1911 45 ACP "range" Ammunition

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mikemyers

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I wanted to buy 500 rounds of ammunition, to be used in breaking in a new gun, as well as range time. It was to be 45 ACP 230 gr. FMJ.

The criteria was something reasonably accurate, not too expensive, readily available, and something that "most" opinions seemed to favor.

After a lot of frustration, it led to a search for this type of ammo from MidwayUSA, which led me to this list:

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=60&newcategorydimensionid=15598


Having come up with a reasonable ammunition list to consider, I started looking at the "reviews", especially the negative reviews, and most negative reviews for almost every brand pointed to the ammo being especially dirty. The one ammo that I checked that didn't seem to have that complaint, CCI Blazer Brass, had people complaining that it didn't use the typical primers for 45 ACP, and one complaint (given to me over the phone) that the brass isn't as strong as other brands, which can lead to damage of a gun.


There is no way that on an internet forum, everyone will agree on one selection, but maybe if everyone could list their top five favorites, it would be possible to see which brand/type shows up the most in the "good" category.



The eventual goal, as I see it, is to start reloading my 45 ACP again, but that's weeks away.

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(image from http://www.loaddata.com/)
 
Walmart, Perfecta ....

If you have a few Walmarts near you, check the firearms/sporting goods area for Perfecta. It's a simple no frills FMJ line 9mm, .40, .45acp etc.

I fired about 100rd of 230gr FMJ .45acp in my LE trade in Glock 21 gen 04 along with about 150rd of Perfecta 9x19mm 115gr FMJ(brass) in my M&P 9mm no thumb safety pistol. I had 0 problems or misfires.
Some forum members had mixed results & few complained of yellow streaks in the gun barrels but I never had any - issues & the QC was great :D .
My Super Walmart sold 50rd boxes of 9mm; $10.00, .45acp about $12-14.00.

I think top ammunition maker Fiocchi(check title) markets the value line Perfecta.
Note: I would watch the ammunition holders. My box of .45acp FMJ had small cracks in the tray.
 
Blazer brass is fine. I shoot a LOT of it. Just keep the cases separate if you reload, if memory serves they use small pistol primers rather than large.
 
I realize you have a Les Baer, but here is what Ed Brown says…
http://www.edbrown.com/FAQ.htm#aaf
What type of ammunition do you recommend for your handguns?

We recommend high quality Federal or Winchester ammunition, and nothing else. In our years of testing and experience, ammunition by these makers has proven to be of consistent high quality.
The core of our function testing is done with Federal 230 grain FMJ, which is great self-defense ammunition. For accuracy, the Federal 185 grain Gold Metal Match ammo tends to produce the best groups.
I've shot a lot of Speer Lawman FMJ in 230 and 200 grain, and Georgia Arms ammo I pick up at gun shows. Everything has worked fine.
 
I agree. You are overthinking this.

Almost all 230 gr. Ball ammunition is loaded to the same specs; 800 - 850 fps. from 5" barrel.

American Eagle published data from Federal puts it one of the fastest at over 850 fps.

I am guessing that since you have plans to start reloading you will be saving your brass in which case buy ammo that uses large primers.
 
I realize you have a Les Baer, but here is what Ed Brown says…
http://www.edbrown.com/FAQ.htm#aaf
........


I have no problem following Ed Brown's advice "We recommend high quality Federal or Winchester ammunition, and nothing else.". If I understood what the fellow was telling me on the phone last night, it had something to do with the bullet not being held firmly in place in the case..... I did some checking in the forum, and found an old thread that mentioned this (but with aluminum cases):
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=183696

This thread I found here was from almost 10 years ago. If there was a problem with the Blazer Brass, I'd have thought they would have fixed it long ago - and other than for reloading purposes, Blazer Brass seems to get good reviews. But, good Federal or Winchester ammo sounds fine to me!


....added later:
BSA1, thanks, but for reloading purposes I already have several bags full of 45 ACP cases. If not for that, I would have already excluded the CCI.
 
I've shot 10's of 1,000's of rounds of Blazer 45 ACP. Most of it Aluminum, some of it Brass. It's crap ammo. The case mouths are very loosely crimped (if at all); and, if you do nothing more than leave an open box of Blazers out on the bench during a light rain a lot of them will not fire the first time they're struck! Blazers are very susceptible to humidity and water damage. I've, also, found a higher percentage of manufacturing defects than on any other brand!

Not too dirty, though; and because of the very light powder charges you won't get any chamber damage from shooting (reasonable) amounts of aluminum, or very thin-walled bronze/brass cased Blazers. In my opinion Walmart's, 'Perfecta' looks like some of the best 9mm and 45 ACP ammo Walmart has ever sold; however, like all things Fiocchi, there have been occasional reports of excessively flashing (or overcharged?) rounds.*

I, also, shoot a lot of Walmart's Federal, 'Champion', and Remington, 'Green Box' ammo. All of which is certainly good enough for range use, and seems to be highly reliable. (Several years ago, 'Champion', if anything, was too weak; but, that's been corrected now.) Two commercial cartridges I really like are Federal's, 'American Eagle'; as well as ammo that's sold under Fiocchi's own name (without some middleman like Tula).

Centerfire pistol ammo can be funny; oftentimes performance is dependent upon which manufactured lot you're using; and, other than, 'rolling your own', I don't know what the answer for this manufacturing problem is? If I were to pick just one highly reliable, reasonably priced, clean burning, and safe-to-use 45 ACP cartridge I'd have to go with the Remington, 'Green Box' that Walmart sells. Federal, 'American Eagle' would come in as a close second.



* When Fiocchi gets it right they are able to turn out some really excellent ammo. The problem, I've found, is that Fiocchi ammo isn't always as reliable or as safe to use as it should be. (Right now I've got a box of Perfecta sitting on the desk as I type; it's nice looking stuff; but I've, yet, to try it out in my G-21.)
 
I always use Winchester white box from Walmart. Around here is plentiful and a pack of 200 round goes for $72
Second option 4 me is the Federal red box also from Walmart. 100 rounds for $38
 
Cheapest ball ammo you can get your hands on. I like to buy in bulk 1000 rounds + online to take the sting out of shipping.

I reload these days so I am not buying too much factory ammo. One thing to consider if you keep your brass to reload later Blaser and Champion both use the small pistol primer vs large which is standard on the 45 ACP round.

The best deal I know of right now is Sellier & Bellot for $13.99 a 50 round box. That is almost the same price as 9mm.
 
I get the aluminum-cased Federal .45 at my Wal-marts for $14.97, plus tax, and it's been great ammo. Plus, it doesn't disappear off the shelves nearly as quickly as the same stuff in 9mm does (which runs $9.97 +tax, and is also great stuff). I see the Perfecta .45 less often, and it runs 2 bucks more,IIRC.
Check your local WM's, I bet there's at least a couple boxes sitting on the shelves. ;)
 
I don't shoot a lot of factory ammo these days, but for cheap stuff that I do shoot I've no no bad experiences with Magtech or S&B. Truthfully though aside from Wolf/Tula I've never had issues with any ammo.

Then again, I tend to not really care at all how dirty ammo is (if they gun gets dirty enough I'll clean it) and small primers generally don't bother me (since other people might be shooting them you pretty much have to sort them out of your picked up brass anyways - you never know when someone else's stuff might fall into your area, or if outdoors there might be cases left over from a previous shooter).

Basically, for plinking, I'd pick my desired bullet weight, sort by price, and pick the cheapest brass cased stuff listed.
 
My Gen4 Glock 21 shoots that Fed Champion Aluminum Case and that TulAmmo steel case ammo really well, very accurate & totally reliable. But for your gun I'd go with Fed American Eagle, your gun will shoot it well and you'll have a nice pile of good brass to start reloading with.
 
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I handload nearly all my .45 ACP, but in scrounging range pickup brass I find a good deal of Blazer Brass, so it shoots for some people. I trade the small primer cases to a guy who uses them so as to not have to change primers for 9, .40, and .45.
 
winchester whitebox

cheap, reliable, as accurate as the person holding the gun at handgun ranges.

'but it's dirty'

i clean my gun after each use regardless of what i fire, so that doesn't concern me.
 
value brands ....

If I didn't shoot Walmart Perfecta brands, I'd buy a few FMJ boxes of Winchester white box, Federal American Eagle, PMC Blazer(brass type), or Seller & Ballot. S&B seems to have good QC and consistent performance in modern well made firearms.
When I first purchased my S&W Shield 9mm, I CCWed a few mags of 124gr FMJ 9mmNATO until I could purchase some new Gold Dot 124gr +P short barrel.
 
I think Federal American Eagle burns a little cleaner than CCI Blazer. I have used plenty of both with no problems. I don't reload the Blazer brass. Just leave it on the bench for someone who wants it. I reload the majority of my handgun ammo.
 
Unless you are heavily into competition I think you are over thinking the subject of "range" ammo.

This. Seriously.

It's range ammo. You're not in a bullseye competition. you're just trying to break in a pistol. Any old WWB, CCI blazer brass, S&B, Rem UMC etc... will work just fine for that purpose.

The difference between any of these is just not that great, and it shouldn't make any difference that you are breaking in the gun rather than just normal range practice. The same ammo would be used for both purposes.
Now stop over thinking and go shoot! And make sure to take pictures to post here. :D
 
Federal/American Eagle, Blazer Brass, WWB, Herters (Cabelas has it on sale at 19.99 a box), Monarch (Academy Sports). I have used all of these with no issues from any of them. Some were smokier and dirtier than others, but for range fodder they all worked well.
 
Here's my list of who likes what:

American Eagle (6)
Winchester (4)

PMC Blazer (1)
S&B (1)
WWB (1)
Herters (1)
Monarch (1)
Fiocchi (1) ...I think?
CCI Blazer (2) ...and now two very negative thoughts


I realize it's not critical what I use, but I now feel more comfortable with American Eagle and Winchester. ....and yes, I'll post photos!
 
hummmm....
CCI = Blazer aluminum
CCI = Blazer Brass
CCI = everybody's favorite primer (not mine by the way)
Speer = CCI
Speer,CCI = Federal
Federal, Speer, CCI, Weaver, Simmons, Redfield, Outers, Ram-Line = ATK (Alliant Techsystems )

yeah the same Alliant that makes our powder

what a small shallow trough we all wallow in

anybody have a couple thousand small primer 45 cases to trade for large primer cases?
 
I like LAX Ammo for bulk. They have reman and new.

I've used LAX for about 2 years, shooting new and reman in .45, .41 Mag, 10mm, .357 Mag, .38 Spcl, and 9mm. I have had zero problems. The loads are consistent and they shoot clean. LAX customer service is excellent--the one time I did have an issue (mixed some 44 Mag in with my 41 Mag), they took care of it right away.

I shot some other .45 reman, which shall remain unnamed, that was dirty and inconsistent--sometimes the charge was so light, I checked for squibs. LAX is the polar opposite. I heartily recommend.

PS--If you're not using AmmoSpy, you're paying too much.
 
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