Yup. Blazer Aluminum works well for me. It's on my list, but I guess I shouldn't have abbreviated aluminum.

Honestly, it probably wasn't fair of me to list it since I've never shot their 9mm. Their .380 won't function reliably in my two Bersas, so I never bought any 9.

I don't have that one. Might check it out though. The 2016 Hodgdon (powder) has a magazine size manual for around $8.99 that has a article for 223 reloads. There are plenty of internet videos for the 223/556 also.

Wolf 9mm/115gr fmj, wolf 45acp/230gr ball ammo. Shoot it up no reloading.

Is that the lacquer coated or poly coated?

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As a first time gun owner I only have 500 rounds through my SD9VE and they've all been Federal Champion FMJs purchased at WM ($23.88 for 100/bx). No issues at all. I'm cleaning and lubing it tomorrow for the first time but honestly, it doesn't look too dirty at all inside so I guess they're decent. Don't think I'll be trying anything else anytime soon.

Have you taken the slide off? It gets really dirty under there after about 500 rounds in my experience

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I will shoot anything that is brass cased and new (not reload). Sure some of it has sucked but it's been a good education. You learn how your gun reacts to different weights, powders and pressures. As I've learned, I keep an eye out for sales on the ones I like - Fiocchi and Speer Lawman are a couple of my favorites if I can get a case on sale.

I don't care too much how they operate or feel in the gun, because I will take some time on a regular basis to run some of my SD ammo though my gun to make sure I know how that will operate and feel when I shoot it. The range ammo is more for fun so cost is one of the biggest considerations - for me.

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18-4, 15-4

As for FM reloads the only thing used is the case. Same bullets and powder and machines etc. On their web page they do list the FPS of their ammo.. I buy new ammo because I am saving brass for future reloading .

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9mm Shield

Anybody tried Maxx tech ammo? Good for the revolver guys bad for us semi guys.

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No idea. None of my guns ask

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I use Winchester White box mostly at the range. I'll shoot American Eagle if I can find it and have the extra $ to spend on it. Federal Champion and Champion Aluminum case are also used occasionally, all be it very rare.

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Win white box was the first rounds I ran through my sd9ve it works pretty well. Never shot the American Eagle nor federal champion. Last aluminum cased I ran was some blazer aluminum only for about 50 rounds, for that reason I almost hate buying ammo from big box stores.

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I use that as well. Brownells has it on sale right now. Just ordered four boxes.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

It's not bad stuff. By any means.

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Man I'd hope not my gun would be talking so much ****.

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Ok, makes a little sense. I don't think S&B emphasizes .380 that much; the Czechs use 9x19 currently in their military, and used to use 9x18 Makarov. CZ focuses a lot on 9mm, they go upwards to .40 S&W and .45 ACP, but they only had one model going at .380 (the CZ 83); and that was a commercial version of the CZ 82 in 9 Mak. My guess is that S&B is best when they produce rounds intended to function in CZ weapons, as those two companies are probably tied at the hip when it comes to arming the Czech police and military.

My pistol of choice is a CZ 75, although I shoot quite a few others. It loves the S&B I feed it.

I would guess that Fiocchi would make a better .380 rd, tied to the Beretta 84 etc series.

Again, when it comes to European ammo, I think a lot of them load more to milspec level, as that is likely the bulk of their domestic business (especially compared to US companies). Countries with a tradition of lower calibers for police likely also load those calibers well. The rounds might be ball or FMJ, but otherwise loaded at functional defensive levels (which is what they were intended to shoot).

The US brands, I think they make SD rds along the lines of what police use, they make ball for military, and they make downloaded rounds that are intended for paper (and SHOULD cycle ok, but are weaker than what the guns were designed around). I think the QA checks on those are a little looser than ammo intended for "work", and hence the complaints a lot of people have re WWB and Remington UMC.

When it comes to the lower price range, I get the sense that we can choose between a European rd that is basically milspec, or an American rd that is just for plinking.

For 9mm, I usually check out the "by the case" folks on the internet like SGAMMO and buy Federal 115 grn 9BP hollow points they general aren't much higher that WWB and they are good old school shooters. In a pinch, you can use it as self defense ammo.

I also buy 147grn standard pressure or sub-sonic Hollow points from Federal or Winchester. Again good old school shooters that can double in a pinch for self defense. It's not as easy as going to Wally World and getting WWB. Also the outdoor range I use has pretty much banned bi-metal jacketed bullets, which is almost all of the steel case. The NRA indoor range will let you shoot them, but not if they are steel core.

For me, bulk, old school, hollow points for everyday shooting works and works well.

Chris

I think we can overthink this at times, most of the ammo I've used over the years has been ok. Frankly, I think the worst stuff I've shot was Remington UMC, followed by WWB. This was still ok, and it was about all I shot until ammo started vanishing at times. During the first shortage that I remember, I bought some PMC in 9mm from a LGS, I thought it was better than the WWB and UMC, but it cost more. Did Blazer aluminum then, too. Of the 4, the PMC was the hottest load, and that's when I started looking at other brands.

I've shot a bunch of different manufacturers, and they all seem to go bang, just with various levels of stoutness. That's why I pick up whatever is the best price.

Yesterday i finally stripped it to clean and lube. First time I've ever taken apart a firearm. It was dirty but in have no point of reference to know if it was just dirty or very dirty. But i took my time. Watched a few youtube videos to get an idea and i think it came out great.

I have well over 1000 rounds through mine and she still shines like new on every piece. I'd like to say I'm a clean freak when it comes to my firearms, but I'm sure there are worse than me.

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For training I use Federal American Eagle 124gr and 147gr, since they have the same ballistics as the Federal HST's of the same grain. I have the HST in every gun I carry for self defense.
Gary

I haven't seen federal American Eagle around here for a while.

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Last time I saw American Eagle 9mm, the place that carried it was selling it for around $16-17 a box. It's good honest ammo, but that's a bit steep for FMJ, when I can get comparable for less.

My preference for S&B, PPU and Fiocchi comes from the fact that I don't think they make lower tier ammo for just paper shooting (like Blazer).

Just bought Geco 9 124gr for $209 delivered

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USA Winchester 100 round economy box from Walmart. Never a single problem

I like fiocchi 9mm I feel like their price tends to be a bit inflated though. S&b on the other hand is good stuff, but for whatever reason my lgs has it priced like it's gods gift to the world or something. I'm talking $21 for a box of 50.

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This is sort of related, and I just have to say ... WOW

I have stated that one of the cheaper ammo I am trying out is Yavex 124 gr FMJ.
You can get it from Bud's Gun Shop for 18 cents a round, and it functions fine.

If you buy it by the case, Bud's simply puts a mailing label on the Yavex box. That's a big white cardboard box, with YAVEX 9x19 in big, block 3 inch lettering, with Luger FMJ in smaller, 1 inch gold print. Anyone and their brother who looks at that box knows exactly what is inside.
This is what it looks like


I'm having some fundation repair work done on my house, had a group of workers here (Hispanic laborers hired by my contractor). They came out today to do the job. Good, fast workers, no dillying around. I had to meet someone elsewhere, so I locked up my house and left. I came back and the work crew was finished and packing up.

Fedex must have came, the Yavex box was sitting next to my door...!
Not really sure what to think... thankful and grateful that nobody packed the box up after the Fedex truck left. Kinda concerned that these contractors now know I have a case of ammo, but in the part of the country I live in (and given my neighborhood), I expect every house has a firearm. Still, has me a little shaken.

What does the board think?

I think it's bad that they just slap a label on a box that's so obviously ammo

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Good price for that. Do you know if it's Swiss, German or Hungarian?

yeah, I'm going to contact them about that. it's not like it is a discount on the shipping, and when the box screams "I'm ammo!", I'd prefer it stuffed inside another, more discreet box.

Description says Swiss made but I don't know if it's generic description or actual. Either way I've shot it before and it was good stuff

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I've always heard Geco is excellent, and what I've used hasn't been otherwise. For Swiss-made in 124, that's a great deal.
I see the latest reviews seem to indicate it has magnetic properties. From what I've seen over the years, it goes back and forth with that; sometimes it is, sometimes not. That's not an issue where I shoot, but for a lot of folks, it can be, so please check your batch and let us know.

The brand has an excellent reputation, but that was based on the Swiss and German rounds. I've read that they have since also started listing Hungarian ammo too; I'm not a snob about that, more just curious if anyone notices any difference between the manufacture countries.

Of my preferred list (S&B, PPU, Fiocchi), I would have put Geco up there equal to the top, but I haven't seen it listed this low before. Great find!

They also had S&B for the same price but it was 115gr. Not that it really matters to me but if given the choice and price being equal I go with the 124.

If I remember I'll check if its magnetic. Doesn't matter to me.

Geco is a multinational company

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Eh no need for weak ammo for a bs gun. When it comes down to the protecting myself I'll keep to my m&p 45 with some good jhps

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It's RANGE ammo. Not self defense ammo. This is what you use if you want to go take a class, practice, plink or otherwise shoot your gun in a recreational none self defense manner. For that it works absolutely fine, along with just about every other fmj ammo

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I have some 9x18 pistols too, and have shot everything available through them. All feed without a glitch.

Regarding Wolf and lacquer vs poly- visibly, the polycoated are matte gray, no real tint. The lacquer have a brownish tint.

These all shoot fine.

Wish I could find some more Jing An copperwashed, those were fun!

I most usually use american eagle 147gr fpfmj as my range ammo. It has similar ballistics to what I use (federal LE hst 147gr) .

I ran into a decent sale at cabelas on american eagle syntec 115 gr. shot a hundred rounds. It is very accurate and at 10 yards I like to practice at very little difference in hold point. Anyway, it is big time clean, I mean nothing in the barrel and only a little carbon near the trigger bar on my carry pistol. I am going to use it for my range ammo most of the time now and reserve the fpfmj for touch ups when I feel the need. good luck and good shooting

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Regards from THE Old Fart

I got a box of it at Walmart a few days ago. I was hoping for something cheap (like Perfecta or Federal aluminum) to test out and break-in my latest Armslist score (a M&P9L) , and the counter girl that's always realy helpful dug out a box of this new Winchester stuff.
It's made in the USA, steel-cased, non-corrosive, and brass jacketing, and comes in a fairly plain carboard box of 150 rounds, for around $28 +tax.
The only other budget 9mm they had was Tula, at around
$12+ a box, so I figured I'd give the steel-cased Winchester a shot.
I ran through about half of it, and it's fired fine, and seems consistent, but I couldn't shoot a decent group to save my life,
and suspected the new (to me) pistol was to blame. But today, I ran several types of brass cased stuff through it, and realized it had to be the Winchester ammo.
I've had much better accuracy with Perfecta and Federal aluminum, at about the same price.

Is that winchester forged? I've been wondering about that stuff, I've always been apprehensive about buying it though.

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Check Sportsmanguide, I haven't ordered ammo from anyone else, in years (the free shipping codes they're always sending out make them among the cheapest around).
S&B,Fiocchi and Geco are usually among the most economical ammos they sell (though everything seems to be a little higher as of late).
Just a couple months ago a buddy and I split a case of 124gr S&B, for about $205, w/ free shipping.

I quoted, and then responded to, your earlier question about "winchester forged", so, yeah, it's the Winchester forged
Again, it seemed safe and reliable, and was real cheap for over-the-counter 9mm, but i found accuracy lacking, and I've read a couple reports saying it was exceedingly dirty, but I didn't notice that.

Oops my bad man. I guess I'm still confused from firing a desert eagle from magnum research earlier today. Never fired one before.. I didn't like it at the moment, then later on after all 5 rounds of 50ae was gone I wanted more.

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It appears the manganese case coating to improve lubricity and reliability. is inconsistent and very rough making mags hard to load by hand. Also the, "Clean Burning Powder" has a lot to be desired!

The measure of savings over brass-cased target rds. is not that great.

Here is a review of the of the Win. USA-Forged 9mm Ammo by, Duncan Larsen of Loose Rounds.
Winchester USA Forged / 9mm Steel-Cased | LooseRounds.com

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It's The Carbonaro Effect!

Looking yesterday on another online ammo retailer. They have Geco 124 fmj from German and Hungry. So I'll see what I bought when it arrives today

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So here are the pics. It's definitely Swiss.....or so the box says





However it is slightly magnetic. I tried putting it up to a refrigerator magnet bottle opener and it does stick. Very slightly....to the point that I lost one round. It fell and rolled somewhere and now I'm down to 999 rounds without firing a shot!

Anyway....here is round #999


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I was using anything I could find cheap and 115 gr. because of dirty after effects, I have eliminated remington umm, winchester white box, blazer brass. also winchester wb and remington were inconsistent. PMC is also dirty but more accurate. It took me a while to go through what I had amased in those and I just started using heaters brass case. It is inexpensive, clean burning and accurate. So in 115 fmj that is my winner in my shield. I also started using 124gr and not found it any more accurate than herters 115 so that too is out of the picture for me. Recently I bought a couple of boxes of Federal american eagle with polymer coated bullets. they too are 115 , a bit more expensive pretty accurate and the cleanest stuff I have shot . 100 rounds and not a trace of anything in the barrel. Inside all I could find was a little carbon on the trigger bar. Now on to the good stuff, I use either 135 from freedom munitions or american eagle in 147, good, clean burning and if you wait long enough pretty cost effective, and the most accurate in my shield IMHO.

In self defense, Federal LE HST 147. I also like speer gold dot 124 gr +P, bottom of this list is carbon dpi 115 gr all copper +P (it is too hard to find and too expensive. Also eliminated from my use is federal LE HST 124gr +P (just too much recoil).

that about wraps up my view of the world.
Life is good.

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Regards from THE Old Fart

Oldfart64, just letting you know: Herter's is repackaged Sellier and Bellot (S&B).
Box says so, and BTW that nice small box of 50 is the way S&B loads it too (smallest package I've seen).

Herter's tends to run a good price, but since I have a local Cabela's, the tax gets me. I find if I can buy S&B online for under $220 a case shipped, I can beat the local prices.

Just to update- Bud's is now out of Yavex. Glad I was able to scoop up what I did.

Arik, have you found any difference between the RUAG products; GECO, RWS, MFS? I've seen some MFS recently at a not-too-bad price, and it's got me wondering...

I don't have enough experience with them time wise. I have some MFS 223 from years ago. They are zinc case I believe. Weren't too bad but I haven't shot them in a while..... probably a few years. Gave some to a friend last summer when he bought a M&P15 and he had no complaints

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Interesting deal on Magtech if you use Sportsman's Guide in the club.

It's $237 if you buy a case, but it's $9.97 if you buy it by the box of 50.
I successfully ordered 20 boxes (1 case worth) at the lower rate, and they have free shipping coupons. Came out to under $200.