[jaybee19]

I don’t see an aggregate ammo review thread on here, and I’d like to see what people like and don’t like about factory loadings. Horror stories, success stories, accuracy/inaccuracy comments, FTLs/FTFs, whatever... If you’ve done any backyard ballistics trialing, please share your findings with the class, but whatever you share, be sure to include ammo brand/product line, caliber/grain weight/pressure rating, and the make/model/barrel length of your gun. Photos always help but aren’t a make or break. If handloaders would like to talk about their triumphs and tribulations, preferred projectiles, etc., please do so, and the world is your oyster.

P.S. This isn’t designed to be an end all, be all, and you shouldn’t take what one individual says as written in stone. That being said, testimonials help to give people ideas and make more informed choices when they buy ammo, and if a group of people come up with the same issues with the same ammo, you can then deduce that something could very well be hinky with ammo x.

 

[jaybee19]

I’ll start. The only ammo I’ve been disappointed in so far is Fiocchi 210 gr. LFP in 44 SPL using a 2.5” Bulldog. I’ve had one or two primers that required a second go around to fire, hangfires possibly, and the accuracy left a lot to be desired at defensive ranges for me. Contrast that to PMC 180 gr. JHP in 44 SPL, same gun, and I’ve had no misfires to speak of and the accuracy is nominal at defensive ranges. I would use this again and feel totally comfortable with it as a carry ammo. I’ll eventually be back to report on an Underwood 200 gr. loading for this caliber.

 

[patchz]

I quit buying Remington ammo back in the early 80's. It wouldn't group in my rifles, nor handguns. I switched to Federal and Winchester and haven't had anything but good performance ever since. I use Federal HST for defense ammo, with Winchester PDX1 a substitute if I can't get HST. This is for my .357, .40, .44 Magnum, and .45 ACP handguns.

I use a good bit of LAX reloads for practice/plinking in .40 and .45.

I won't shoot anything but Federal 168 BTHP in my .308 bolt guns, ever since I shot sub 1/2 MOA groups with it on several occasions and killed a slew of deer with them.

I tend to lean toward Lake City for 5.56 and 7.62 for defense, when I can get it, especially 62 gr SOST in 5.56 and 145-168 gr in 7.62, depending on the barrel length. But 55 gr FMJ 5.56 and 145-150 gr 7.62 for plinking/target shooting.

I use Federal or Winchester 00 and slugs, period.

 

[GunnyGene]

Ok, I'll play. I posted this once before - last fall. Choosing between the 190gr Hornady LeveRevolution and the Underwood 210gr. XTP. I've used both for deer, the Underwood last season, the Hornady in the previous season. While both got the job done, the Underwood performed better. The Hornady appeared to not expand, although I couldn't find the bullet since it passed thru and disappeared in the dirt. Took a few minutes to find the deer, since she'd run off into the woods. That said it may have been my shot placement which was a few inches lower than I'd expected. The Underwood hit exactly at poa last year and dropped the deer where she stood. Both were shot at approx 95yds.

Rifle: .41mag Henry BBSC. 16.5" barrel.

The below was the results of chrony eval conducted at the same session prior to last deer season:

Hornady Stats:

Underwood Stats:

I did have comparative sight in targets but they're gone. The Underwood did have a significantly smaller group size tho and substantiated the calculated chrony results.

 

[patchz]

I completely forgot lever guns. I do have some Hornady LeveRevolution for .30-30 and .45-70. For plinking, I use various brands of 150 gr lead or jacketed .30-30 and 405 gr lead .45-70.

 

[onlymaroonmatters]

I don't use Winchester white box. Have seen numerous bullets fall out of the case.
Also don't use green box Remington UMC, always seemed real dirty.
I prefer CCI blazer brass for 9mm and wolf gold for 223. S&B is also good in 9mm. Never had a problem with PPU and fiocchi either.

 

[patchz]

I've shot a lot of white box with no problems, ever. But there is always a first time for everything.

 

[bubbat]

I've shot a lot of white box with no problems, ever. But there is always a first time for everything.

i haven't ever either, only factory ammo I have ever had problem with was Monarch .223 from Academy. I don't reload so I shoot mostly Wolf steel case ammo.

 

[steve2112]

I don't use Winchester white box. Have seen numerous bullets fall out of the case.
Also don't use green box Remington UMC, always seemed real dirty.
I prefer CCI blazer brass for 9mm and wolf gold for 223. S&B is also good in 9mm. Never had a problem with PPU and fiocchi either.

I've had lots of problems with WWB. Bad loadings, and it's dirty.

For 9mm and .45 ACP, I like Fiocchi and S&B. Runs clean and reliably, and they use small packaging that doesn't take up much room.

 

[gunsinger]

I've had good success with most factory ammo I've shot with the exception of Fiocchi. Had multiple light primer strikes with that shooting 180gr .40. Haven't seen those issues with Remington or WWB.

 

[GunnyGene]

I completely forgot lever guns. I do have some Hornady LeveRevolution for .30-30 and .45-70. For plinking, I use various brands of 150 gr lead or jacketed .30-30 and 405 gr lead .45-70.

Shame on you. I sentence you to sleeping with both - disassembled - tonite. :lol4:

And since I can't be there to check on you, I want pictures of you in bed with those disassembled lever guns.

 

[patchz]

Shame on you. I sentence you to sleeping with both - disassembled - tonite. :lol4:

And since I can't be there to check on you, I want pictures of you in bed with those disassembled lever guns.

 

[z06]

i haven't ever either, only factory ammo I have ever had problem with was Monarch .223 from Academy. I don't reload so I shoot mostly Wolf steel case ammo.

What issue did you have with the monarch? Just curious because I have never heard of anyone having issues other then saying it was dirty

 

[z06]

I have had multiple issues with Tulammo

 

[bubbat]

What issue did you have with the monarch? Just curious because I have never heard of anyone having issues other then saying it was dirty

AR always jammed shooting it.

 

[jaybee19]

Yeah, that’s what I meant with the Fiocchi, a weak/light primer. Had it been a hangfire, it likely wouldn’t have been controllable, and hitting it again with a second revolution of the cylinder did the trick. That happened twice in the same box IIRC. Glad it’s worked for some people.

What about defensive projectiles, anything? I’ve got Speers in the carry gun (.44 SPL), Hornady XTPs in my ma’s carry gun (.38 SPL), and Noslers in the bed/house gun w/ the spare mag loaded with old style Hydrashoks (9x19). It seems that a good loading of a reputable bullet will all end up at a comparable terminus, but with all the options out there, it makes you wonder.

Also, I hope y’all will come back here with updates as you make new discoveries for better or worse. This is one of the most important considerations you have to make as a shooter, and it’s nice to have an in-house source for it.

 

[L Smith]

Used to shoot a fair amount of CCI blazer brass with no issues until they changed to the coated projectile. Now I get feeding problems out of multiple 9mm and 45 acp pistols. Also the bullet pushes into the case without a lot of effort.

 

[Soonered]

PMC 44 Mag - flash holes off center. Seen this in some other straight wall cases by PMC but don't remember the cartridge.

9mm S&B - Brass reloads fine but the primer pockets are small. Causes primers to sometimes get crushed on my Dillon 550. Bought S&B primers from Spyderhead which fixed the problem. Too big of a pain to keep S&B specific primers.

Remington STS in 12 or 20. They seem to shoot well but what I like most is they reload great and I get many loading from them. Plus the heads are brass, not steel.

 

[kelhow]

Have shot almost all major brands of factory ammo without any problem. The only factory ammo that I have had a problem with is 45 cal, 230gr, steel cased, Tulammo. Was shooting it in my brand new Sig 1911 Select. About 1/2 way through the box, had a squib load. Just lucky I wasn't shooting fast. Had to beat the bullet out of the barrel with an oak dowel.

 

[patchz]

Have shot almost all major brands of factory ammo without any problem. The only factory ammo that I have had a problem with is 45 cal, 230gr, steel cased, Tulammo. Was shooting it in my brand new Sig 1911 Select. About 1/2 way through the box, had a squib load. Just lucky I wasn't shooting fast. Had to beat the bullet out of the barrel with an oak dowel.

I haven't had to do that since the 70's. And that was with a reload in my .44 magnum.