ammo in an AR is like buying a Ferrari and putting Arco unleaded in it. You spent the extra denero to get an AR over an AK, buy good ammo for it and you have that rifle last a lifetime.

I had a buddy to raved about how great wolf 5.56 (another steel cased brand from Russia) was in his AR till he started getting stove piping problems to the point that it would not operate in semi-auto. Powder gunked up the gas tube and he got to spend a couple hours scrubbing it out.

Many may disagree, but I have 6 AR's and running brass cased stuff has kept failures to zero.

Stinkyrat

Its the laquer they apply to the case that will plug up gas tube/gas port. Also if your chamber isn't perfect you will get constant jambs. On a RR that probably won't happen, but cheaper makes is hit and miss.
 Its best to pay the extra couple of bucks for brass.

[Doublelunger]

I have a RRA LAR-15 coyote carbine.  It doesn't like steel case at all, especially Herters.  Every other shot with that stuff I either got a stove pipe or a FTE.  I only shoot brass now and have never had a problem. 

[actionshooter]

I have a RRA LAR-15 coyote carbine.  It doesn't like steel case at all, especially Herters.  Every other shot with that stuff I either got a stove pipe or a FTE.  I only shoot brass now and have never had a problem. 

Look at your brass and if you have lines or scarring, you need a chamber reamer, not uncommon.

[FC]

If your AR won't run steel cases there is either something wrong with it or you don't clean it more than every 20,000 rounds or so...

If you are really concerned you can go to your local auto-parts store and buy a can of carburetor cleaner to give a squirt down the gas pipe every time you clean the rifle. There is a significant difference in price between steel and brass cased ammo, enough to pay for a new barrel or even a new rifle pretty quickly.

[Jburke]

I've used both types without any problems what so ever.  Had the gun for about 4 years and have yet to have any problems shooting steel cases.  I buy a little bit of everything though.  If I see a good sale on herters or other cheap ammo I usually pick some up just for plinking. 

[actionshooter]

A lot of it depends on if your barrel was the 1st to get cut with a new reamer or it was the last. 

[Blacklab]

Congrats welcome to the AR world 

[dscubame]

Herters is steel at Cabelas.  I have bought over 10,000 rounds.  Shoot the heck out of steel it is a AR for heavens sake.

[NaturalSelection]

Feed it what it likes.

I put an AR together at Rainier Arms but had it built for more accurate shooting. WOA 18" ultra match barrel in a 1:7 twist with a rifle length gas system, a fancy expensive match bcg and a nice trigger. Last time a shot a 200 yard target the holes would touch using 75 grain black hills stuff. The bulk stuff goes boom, and is alright for plinking at a 100 yards. But I've only ran brass threw the machine.

And one of my feed ramps is scratching the heck out of my brass and bullet but I don't know what to do about it or if it really matters

[CAMPMEAT]

I use any cheap ammo in my RRA. Haven't tried steel case. Cabales has PMC on sale for $5.99 for 20 rounds. Look it up online. I think you can have it shipped to the store without shipping. www.grafs.com is good too. $5.95 shipping, no tax to your door FEDEX. Cabelas charges sales tax, handling fees etc. www.tacticalammunition.com has 2nds you can bulk  pretty cheap too. They're out of Rainier Oregon I think.

[dscubame]

Feed it what it likes.

I put an AR together at Rainier Arms but had it built for more accurate shooting. WOA 18" ultra match barrel in a 1:7 twist with a rifle length gas system, a fancy expensive match bcg and a nice trigger. Last time a shot a 200 yard target the holes would touch using 75 grain black hills stuff. The bulk stuff goes boom, and is alright for plinking at a 100 yards. But I've only ran brass threw the machine.

And one of my feed ramps is scratching the heck out of my brass and bullet but I don't know what to do about it or if it really matters

I like your build and love Rainier Arms good work.  Just my two cents.... feed ramps are not even necessary your never be mud deep in crap with your AR....scratch the hell out of them it does not matter and shoot steel for the sake of gettig rounds down range on the cheap.  1:7 is necessary only with tracers but not bad to have no harm done and match grade barrel is sweet.  Treat it like a AR it will appreciate the brass and steel without prejudice.