What type of ammunition do you prefer?

What kind of ammo do you prefer?

  • Whatever is cheapest (no real preference)

    Votes: 20 17.4%
  • light ammo

    Votes: 20 17.4%
  • normal ammo

    Votes: 65 56.5%
  • hot ammo

    Votes: 10 8.7%

  • Total voters
    115
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Except for my DEagle (which is loaded to max) I prefer very light loads as I'm getting old(er):cuss:.
 
I would probably say I prefer low to mid-range ammo for the range and warmer rounds for self defense.
 
I usually load at the middle of the range in my Hornady manual. I might stray to the light side if I feel the middle of the range is too hot for the pistol I'm shooting. Very seldom venture into hot loads, I might have one for my USGI carbine, the rest are pretty mild.
 
I reload for accuracy in my centerfires and purchase for accuracy in my rimfires. So sometimes it's all of the above in the survey.
 
Generally the hotter the ammo, the higher the pressure, the less accurate it's going to be. There's usually a point where you'll be on a power scale that will equate to best accuracy or best performance.

When I was younger (like 5 years ago lol) I wanted the hottest stuff in every caliber I could get. Back then I'd see what .40 could do with Corbon and Buffalo Bore from a carbine, it was basically on a level of .357 from a 6 inch revolver, and I all but had to change my drawers when I thought about 30 rds of .357 power level .40 in a Sub 2000 could do. Then I realized only the most premium and expensive ammo could do that and general .40 didn't get that much of a velocity boost in a rifle vs 9mm.

Same with .22, it was Velocitor that was most powerful, but CCI Standard was more accurate.. and much cheaper.

I guess what I came to learn is if I want power, I buy a bigger, more powerful caliber/cartridge and a gun that shoots it. A lot of 9mm diehards will say if they want more power they use +P+ and that can work to an extent, but it's not going to beat a warm 10mm. Ammo capacity, okay, sure 9mm holds more, but how much more? 2 rounds? BFD, I can drop a mag and reload in seconds, the mag capacity argument for semi autos is dead IMO, unless you're talking .45 and 9mm, at that point 4 or 5 or 7 rounds is enough to be a difference maker, but 2 or 3 is not.

If I want a lower power and/or lower recoil I'll see if I can load down a .32 to get .22 LR power levels or 10mm down to 9mm levels; it's easy to load down for decreased power and get good accuracy, it's difficult to increase power and still maintain acceptable accuracy.

Price is still a factor for me, I'm not willing to spend $1 a round on a mainstream JHP factory ammo, or as Paul Harrell puts it "hyper ammo." I'll do it for something that struggles due to low velocity and bullet weight, stuff like .380, .32 ACP (I would say all .32's, but the .32 revolvers are so limited in ammo your only options are mainstream/premium ammo), but stuff for the big three calibers, 9/40/45, if it's Winchester or Remington or Fiocchi, it's generally a hollow point that works.

For FMJ ammo, I buy whatever is cheapest and most accurate. PPU always seems to deliver here.

For handloading, it depends on what I want. If it's 10mm, I want it hot, if it's .45 Colt I want it effective and if 900 fps does the job and is accurate, I'll take it. If it's .32, it depends on the application. Small game I want it low power, medium game I want it warm, self defense I want it hot, deer I want it at max power and accuracy.

So, I guess my answer is price is always a factor, but I want my ammo to do the task I want it to do. If the task calls for hot stuff and I have to pay the price in powder and bullets to do that, fine. If I can get acceptable performance for the lowest price, I'm happy with that too.
 
It got me thinking, what kind of ammo do most people like to shoot?

No idea what ''most people'' prefer, but in any caliber any premium JHP (Gold Dot, HST, PDX-1, Ranger, V-Crown, etc.) works for me and what I am looking for.
 
Cheap ammo for practice, then reload the cases to a moderately warm SD load that works in both my 9s.
 
I value reliability over all.
I can't effectively defend myself or do well in a match if the gun does not work every time. I spent the afternoon sorting out a malf that cost me a place in the match standings yesterday.

I reload for economy with maximum reliability. Shooting IDPA, I don't need x ring accuracy or bear bumping power.

I have been using bog standard 9BP simple hollowpoints for 9mm carry roughly forever. I have shot almost enough .45 XTPs to be confident with them instead of my usual Remingtons.

Revolvers are simpler. Currently Speer 135 gr short barrel. Good compromise between power and recoil, close to the sights.
 
I like normal factory loads in standard and in magnum loads. I don’t fire a lot of magnum loads. When reloading ammo I like my rifle loads normal. I like my handgun loads a little hotter than normal but not by much. But, truthfully, I have had a problem with my right wrist for some time now and need to have surgery so I have been taking it easy on the handgun loads.
 
There are three calibers that I reload. Those are .380, .243, and .38/.357. All but the .38/.357 have multiple different bullet weights in each caliber, yet all are near maximum powder charges. The .243 in particular had the best accuracy (with mixed brass yet) with a quarter grain of max. The .380 is near max because of its short barrel on top of its minimal performance specs. The .38 stuff is only one bullet weight (158 gr.) but in 2 types, JHP & JSP-FP. The difference between the two is the type and amount of powder. I want as much MV & KE, particularly from the .380, as possible, to make the rounds as effective as possible.
 
I like my SD ammo loaded the same and shoots same POI as practice ammo from one of the main manufacturers with great HP design. standard pressure.
 
For range use in any of the pistols I shoot, I choose Win White Box, Federal American Eagle, Rem UMC, CCI Blazer, Magtech, or Prvi Partizan (PPU), which ever is cheaper when I buy in modest bulk, 200-500 rounds. In my revolvers, epecially my .45 Colts, I use handloads with Hornady 255gr RNFP lead bullets. For personal defense, I call my local PD every year and ask them what they issue to P.O.s...this year they told me that they used Federal HST. Accordingly, I use that. If they change that, I'll change to what they use. I use the same weight bullets for range and personal defense use.

I once served on a jury years ago where the ADA prosecuting the case asked the defendant why he was using a heavily customized "killer" pistol with handloaded hollow point "dum-dum" ammunition? Was he a vigilante looking for street justice? Fortunately, he pleaded out before the trial went to verdict so I didn't get to find out how blue state perceptions of firearms owner behavior determined justice. Hence, factory ammo and stock pistol or revolver; the only changes I will make to CCWs is sights, typically, Trijicon HD night sights. Fortunately, in many years of carrying a gun, I have never had to even touch it outside the range and hope that I never will.
 
I make my own and load them for the job that I want them to do so I can not say that I can answer your question and all guns like different loads
 
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For carry guns I try to duplicate high quality SD ammo with my range ammo by reloading. As economically as possible. Same everything for me for EDC. Same gun, same holster, same carry position, same (or pretty darn close) ammo. This took a little time and trouble to achieve.

It was a goal that I wanted to achieve and am very happy with the results.
 
I shot a box of nuclear 125gn XTPs and a box of nuclear GDHPs and now I have substantial erosion on my cylinder arm. That's how I know I loaded 'em right.

Life is good.
 
It depends.

In my 45 ACP M1911's, the loads are similar to the old military standard.

"Magnum" rounds, I shoot mid range loads most even in the 460 S&W Magnum. I rarely shoot full power magnum loads any more in my 32, 38, 44, and 45 caliber handguns. Once in a while, I want to experience wrist snapping, engine block busting recoil so I drag out the full power 460 S&W Magnum ammunition. (Nothing else measures up.:))

I never "hot rod" ammunition designed originally for the black powder era that may be chambered in guns with modern metallurgy.

The old "xx Special" type rounds, my loads are near maximum for the category but they just are not very hot anyway.

I like shooting target level 38 Special wadcutter loads. I've gotten into casting wadcutter bullets for 32, 44 and 45 caliber handguns and enjoy shooting target level loads with them.
 
Normal, Inexpensive Bulk 9mm. And some very good products out there now for training. Do not care about accuracy as per Bulls eye shots, because I do not target shoot my guns. Fast action, center mass, reliable. Defense ammo of course is where I get picky and that will be determined by the individual firearm.
22.cal trainer pistols and revolver same thing. Mostly bulk and determined by individual gun.
380. One brand I use on a Regular basis. Shoots magnificent in all my small pocket guns. Use their standard ammo for training and Plus P for carry.
22.cal rifles, Buy for accuracy.

Pellet Rifles, High quality. Determined by individual rifle. All go though a Chrony and much testing. Have a few Dozen Manufactures and different weights etc.

Do not reload much anymore. Find it boring and time consuming.
 
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