Hi All,

Just wondering...have any of you tried the Federal aluminum ammo in your M&P? I've been using the brass in my 9m and it eats it up. I've been anxious to try the aluminum rounds, but afraid that over time it will cause malfunctions or wear out the inside of the barrel. Does anyone have any experience (or know of someone) using these rounds over a few thousand rounds? They seem to be making their way around the consumer market since ammo is increasing and you can still find these for about $10 for a box of 50 rds at your local Walmart. Thanks.

Ran through 100 rounds of it in my Shield. No issues.


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I rented a glock 19 and 43 today and used the aluminum rounds, but refused to use them in my M&P. I'm afraid of the long term damage, if any at all. Thanks for responding.

Never had any problems with the Federal aluminum brand. The 9mm, 40 s&w, and 45acp has all been flawless in multiple firearms in my experience. Cheap range ammo for punching holes in paper at the range. Thumbs up.

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Bishop

It can be pure dog **** in some guns, and feed perfectly in others. Dont know till you try it.

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Smith all the things

One range we go to only allows brass. So that's all I buy just for simplicity's sake.


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I used it during a IDPA match. Four new boxes from WalMart. The rounds blew up in my Shield and my Sig. S&W ended up replacing my gun. Sig was able to repair my P320. Federal finally paid for the ammo and repairs. Needless to say, I don't fire that ammo in my gun, I'll stick with brass.

I've shot 1k thru my shield,M&Pc,M&P F/S 2.0, Sig 226 Legion and Ruger
1911 all 9mm never a problem.

Sheesh!! I'm sorry to hear that. Wow! For clarity, S&W replaced it for free, yet Federal paid you for the repair anyway?

That's good news. I'm wondering if there's any wear on the inside of the barrel. Of course, one can't tell but just wondering anyway. Thanks for responding.

shouldn't be any wear aluminum is softer then brass.

+1 on this. I've used it in all these calibers as well with no problems. I shot for groups with it in 9mm a few weeks back to test against some remanufactured stuff I picked up on the cheap, and the Federal aluminum was the least accurate between the 3 brands I had on hand that day. But it wasn't bad by any means, and I buy this whenever its available if I'm there to get something that day. It cheap, it runs fine, and I don't reload so I don't care. Its also easy to see on the ground when you are picking up the empties. Fired 50rds of it today through a PPQ and a P99 without an issue once again. I won't do steel case, but I'll do aluminum all day.




The right side was some play money that the kids used for some project that was in the trash. Figured it was easier to cut a section of it than sit there and scribble with a sharpie.

Gotcha. Thank you.

[QUOTE=Flash_80;139496104]+1 on this. I've used it in all these calibers as well with no problems. I shot for groups with it in 9mm a few weeks back to test against some remanufactured stuff I picked up on the cheap, and the Federal aluminum was the least accurate between the 3 brands I had on hand that day. But it wasn't bad by any means, and I buy this whenever its available if I'm there to get something that day. It cheap, it runs fine, and I don't reload so I don't care. Its also easy to see on the ground when you are picking up the empties. Fired 50rds of it today through a PPQ and a P99 without an issue once again. I won't do steel case, but I'll do aluminum all day.[QUOTE]

Hey, thank you for the info and the pics! Nice shooting. I agree with you, I'm not interested in steel at all, but it seems like this ammo might work from time to time. I, too don't reload so I don't care about the brass, but rather the life of the pistol and how this ammo will affect it over time. I just might try it out. Thanks again!

Ive ran a few hundred rounds of Federal alum casing with no issues or jams whatsoever. Cheap range ammo! (Shield 9mm PC here)

When the ammunition blew up in both my guns at the match, it blew the extractor out of my Sig but the Shield continued to fire. I ended up with several dead triggers during the course of fire with my Shield. I told CS at Sig and S&W what occurred with the ammunition. Both sent me a shipping label. After inspection, Sig repaired my gun and charged me for parts, labor and shipping. I then had to send the bill to Federal CS to get reimbursed. S&W called me and told me they would replace the entire gun under warranty. I received a new Shield 9mm. Federal picked up the aluminum ammo on a call tag and after a month said they would reimburse me for the ammo and sent me four boxes of Federal American Eagle. They never would disclose what happened with the ammo and why it blew up, or apologize. I carry Federal 124g HST in my 9mms, but use either Freedom Munitions, Atlanta Arms or Blazer Brass 115g 9mm for practice and matches.

Attached Images

Fed Ammo 1.jpg (61.0 KB, 121 views)

You can brass ammo at walmart (Perfecta) for the same price.

I'd stick w/brass.

I used to use that aluminum Federal all the time ,but since 9mm prices have come down a bit I don't bother with it any more.
I never had any issues with it but I found it a bit less accurate
than Lawman , and I like to shoot 124gr if possible and they only put that stuff out in 115gr.

I have used aluminum ammo for years with NO problems at all! The only ammo I stay away from, but, have used it in the past is LACQUER COATED AMMO. The lacquer melts and gums up the chamber.

When i started shooting 4 years ago, the range i used did not allow for non-brass ammo so since then I've been in the habit of buying only that regardless of where I shoot now. And as i tend to get the brands i want in the $10-11 range (if not less depending on any specials or coupons) i haven't even considered aluminum.

Figured what i use works so I don't see a benefit to switch.

my .02 only of course.

I'm pretty sure the bullet is the same as the brass, only the casing is aluminum. Shouldn't be any problems. Stay away from steel casings as they can damage extractors and such over time.

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Something really smart

I would too, but they're all out and have been for the last two months which is why I've been considering the aluminum.

Aluminum is softer than brass. There shouldn't be any extra wear. I use it all the time across the board ....all my guns. No issues.

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If you had aluminum ammo that messed up your gun, it arguably had NOTHING to do with what the case was made of, but everything to do with how that particular lot of ammo was loaded at the factory. Bad lots happen... which is why it's good to keep the boxes for a while... so you can identify which ammo caused the problem for the ammo-maker.

I've had problems, mostly long ago, with squib loads -- all from a single case.

I put a few hundreds of aluminum rounds through some of my guns a while back. I saw no difference between aluminum and brass, but then I read in the H&K operators manual that they recommend that aluminum not be used in their guns. No such warning in S&W manual. Based on H&K's recommendation I stopped using it.

As I buy my ammunition online I can get quality brass ammo for Wal-Mart prices.

To my knowledge only steel casings are laquar coated. And the melting problem is more urban myth then reality Some say it does melt but in my experience it has never. Of course I don't use steel in anything but my AK. I have shot thousands of rounds of laquar coated steel thru my AK and have never seen any residue left behind, even after long extended firing that got the barrel so hot it was almost glowing.

As for as aluminum cases ammo, I've shot a few boxes without issue but I'll always pay a few pennies more for brass. Speer lawman is my practice ammo of choice. Cheap, hot and accurate and set up balisticlly to be the same as their gold dots. Which I carry as SD ammo

I've used it with problems in both my 40c and Shield 45

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I've run about 700 rnds of the CCI Independence aluminum though our Beretta 92s, Glock 19, and M&P9c w/ no problems at all. Recently ordered another case.

It was a problem for some shooters, but that was years ago, before the ammo-makers switched coatings. The new stuff (not lacquer) doesn't create problems.

I think I saw one or two handguns, maybe 10-15 years ago, lock up after a long, heated range sessions, when a round in the chamber stayed there while the weapon cooled. The small bit of the coating in the chamber area, when it cooled, was like glue. It wasn't a common problem, but it did happen once in a while. But "memory" on the internet lasts forever.

I never used the steel-cased stuff because it was so dirty. (Since then, the indoor range where I shoot won't allow steel-cased ammo on their range; they don't like steel bullets, either. There's no salvage value to that ammo, and because they use a service to clear the shooting residue, allowing steel add cases or bullets would add to their costs.)

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It was a problem for some shooters, but probably far fewer than the internet seems to indicate. Then too, that was like 10-15 years ago, before the ammo-makers switched coatings. The new stuff doesn't create problems.

I've seen one or two handguns, 10-15 years ago, lock up after a long, heated range session, when ammo in the chamber was allowed to cool. The small bit of gunk in the chamber area was like glue after it cooled down. It wasn't a common problem, but it did happen once in a while.

I haven't heard about it being a problem for the Eastern Bloc steel-cased ammo for at least a decade -- but "memory" on the internet lasts forever. (Bad memories do, too...)

My shooting buddy and I use it a lot. We've used it in a Beretta 92, Glock, Springfield RO compact, Jericho, CZ-85, and FNH pistols without a hitch. I'll be trying it in my brand new Shield later this week. We won't use steel case ammo.

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Wayne
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