ZQ1 (ZQI) 5.56 ammo at Walmart

[imarangemaster]

I got some 30 round boxes of ZQI 5.56 ammo at Walmart for $10/30. It is marked "NATO STANAG 4172" on the box. I was told at the store it was M193, 55 grain, but...That is the Nato spec for 62 grain 5.56 SS109/M855 with steel penetrator ammo. It is made in Turkey by MKE. Nice brass cased ammo with annealed case mouths, and sealed, crimped primers.

While the projectile does not have the requisite "Green Painted Tip", it locks onto a magnet, indicating a steel penetrator inside. That precludes it from use where steel core ammo is prohibited.

I haven't shot any yet, bet the reviews on it I have seen seem to say it is equal to US Milspec M855 ammo. What excites me is that it is a readily available, cheap SS109 ammo for practice. I know Federal Lake City can be had online at reasonable prices, even including shipping, but this is still cheaper and handier for most people.

I do mostly shoot M193 Lake City in my ARs, so I load 55 gr 5.56 spec reloads for practice. On the other hand, I keep three mags of M855 Lake City 5.56 in my 6-pack "go bag" for hardened targets, along with 3 mags of M193 for general anti-zombie (personnel) use. To this point, I have only been practicing with M193. It will be nice to mix it up. I know the two rounds differ ballistically, but 100/150 yards or less, the difference will only be an inch or so based on my tests.

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