Does anyone buy .223 is bulk (1K rounds)? I'd like to get a case (or two) just "to have"....ya know! If so, where are you getting it?

Wideners usually has Federal/LC and IMI at consistently low prices. They usually have a Russian flavor of the month in steel case for significantly less too.

I buy my bulk from sportsmans supply co. on gun broker, if you watch the auctions you can get it very reasonable, they always have free shipping and no C.C. fees.

I don't buy 223 but I've bought several cases of 7.62 from both Sportsmans Guide and Cheaper than Dirt and most of the time I can buy it cheaper from those two than I can with my discounts through distributors.

Palmetto State Armory runs some really good deals from time to time...

Anyone used this outfit? http://www.luckygunner.com

Cheaper then dirt and sportsmans guide fo sure. I go through a 1000 rounds every 2 months. If you watch for the sportsmans guide coupons you can save 20-30 bucks per case sometime more.I have guy in Miamiu, Global samco who often runs good sales on 223. Call and ask for IMI(Imee) tell him a crazy pilot from NC sent you!

I bought new lake city new brass @ NSS for $120 /1000 and loaded it with 50 gr Hornady SP bullets @ $97 / 1000

Used H4895 powder & WSR primers

Bit more money but I got the loads perfect for my guns.

Another note if you plan to reload the brass most of the bulk mil-spec stuff has crimped primers

For reloading I used topbrass.com and got one thousand rounds of once fired, trimmed, chamfered, and primer pocket trimmed, brass polished, and primed for one eighty. Primed with cci200 primers and very good quality cleaning process.

Just a "heads up": buy American made even if it's not the "cheapest." Some of that Russian and other foreign stuff can be dirty and unreliable, and jams frequently in an AR. Single-shot pistol or a bolt rifle would probably be fine.

Just my personal experience. I like the Federal American Eagle, and the brass is reloadable. Also if your chamber is actually 5.56 X 45, as a lot of AR's are, it's OK to use .223 ammo in it but not vice-versa. If you buy military-spec ammo (5.56 X 45) (NATO) it is manufactured under very strict tolerances (part of that "spec" is crimped primers, but I have a primer pocket swager tool from RCBS that takes care of that problem easily). A lot of times the NATO ammo is cheaper due to military contract over-runs.

Cabela's and Sportsman's Guide has it; I've bought it from both.