Several days ago I got an email from Streichers for a sale on 45 ACP WWB ammo so, I bought four boxes at a tad over $15 per box. After shipping charges and a "shipping surcharge" four boxes ended up costing $77.31. I never had a surcharge tacked on an ammo order before. The website indicated a code of "W-Q4170 45 AUTO 230 FMJ USA" but when I opened the package there was no familiar circled stars with Made in USA on the box. If you go to their website that W-Q4170 shows the white box with USA on the front of it-these boxes don't. Looking at the side of the box it had a "Made in Czech Republic". I wasn't too happy about that and even unhappier still after examining one of the boxed that had 80-90% of the primers indented.

I'm a little concerned about this ammo and don't know whether to shoot it or not and I hate to try sending it back.

Most likely loaded by S & B.
Sellier & Bellot - Pistol and revolver cartridges
Review here:
S&B or Fiocchi Ammo - Pistolsmith

Looks like a variety of comments about S&B if indeed that's who made these. I don't know...may sell it or give it away. Pistols are too expensive to risk ammo of questionable quality.

Absolutely nothing wrong with Sellier & Bellot from the Czech Republic, which is where this ammo comes from. Win's USA ammo in 9x18mm Mak and 7.62x25mm Tok is also made by S&B.

BTW, the little dimples you see on the primers are caused by the polishing process prior to packaging.

This is the only ammo I've ever bought that had the dimples. The website and my invoice says USA. Czechoslovakia ain't USA. I'll shoot this up but won't by from Streichers again.

I've seen the "dimples" on Federal and Speer before.

As for the invoice, I wouldn't doubt that those involved at Strechers didn't look at the fine print and just assumed that since the box says "Winchester USA", then it was produced in the U.S. And I have been advised that any imported ammo must have printed on the box the country of origin.

It's been at least 2 years now that Winchester White Box ammo has not been made in the USA. The boxes that say USA on them are made here but the ones without the USA are made elsewhere and are becoming the majority of Win WB ammo now.

My only problem is, if Winchester is no longer making the ammo they have no reason to charge me Winchester prices. It's wrong to charge me for USA made ammo and sell me something else. But then again, most products these days are made in China but we are still paying Made in USA prices.

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SWCA #3437

I think I'd send Striechers a nastygram, explaining why you're unhappy. Nobody likes unhappy customers, and perhaps they'll do something to put you back in Happy Land.

Why? It's not their fault that Winchester contracts with S&B for small lots of ammo for their USA brand ammo.

I have fired literally thousands upon thousands of rounds of S&B ammo over the years with no issues. I would consider it one of the better ammo's out there. If the box says Made in USA and the ammo is actually S&B then that is a whole different matter.

Ditto. I've bought and shot S&B .45 and 9mm by the case with the dimple and no issue. Planning on ordering half a case of .38, if it's available.

My problem with this is that the add had Made in USA on the box-the final product didn't. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise. I think Streicher's is in PA or somewhere north but this shipment came from Greensboro, NC.

As for the dents on the primers, I can't image them tumbling live ammo. I tumble my cases in corncob media and then prime the cases-not after priming. That doesn't make since to tumble, or whatever means they do it, live rounds. If the charge and bullet's not in the case and they "clean" them but the primer is, either media has to get in the case or some sort of liquid does. I don't know-a most unrewarding buy. They did get an email from me.

I'd actually consider the S&B ammo better than most US-made Win white box I've shot thru the years.

The box the last pair of Carolina 704 logger boots I bought had an American flag on it. The boots were made in China.

I have some WWB 5.56 ammo from Walmart that says "Made in Israel" on the box .

Yep , made by IMI , Isreali Military Industries. I think Olin has a hand in their ammo factory.

From everything I've seen they do not put the USA in the red circle on the front of the box if the ammo is made outside the country. That might have changed but I didn't see it. If that's true it's totally unacceptable!
I agree, no matter if they are not false advertising but if they are claiming made in USA and it's not, that's a huge problem!

ColColt,
Most if not all ammo companies tumble their ammo after it's loaded and before final packaging as far as I know.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

That's because Win. is shutting down production in IL and moving to MS. That's why their ammo QC is garbage as basically they have shafted their workers who:

A. cannot sell their homes in this economy

B. probably don't want to move to MS for a helluva lot less money


So if you're boss told you that you are working day to day and that they are moving your job to some other state for far less money you wouldn't care about QC as well.

There is a price to be paid for a Walmart world.

S&W must be moving too because their QC is in the toilet .

Actually the IMI stuff should be of good quality. Weidener's sells the 5.56mm stuff and I've never had a problem and accuracy has been excellent. Frank

They did. They built a new plant in Houghton, ME for steel gun production.