Available configurations
| SKU | Grain | Count |
|---|---|---|
| XM193X | 55gr FMJ (M193) | 20 |
| XM193BK | 55gr FMJ (M193) | 150 |
| XM193BKX | 55gr FMJ (M193) | 600 |
About Federal American Eagle 5.56
Federal American Eagle 5.56 is Lake City-manufactured M193 ball ammunition, the same as US military spec. 55gr FMJ at approximately 3,165 fps from a 20" barrel. Brass-cased, boxer-primed, reloadable. The 150-round boxes and 600-round cases offer significant per-round savings over 20-round boxes. One of the most widely available 5.56 loads in the US market.
Box vs bulk — how the packaging sizes compare
The 20-round box (XM193X) is the most common shelf stock at retailers. The 150-round box (XM193BK) costs less per round and fits in a standard ammo can. The 600-round case (XM193BKX) carries the lowest per-round cost and usually ships free. If you shoot more than a few times a year, the 600-round case pays for itself in per-round savings within two range trips.
How It Compares
Federal American Eagle is the domestic benchmark for 5.56 range ammo. It competes with PMC X-TAC M193 and Hornady Frontier — all three are brass-cased M193-spec loads. The key advantage of AE 5.56 is Lake City manufacturing, the same plant that produces US military ammunition. Wolf Gold .223 is typically a few cents cheaper per round but is .223 Remington spec, not 5.56 NATO.
Buying Tips
Federal AE 5.56 is rarely out of stock — it's one of the highest-volume loads produced at Lake City. Prices are most competitive when bought in 600-round cases from online retailers with free shipping thresholds. Watch for 4th of July and Black Friday sales when retailers discount Federal products. The brass is good quality for reloading — consistent weight and thickness compared to mixed-headstamp range brass.
Related
- All 5.56 NATO ammo prices
- 5.56 FMJ / range ammo
- PMC X-TAC M193 — budget M193 alternative
- PMC X-TAC M855 — green tip option
- All Federal ammo
- .223 vs 5.56 NATO — what's the difference? — compatibility and pressure differences explained
- 5.56 ammo types — M193 vs M855 vs soft point — how to pick the right 5.56 load