Ammunition - Quality

[Fat Boy]

Having somewhat recently returned to handgunning after an extended hiatus, I am a bit bewildered by the various factory ammunition available. I have been reading what I can find about factory ammunition manufacturers, and noted that some makers are reputed to produce poor quality products. Having recently had to ask a gunsmith to remove a squib load from my revolver after all my best efforts failed, (Hornady - .38 special), I would appreciate your response on any or all of these topics-

1. In order from best to worst, what manufacturer offers the best quality handgun ammo?
2. In order from best worst, who offers the best reloaded, or "remanufactured" ammo? (If such is commercially available)

Most of my shooting is punching paper, or destroying whatever targets are available in the "burn pit" at my local sporting clays range on off days (those unbroken clay pigeons make great targets)

I do not reload, and I don't think I will get into that aspect in the future, so my thoughts are geared to loaded shells, available at retail.

Thanks!

 

[GRIZ22]

You will get all kinds of answers on this. Some will think Federal sucks and someone else will think it's the best. Many of the "it sucks" crowd make this opinion on limited experience with that ammo. I had the chance to use just about everyone's (all US manufacturers and several foreign) ammo and they are all about as good as the next.

 

[pyle]

You will get all kinds of answers on this. Some will think Federal sucks and someone else will think it's the best. Many of the "it sucks" crowd make this opinion on limited experience with that ammo. I had the chance to use just about everyone's (all US manufacturers and several foreign) ammo and they are all about as good as the next.

Is that even true of Wolf? It seems like I've read more negative about them than most others?

 

[BrianB]

Everybody knows that Wolf is the highest quality around!

Just kidding. Pyle's right. Opinions run rampant. I guess it depends on your needs. If you're highly competitive, you'll be more discriminating. If just target shooting for fun, there's plenty of quality practice ammo. Same for defense.

For my 40 (and I'm a newbie), I've been using Winchester 165 gr (Wal-Mart white box)for practice. For defense I use Federal 135 gr hollowpoints. Just my purchases, and by no means highly researched.

 

[papajohn]

In nearly all cases, you get what you pay for. Bargain ammo NEVER is.

I've seen inverted primers, bullets mashed down into the brass, bullets inverted, no primers, flash holes not punched through, and from all different makers. Mostly I stick with the bigger names, and inspect it when I get it home. Anything questionable gets tossed in the "Recycle" pile.

Lately I've tried Speer/CCI's Blazer Brass ammo, good stuff for the price, but it's not Personal Defense ammo, more for practice and break-in.

PJ

 

[TAB]

The only thing I know for sure, is out of all the ammo I've ever seen or shot

wolf is the worst.

 

[Ops Officer]

Friends don't let friends shoot Wolf.

 

[searcher451]

If you spend any time at all on the range, the chances are good that someone somewhere along the line will introduce you to Winchester white box FMJ. Given all of the choices out there, it's excellent stuff: reliable, efficient, and reasonable in price. You can do a whole bunch worse and, for the money, not a whole lot better.

 

[john1911]

If I'm not shooting my reloaded ammo in my revolvers, I'm usually shooting Magtech.

I like CCI Blazer Brass for factory ammo in my semi-autos.

 

[GRIZ22]

Is that even true of Wolf? It seems like I've read more negative about them than most others?


The Wolf I've tried (9mm, 45 ACP, 223, and 7.62x39) wasn't bad. It was very dirty compared to alomost any other ammo but was reliable and reasonably accurate. The powder also smells different. My major concern with using it regularly is steel cases. I haven't broken anything using it but I do remember reading Jeff Cooper saying the U.S. made steel case 45 was hard on extractors. The lacquer on the steel cases gums up your chamber so you will be sure to have problmes if you shoot it a lot and are one of the I "clean my gun every 1000 rds club".

 

[foghornl]

Absolute worst ammo I have ever found is American Ammo from Miami, FL...NOT to be confused with Federal's American Eagle brand.

American Ammo cases are headstamped 'A-MERC'. I rate this stuff 18 steps below Wolf. A-merc is the ONLY ammo my KP-90 Ruger wouldn't shoot. SOme .357 Amerc had bullets of .353 diameter...too small to even meet 9MM Parabellum specs.

 

[CU74]

I don't use A-MERC and I don't use Wolf, (I paid a lot of money for my older Smith and Colt handguns). As far as remanufactured ammo, I've tried several manufacturers and IMHO the Georgia Arms bulk (Canned Heat) offers the best practice ammo value for your hard-earned dollar.
http://www.georgia-arms.com/index.asp
If you are planning to get back into "handgunning" in a big way, I suggest you reload...........