Is Monarch Ammo any good?

[Deer Hunter]

I was at Academy today, celebrating Father's Day with my dad, and I overheard someone saying that a .223 was nearly a perfect deer-killing round. I promptly turned around and walked off before blowing up in their face.

But other than that, while cruising the ammo aisle, I saw Monarch 30-30 ammo for 7 dollars per 20 round box. I couldn't pass this deal up, seeing as how that day I was planning on ordering 100 rounds from Cabelas. It would have cost me around 65 dollars, including tax, to get it from them. I picked up 6 boxes and checked out right then. 44 bucks in all is not a bad price at all.

My question is, is this stuff very good? They are 150 grain soft flat point bullets. I'm still thinking of buying some Hornady 170 grain soft flat point ammo that I usually use for hunting when the season rolls around again, and I was planning on using this ammo just for general purpose. But if I could use it for hunting, I will.

Any opinions? My gun is a Marlin 336.

 

[Dionysusigma]

I know their 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 is essentially Brown Bear or Sapsan. The 7.62x39 runs as well as any other Russian 7.62x39 out of my SAR-1.

Dunno about the .30-30, though. Hope this helps some...

 

[_N4Z_]

I use Monarch in my AK. Works great.

I used Monarch 150gr. in my Marlin336 30/30 and had some issues. Hot (98degree F) humid day the Monarch rounds on firing jammed the action did not want to extract. Had to really crank on the lever to get those boogers out. Did it the first 3 rounds of 20, but then got better. Never seen that before.

Outside of that they hit the mark, but did not group very well for me. ....But then the ONLY factory ammo that has ever gets close to MOA in this rifle, for me, is Remington CoreLokt 170gr. Feds and Winny's usually hit anywhere from 3 to 6" @ 100, which on the high end aint so great.

You may have better luck, and the price is right.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Oh yes, the price is VERY right.

I'm looking to get some of those 170 grain remington core-lokts. I've used them before, the 150 grain version, and they seem pretty good.

Are monarch's downloaded at all? Or can you tell?

 

[rangerruck]

ALL , of the steel case lacquer stuff, no matter if it is called brown bear, wolf, jsc, etc. is made either by one or another russian companies. Jsc /Barnaul or Tula Cartridge Works, TCW. all the stuff that comes out of central europe, is made by PRVI partisan/ sellier & belliot.
Not knocking them here, it is fine stuff for most of my purposes, and their brass line , in some of my stuff , is moa capable.

 

[Deer Hunter]

This ammo is in brass, not steel.

 

[mp510]

This ammo is in brass, not steel.

Deerhunter, I'm wondering if you could test something, and post the results, possibly after firing some. Place a magnet up to the case, and let us know if it turns out magnetic. I have never dealt with monarch, however there are other brands of Russian ammo where they simply coat the steel with brass, nickle, zinc, etc.... and I would like to see if that is the case here.
Anyhow, sounds like you got a good deal

 

[rangerruck]

yeah, im an idiot, forgot to add " the brass stuff that comes out of central europe,"...

 

[cslinger]

I've used it in AKs and SKS to normal Russian ammo effect. Reliable but not exactly match grade grouping ammo. It is the standard Wolf/Bear/etc. stuff under a new name.

I would be anxious to hear how the thutty thutty treats you though.

Chris

 

[Deer Hunter]

After I take my 336 out for some fun, I'll post up the results. That is, after I cook T-bones and potatoes for my dad (Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!), and after I finish a paper that's due tomorrow. Might not be today, but I'll get around to it.

I just performed the magnet test. No conductivity whatsoever. No steel cases, it's all brass. I'll take some pictures when I do my range-report.

 

[Byron]

I had picked up The Monarch 30-30 at Academy. I test fired at 25 yards with open sights on two 94's. The accuracy was better than winchester and PMC.I pulled one round fron the case.The powder was extruded and was 30.3 grains. The fired case weighed with a few grains of Federal,Winchester and PMC fired brass. The bullet is tapered and was longer than 150 grain Core-Locked. The bullet weighed 149.5 grains. I plan on an expansion test this week using a 55 gallon drum of water.Byron

 

[Byron]

I was able to do some unscientific bullet expansion today.I shot two rounds of Monarch 150 grain 30-30 into a 55 gallon barrel at about 1 yard.Both bullets were recovered. One weighed 139 grains and the other was 136. Expansion was was 70 and 62 caliber. Yes, I got wet but it was a hot day. Byron