I’m looking into getting an AR-15, this would be my first firearm. I’m wondering if I should be worrying about what brand of ammo I choose to purchase, will it affect how quickly the barrel becomes dirty etc?
Not significantly, as long as you aren’t buying ammo that’s remanufactured, or is some Russian brand (Wolf, Silver Bear, etc.)/Turkish, etc. A bigger issue is going to be the twist rate of your barrel and the weight of the bullet, but even that’s not going to be a big issue unless you’re trying to get your rifle down to 1 MOA accuracy.
Ammo brands can have a small difference in residue buildup, but not enough to consider one over another. You’ll want to focus more on what shoots accurately and reliably in your specific rifle.
I’d recommend checking out BlackFlag Civilian’s videos. He’s a leftist who covers relevant topics, including how to select ammo, how to set up comms on a budget, and more.
I’d also suggest TacticoolGirlfriend (who has a great beginner series) and InRangeTV’s videos.
This is your first firearm. Don’t worry about the ammo or specifically how accurate it is. Buy in bulk and learn how to shoot it effectively. Put a few k rounds through it first. Clean it, when you get back from the range.
I’d also suggest getting a 22lr upper for it. They’re cheap and will let you practice for pennies vs half dollars.
This is good advice.
ammoseek.com lets you search for low cost ammo. Just pay attention to whether the price is for new, reman, or reloaded ammo. Best to stick with new.
Walmart for 22lr, but center-fire definitely do bulk online
Or get a Dillon XL 750, a few pounds of Accurate 2230, and load your own while listening to The Tiger Bloc Podcast.
