What are some good ammo brands?

[BuckWildM9]

Iv been doing all kinds of research and as i can see theres no real direct answer to good brands, just company bias. Its like asking ford vs chevy. I know for .22lr, federal and CCI are the best if the best and forget all the rest. As for handgun ammo, namely 9mm(which is kind of the main cartridge im asking about but id love to hear about other cartridges as well) ive seen some significant inconsistencies in load from winchester and remington, and half the time both brands wont even cycle right. For now iv just been sticking with sig sauer fmj. I havent heard anything bitter about sig ammo yet but its pretty expensive for just fmj coming in at 25.99$ for a box of 50. Theres dozens of different brands such as fiocci thats alot cheaper but id like to know if the quality is solid as well. For personal defense and hunting iv always assumed hornady is the best brand. But again id like to ask the community for your guys opinions and responses

 

[stchman]

Iv been doing all kinds of research and as i can see theres no real direct answer to good brands, just company bias. Its like asking ford vs chevy. I know for .22lr, federal and CCI are the best if the best and forget all the rest. As for handgun ammo, namely 9mm(which is kind of the main cartridge im asking about but id love to hear about other cartridges as well) ive seen some significant inconsistencies in load from winchester and remington, and half the time both brands wont even cycle right. For now iv just been sticking with sig sauer fmj. I havent heard anything bitter about sig ammo yet but its pretty expensive for just fmj coming in at 25.99$ for a box of 50. Theres dozens of different brands such as fiocci thats alot cheaper but id like to know if the quality is solid as well. For personal defense and hunting iv always assumed hornady is the best brand. But again id like to ask the community for your guys opinions and responses

I can clearly see that you've never shot any Wolf Match Extra, SK Rifle Match, or Lapua rimfire ammo. Those are the BEST rimfire ammo.

 

[bearcreek]

As for handgun ammo, namely 9mm(which is kind of the main cartridge im asking about but id love to hear about other cartridges as well) ive seen some significant inconsistencies in load from winchester and remington, and half the time both brands wont even cycle right. For now iv just been sticking with sig sauer fmj.

That has more to do with your pistol than the ammo. What are you shooting this ammo through? I've personally fired thousands of rounds of Winchester and Remington 9mm through several different pistols and seen many thousands more fired through other pistols and rarely seen a problem. I mostly shoot Blazer, just cause it's generally a good deal. Works just as well as the Winchester or Remington.

 

[ericuda]

What 9 are you having issues with, never had myself but with win white box NATO. Worked fine just inaccurate for me. What issues are you having.

 

[JTHunter]

I can clearly see that you've never shot any Wolf Match Extra, SK Rifle Match, or Lapua rimfire ammo. Those are the BEST rimfire ammo.

What about Aguila ammo?

 

[Ignition Override]

Federal Blazer is both 100% reliable and at a competitive price. My handguns all seem to be very high quality: German P6, P225 ('87), Walther P99 AS and CZ PCR. Zero issues with Blazer: hundreds and hundreds of rds. in each of these guns.

The only type I learned to totally avoid is US-made, "Forged" 9mm, by Winchester. Forged is the only ammo which has caused frequently weird, bizarre issues in any of my guns. It even did so in my new CZ PCR.
You people know about the "Military Arms Channel", the FFL Marine in northern Indiana who shoots on rural land?
Forged caused the only issues in several of his handguns.

 

[BuckWildM9]

For everyone asking what my gun is, the one i use to have was a ruger p95dc. It made the sub par or budget ammo clear. No matter what i did to it it would always struggle like a v8 on watered down gas. I did end up selling it and bought a beretta m9, but id still like to use at least better quality ammo

 

[rust collector]

You will get a raft of opinions based upon many different experiences. I will second the recommendation for CCI/Speer 9mm, but many other brands do just fine. I have had no problems with Geco, Fiocchi, and others in S&W, CZ and Walter pistols.

 

[Spats McGee]

I've had no significant issues with Blazer Brass, Fiocchi, Federal, Winchester or Remington. Yes, I've had the occasional problem round, but they've been few and far between.

 

[bearcreek]

For everyone asking what my gun is, the one i use to have was a ruger p95dc. It made the sub par or budget ammo clear. No matter what i did to it it would always struggle like a v8 on watered down gas. I did end up selling it and bought a beretta m9, but id still like to use at least better quality ammo

Buy 500 of each type you're considering. Shoot it and see which functions best. If it jams more often with one brand, don't buy that one any more and take advantage of the rest of that incompatible ammo to practice your malfunction drills. I'll bet the Beretta doesn't really care much which one you use.

 

[jmr40]

For 9mm range ammo I can buy Magtech, Fiocchi, and Sellier & Benllot locally at 2 different places for $10/box OTD pricing. They've recently gone up from $8/box. It all shoots great. Never had a malfunction with any of it and accuracy is as good as I can shoot

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657182634
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100048229
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018058335

For personal defense years ago I ran across a deal on 500 rounds of 124 gr +p Speer Lawman Gold Dots. They chronograph 1300 fps in my guns. It was part of a contract overrun for a LE agency. There may be better, but I'm set for the rest of my life unless I just want to try something else. And some of the newer 147 gr loads at about 1000 fps are interesting.


The most accurate 223 Ammo I've shot is Fiochhi 50 gr Ballistic Tips. Cabelas sells it in 50 round boxes for $25. This stuff amazes me. I've shot it out to 600 yards with sub MOA accuracy. So far it is proving more accurate than much more expensive loads.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1836125052

For my 22's I've tried most of the target ammo and Wolf, Ely, and all of the major players make very good target ammo. Which shoots best in your rifle just depends. But at a fraction of the price CCI MiniMags shoot almost as well in my rifles. Around 3/8" to 1/2" groups at 50 yards and for what I do that is good enough. I like to shoot my 22's at ranges up to 250 yards and at those ranges the extra speed of the faster loads trumps the tiny accuracy advantage of the target loads. I can get the MiniMags for $8/100. I don't waste my time with cheaper ammo anymore.

 

[SlowFuse]

Sounds like youre Mainly asking about 9mm?

If I'm shooting factory I honestly buy whatever is cheap. I like Blazer and Monarch Brass a lot, S&B and Winchester behind that. If I'm not wanting to pick up my spent cases I will get the Blazer or Federal aluminum. Dont care for the steel in 9mm like Winchesters forged ammo line and I've had bad stuck cases with the old green laquer coated Barnaul/Monarch.

Since you mentioned 22 as well I like CCI and Aguila a lot. I dont do anything that requires the Wolf match, Lapua or SK ammo. Federal 22 bulk ammo isnt the best in my experience. Everybodys guns are different on what they like.

 

[Hartkopf]

Over the last year I’ve shot over 1000 Remington 9mm green and white box. One dud.

Also shot about 1000 rounds Winchester 9mm white box. One dud.

500 rounds S&B 9mm. Zero failures.

1300 rounds S&B 45ACP. Zero failures.

800 rounds Federal Black Pack 40S&W. Zero failures.

I’ve also shot over 700 rounds of Gold Dots in 9mm and 40. Zero failures. 600 rounds Remington Golden Saber in 40 and 45. Zero failures.

Basically anything I run through my Glocks cycle perfectly.

 

[gunlaw]

22 ammo depends on what your firearm likes. They can be finicky. Most major brands put out a good product. If ya really what what you like start reloading your own. Most handgun cartridges are easy to reload and ya get a new hobby and a better understanding of ballistics.

 

[SlowFuse]

start reloading your own. Most handgun cartridges are easy to reload and ya get a new hobby and a better understanding of ballistics.

This.

I cant imagine spending $26 on a box of 50 9mm. At times I think this caliber isn't worth the time to reload since they run $8 or $10 a box, but i'd do it all day long if the higher price became the new norm.

 

[DoubleMag]

Iv been doing all kinds of research and as i can see theres no real direct answer to good brands, just company bias. Its like...

...is solid as well. For personal defense and hunting iv always assumed hornady is the best brand. But again id like to ask the community for your guys opinions and responses

Rimfire; shotgun, including specialty shotgun such as steelshot; centerfire handgun, including SD and plinking, and target; centerfire rifle including plinking i.e. 223, hunting, target/competition..

IMHO it's Federal

 

[Demi-human]

The best brand of centerfire cartridges I’ve come across is Silver Skye Farms.
They will custom load any bullet they can get their hands on. With a tuned for your pistol custom load.
And a guarantee that every round is hand loaded with new materials. They do batch loads for cartridge length testing and will load any cartridge for you.
I have used them for several years now and have never had a “Dud”. In fact, they are more reliable and accurate than any other kind I’ve tried.
Their Magnum Pistol line of premium ammunition is even affordable. Without them half of my collection would be safe bound.
Although quite inexpensive, they are exceedingly rare and can only be found in West Michigan.
Really, they can only be found in MY range box.

Handloading isn’t for everyone, but my experience mimics @Hartkopf’s. The ammunition I could afford to shoot wasn’t very good, and the good ammunition was prohibitively expensive.
Why a crushed round could not be found by machine, let alone an eyeball, is confusing to me.
Now I shoot premium ammunition inexpensively.

During the BeforeTime A.D.(after divorce) I found anything made by Speer/CCI to have a higher quality than most. Cleaner presentation, more consistent performance and competitive pricing, not the lowest pricing. And if it can be done well, it can be done cleanly, looking at you Winchester...

As rimfire goes, you get a higher chance of getting what you pay for, if you chance to pay more for what you’re getting.

 

[Speedo66]

Neither my .22 pistol. a Browning Buckmark, nor my 9mm, a Glock 26 have had any issues, they seem to digest everything, including different bullet weights and types, with no hiccups.

The exception for the .22 would be Remington Thunderduds, but that was ammo with bad priming. Turning the ammo generally had it fire, but some seemed to have no primer whatsoever.

With good 9mm ammo available for under $8 a box, such as Fiocci or Geco, spending $26 a box for range ammo would be an extravagance I could do without. The savings on that price differential could buy me a new pistol in less than a year.

 

[Steve S.]

I shoot S&B almost exclusively; it is usually priced well and seems to be very well assembled with quality components. I have never had a failure with this brand; There are other good ammo brands but I cannot speak to their quality - lots of choices.

 

[Texas10mm]

This.

I cant imagine spending $26 on a box of 50 9mm. At times I think this caliber isn't worth the time to reload since they run $8 or $10 a box, but i'd do it all day long if the higher price became the new norm.

Start casting. My 9mm loads are running me about $3 a box.

 

[bdickens]

I'm gonna ask the type of very obvious question that always gets me in trouble:

Inconsistent how?

 

[bdickens]

Never mind, I just saw it.

There has GOT to be something else going on here. I do believe this is the first time I have ever heard of ammo "not cycling right" mentioned alongside "Ruger P series."

 

[Demi-human]

I was going to say...
At ten and fifteen it doesn’t matter, but longer than that requires more consistency in the loading practice than factory can give.
@LiveLife has many posts on the longer shot consistency.

But, yes, Rugers are know for working well.

 

[Kendahl]

People say unkind things about Winchester white box but I've never had problems with FMJ in 9 mm or .45 ACP. According to one of ShootingTheBull410's YouTube tests, the 115 grain JHP isn't bad.

 

[slickracer]

My recent experience with Federal. 22 is not good. Last year's Black Pack and the 275 packs run about 4-5 duds per 100 rounds. I thought it may have been my pistol but it ran 250 Blazers today without a hitch. A friend is having similar results.

I've had excellent luck with CCI and Aguila. As someone else mentioned, Eley, RWS, SK and Lapua are the elite if you want the best rimfire.

I would go without shooting before I would buy any Winchester .22 based on my last experience with them.

For centerfire ammo, I roll my own.