500 Rounds of 55gr SP .223 Ammo by Speer

We hesitate to declare the ideal solution for personal protection with an AR-style rifle, because we do not wish to contradict anyone else’s opinion. That said, Speer Law Enforcement Gold Dot Duty Rifle 223 Rem is the ammunition we would trust to keep loaded in our own bedside firearms.

This cartridge is loaded with a 55 grain bonded soft point projectile. Because the Gold Dot soft point’s jacket is created via an electrochemical process that coats the lead core one molecule at a time, the jacket exhibits virtually perfect concentricity and resultant rotational stability – a key to superior accuracy.

The soft point’s bonded jacket is securely attached to its core, thus assuring the bullet can retain the weight it needs to remain mostly intact even if it must pierce a barrier before arriving at its target. The soft point retains 100% of its weight through heavy fabric; 77% of its weight through wall board; 46% of its weight through steel. When fired into bare ballistic gelatin, or through heavy clothing or wall board, the soft point reliably penetrates to a depth of approximately 14” – optimal, as far as the FBI test protocol is concerned.

The soft point bullet expands reliably as well. It increases its diameter to approximately 0.488” before coming to a rest within bare ballistic gelatin; 0.591” if it must first pass through heavy clothing; 0.505” after it has pierced wall board. In short, this is a bullet you can count on to produce the terminal expansion which neutralizes a threat more effectively, as well as minimizes the risk of potentially dangerous over-expansion. This cartridge’s muzzle velocity was recorded with a 24” test barrel, but its bullet will expand even if it is fired from a 10” barrel and doesn’t strike its target until 200 yards.

This cartridge is loaded with nickel-plated brass cases to reduce friction that could hinder a semi-auto’s ability to feed and extract smoothly, as well as resist performance-harming corrosion. Speer’s flash-suppressed propellant minimizes muzzle flash to help conserve the shooter’s vision in dark environments.