$17.99
6 in stock
🚚 Ships to your door — most orders leave same or next business day.
The Federal XM193 M193 Ball 5.56 is featured online at Western Sport. This factory-new item delivers exceptional reliability and performance. Furthermore, we offer a price match guarantee and fast nationwide shipping.
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Product Description
Federal XM193 5.56 NATO 55-Grain M193 Ball Ammunition
Federal XM193 is the 55-grain full metal jacket boat-tail load built to the military M193 ball specification, and it is what most AR-15 owners shoot for practice, drills and general range work. Federal loads it with brass cases, Boxer primers and non-corrosive powder, with the primer crimped and sealed the way military ammunition is. It is clean, consistent, reloadable brass, and it is the cheapest honest 5.56 you can put through a rifle.
Federal publishes a muzzle velocity of about 3,165 fps from a 20-inch test barrel. Out of the 16-inch barrels most people actually shoot, expect somewhat less. That velocity is the whole point of the M193 load: 5.56 does its work through speed, which is also why very short barrels give up real performance with this cartridge.
XM193 vs M193 vs M855: what the labels mean
The XM prefix is Federal’s own designation. XM193 is loaded to the same M193 specification as the contract ammunition, but the lot has not gone through the full military lot-acceptance testing process, so Federal sells it commercially at a lower price. Same components, same spec, same plant. Shooters have run it by the case for decades.
M193 is not the same thing as M855, the 62-grain green-tip load with the steel penetrator tip. M193 is lighter and faster and is the better all-around practice round; M855 penetrates barriers better and is what you want for steel-core work. We stock the Lake City M855 green tip in bulk 1,000-round cases if that is the load you are after.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Bullet Weight | 55 grain |
| Bullet Type | FMJ boat-tail, M193 ball spec |
| Muzzle Velocity | About 3,165 fps (20-inch test barrel) |
| Case / Primer | Brass, Boxer primed, crimped and sealed, non-corrosive |
| Quantity | 20-round box |
| Manufacturer | Federal Premium (American Eagle line) |
What to shoot it in
Any rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde will run XM193 correctly. A rifle marked .223 Remington only should not be fed 5.56 NATO: the 5.56 chamber has a longer leade, and firing 5.56 in a tight .223 chamber raises pressure. Check the barrel marking, and if you are unsure, call us and we will look it up with you. If you are still choosing between calibers, our 5.56 vs .300 Blackout comparison covers the trade-offs, and the best AR-15 for beginners guide walks through a first rifle.
One honest note from behind the counter: XM193 is range and training ammunition. It is FMJ, so it is not a defensive load. If the rifle guards your house, practice with XM193 and load it with a quality expanding or fragmenting round. Our home defense AR-15 setup guide explains why.
Ordering from Western Sport
Order online and it ships straight to your door. Western Sport has been a licensed FFL/SOT dealer since 2007, and everything we sell carries the full manufacturer warranty. Questions before you order? Send us a message.
Cost Per Round
Ammunition is bought by the round, not by the box, so here is the arithmetic most people are doing in their head. At the 20-round box price shown above, XM193 currently works out to roughly $0.90 per round. Divide any box or case price by its round count and you can compare us against anyone.
Buying for a class, a match or a long range day?
XM193 Ballistics
| Specification | Figure |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 55 grain |
| Bullet type | FMJ boat tail |
| Muzzle velocity | ~3,165 FPS (20in test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | ~1,223 ft-lbs |
| Case | Boxer-primed brass, reloadable |
| Core | Lead — non-magnetic, so it passes indoor range magnet checks |
| Specification | M193 ball, 5.56 NATO pressure |
Velocity drops as the barrel gets shorter. A 16in carbine gives up roughly 100-150 FPS against the 20in test figure, and a 10.3in or 11.5in barrel gives up considerably more. That matters for terminal performance at distance, and not at all for putting rounds on paper at 100 yards.
A note on 5.56 vs .223
XM193 is loaded to 5.56 NATO pressure. It is safe in any rifle chambered 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde. Do not fire it in a rifle marked .223 Remington only — that chamber is cut tighter and the pressure has nowhere to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between XM193 and M193?
Both are loaded to the same 55-grain M193 ball specification. The XM prefix means the lot did not go through full military lot-acceptance testing, so Federal sells it on the commercial market at a lower price. The components and the spec are the same.
Is XM193 good ammo for an AR-15?
Yes, for practice and training it is the standard answer. It is loaded to military 5.56 pressure, it cycles reliably in properly gassed rifles, and the brass is reloadable. It is FMJ range ammunition, not a defensive load.
Can I shoot XM193 in a .223 Remington rifle?
Not in a rifle chambered .223 Remington only. XM193 is loaded to 5.56 NATO pressure and the 5.56 chamber has a longer throat. Rifles marked 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde handle it correctly.
What is the difference between XM193 and M855 green tip?
XM193 is a 55-grain lead-core FMJ. M855 is the 62-grain green-tip load with a hardened steel penetrator, which gives better barrier performance but a slower, heavier bullet. M193 is the better general-purpose practice round.
Does Western Sport ship 5.56 ammunition to my door?
Yes. Ammunition ships direct to residential addresses in most states with no FFL transfer required. A few states and cities restrict ammunition shipments, so check your local rules, and send us a message if you are not sure.
Additional information
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