Remington UMC, .223 Remington, MC, 55 Grain
Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Target shooting, plinking, practice, small game |
| Bullet Type | Full Metal Jacket (Metal Case) |
| Bullet Weight | 55 grain |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer, centerfire |
| Packaging | 200 rounds per bulk pack |
| Typical Price | $142.49 / 200-rd pack · ~$0.71/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal American Eagle AE223J 55gr FMJ, Winchester USA WUSC223R 55gr FMJ, PMC Bronze 223A 55gr FMJ-BT |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 3240 | Remington / retailers |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 1282 | Remington / retailers |
| Bullet Weight | 55 gr | Manufacturer label |
| Bullet Type | Full Metal Jacket | Manufacturer label |
| BC G1 | 0.243* | Industry standard for 55 gr FMJ-BT |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | L223R3VP | Retailer listings |
| UPC | 047700398402 | Remington / retailers |
| Reloadable | Yes | Brass case, Boxer primer |
Note: Remington does not publish muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, or ballistic coefficients for the UMC line in its current publicly available technical documentation. Velocity is commonly cited by third-party retailers as approximately 3,240 fps from a 24-inch test barrel, but this figure has not been independently verified against a manufacturer data sheet for this specific SKU. All ballistic table values below are calculated estimates based on that commonly referenced figure and a G1 BC of 0.243 — a widely accepted reference value for a standard 55-grain .223 FMJ projectile. These values should be treated as approximations only.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.
Assumptions: ~3,240 fps muzzle velocity (commonly cited, unverified by manufacturer), G1 BC ~0.243, 55 gr bullet, 1.5″ sight height, 100-yard zero, sea level, standard atmosphere.
| Yards | ~Velocity (fps) | ~Energy (ft-lbs) | ~Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~3,240 | ~1,282 | -1.5 |
| 100 | ~2,854 | ~995 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 200 | ~2,497 | ~762 | -3.6 |
| 300 | ~2,168 | ~574 | -14.0 |
| 400 | ~1,866 | ~425 | -33.5 |
| 500 | ~1,594 | ~310 | -66.2 |
Key takeaway: At typical target shooting distances of 100–200 yards, this load remains supersonic and retains adequate energy for paper and steel work. Drop becomes significant beyond 300 yards — roughly 14 inches — which limits its practical long-range utility without hold-over corrections. For the intended purpose of high-volume practice, the trajectory is entirely manageable within 200 yards. Shooters using shorter AR-15 barrels (16 inches or less) should expect muzzle velocities meaningfully lower than the 24-inch test-barrel reference, which will steepen the drop curve at distance.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- High-volume range training and trigger time where cost per round matters
- Plinking and informal target shooting at 100–200 yards
- AR-15 function testing and break-in shooting
- Competitive shooters running drills who need affordable practice ammunition
- Small game at moderate distances where FMJ is legally and ethically appropriate
Not the right tool for:
- Deer or medium-sized game hunting — FMJ construction is not designed for reliable expansion and is prohibited for deer in many states
- Precision long-range work beyond 300 yards where consistent BC and tight velocity spreads matter
- Self-defense or home defense applications — FMJ does not offer the terminal performance of expanding projectiles
- Jurisdictions with lead-core FMJ restrictions on public or state lands (California condor zones, some federal wildlife areas)
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source user reports, the Remington UMC line has a long-standing reputation as a workhorse bulk product. The brass-cased, Boxer-primed construction is noted as reloadable, which adds value for handloaders — though this page covers factory use only. Open-source forum discussions suggest consistent cycling in standard AR-15 platforms with standard 1:9 and 1:8 twist rates. Some users on public shooting forums have noted occasional variance in velocity spreads compared to match-grade offerings, which is expected at this price point and consistent with the product’s practice-ammunition positioning. All notes here reflect manufacturer claims or open-source community observations, not structured test data.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal American Eagle AE223J | 55 gr | FMJ-BT | ~0.243 | ~3,240 fps | ~$65 / 100 rd | Boat-tail base; widely available |
| Winchester USA WUSC223R | 55 gr | FMJ | ~0.235 | ~3,240 fps | ~$60 / 100 rd | Budget alternative; flat base |
| PMC Bronze 223A | 55 gr | FMJ-BT | ~0.243 | ~3,150 fps | ~$55 / 100 rd | Budget alternative; consistent QC noted |
| Hornady Steel Match 80270 | 55 gr | HP | ~0.270 | ~3,150 fps | ~$75 / 100 rd | Steel case; non-reloadable |
| Fiocchi 223ARD | 55 gr | FMJ-BT | ~0.243 | ~3,240 fps | ~$62 / 100 rd | Italian manufacture; brass case |
| Black Hills Ammunition 223 Rem | 55 gr | FMJ | ~0.243 | ~3,200 fps | ~$95 / 100 rd | Premium alternative; tight tolerances |
Price Reality
- The 200-round bulk pack at $142.49 works out to approximately $0.71 per round, or roughly $71.25 per equivalent 100-round block
- A comparable 200-round equivalent of Federal American Eagle runs approximately $120–$130, making it notably more affordable per round
- PMC Bronze in similar bulk configurations typically falls in the $55–$65 per 100-round range, representing a meaningful savings over this Remington offering
- Black Hills 55-grain FMJ runs approximately $90–$95 per 100 rounds, making it a premium step up with tighter quality control
- At $0.71/round, this Remington UMC pack sits at the higher end of the budget brass-cased .223 market; buyers should consider this fair value only if brass recovery for future reloading is a priority, or if competing options are out of stock
- A price above $0.75/round for this configuration should be considered overpriced given current market conditions for standard 55-grain FMJ .223
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Remington UMC, .223 Remington, MC, 55 Grain, 200 Rounds
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Is the Remington UMC “Metal Case” bullet the same as a full metal jacket?
The term Metal Case (MC) is Remington’s proprietary nomenclature for what is functionally a full metal jacket projectile. The lead core is enclosed in a gilding-metal or copper-alloy jacket, leaving the base partially exposed — the same construction widely referred to as FMJ in the industry. The distinction is primarily a branding choice rather than a meaningful construction difference. For practical purposes, buyers can treat MC and FMJ as equivalent when comparing to competitor offerings.
Will this ammunition cycle reliably in a short-barreled AR-15 with a 16-inch barrel?
The Remington UMC 55-grain MC is a standard-pressure .223 Remington load designed to function in any SAAMI-spec .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO chamber. Shorter barrels will reduce muzzle velocity below the commonly cited 3,240 fps test-barrel figure — a 16-inch barrel typically yields velocities in the 2,950–3,050 fps range with 55-grain loads. This does not affect cycling reliability in properly configured direct impingement or piston AR-15 systems. Shooters running suppressed or pistol-length gas systems should verify their gas port tuning independently.
Can this load be used for coyote or small game hunting?
The 55-grain FMJ Metal Case construction is not designed to expand on impact, which limits its effectiveness and ethical suitability for varmint or small game hunting compared to soft-point or hollow-point alternatives. Some states explicitly prohibit the use of FMJ ammunition for hunting game animals. For coyote work, a varmint-specific .223 load with a hollow-point or polymer-tipped expanding bullet will deliver more reliable terminal performance. This load is better suited to target and practice applications than field hunting use.
How does this bulk pack compare to buying individual 20-round boxes of Remington UMC?
The 200-round value pack is designed to reduce per-round cost compared to purchasing individual 20-round retail boxes, which typically retail at $12–$16 per box ($0.60–$0.80/round depending on market conditions). At $0.71/round, this bulk format is competitive but not always the lowest-cost option — competing bulk packs from other manufacturers can undercut this price. The primary advantage of the Remington pack is the brass case construction, which is reloadable and retains residual value for handloaders recovering spent brass at the range.
Is .223 Remington ammunition safe to fire in a rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO?
.223 Remington ammunition is safe to fire in a 5.56 NATO-chambered rifle — the 5.56 chamber has a slightly longer leade (throat) that accommodates the higher-pressure 5.56 cartridge, and standard .223 Remington loads run at lower pressure than 5.56 military specifications. The reverse is not always true: 5.56 NATO ammunition should not be fired in a rifle marked only for .223 Remington without confirming the chamber specification with the manufacturer, as the tighter .223 leade can produce elevated pressures with 5.56 loads. The Remington UMC .223 Remington load is safe in both .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO chambers.
