Am I getting old...or is it the Fiocchi ammo??

Maybe I am getting weaker in my old age, or less tolerant, or just soft but I have a question regarding Fiocchi ammo.

It has been awhile since I busted out the .45's for a trip to the range, my M&P .40 has been getting most of my love lately. A week or so ago I picked up a nice used full-size M&P .45, so I figured it was time, and warm enough, to head out to the range today. Digging into the ammo bunker, the first batch of .45ACP I came across was Fiocchi 230gr FMJ. I loaded up some mags for the M&P, and while I was at it figured I would bring a 1911 along for comparison. Holy crap, either it has been too long since I shot any of my .45's, or that Fiocchi is some hot ammo!! The pistols were almost unbearable to shoot. Certainly difficult to hold for second shot placement with any consistency. Anyone else have any experience shooting the Fiocchi and care to comment how it compares to WWB or Federal or Remington or whatever???

Thanks.

Just geting old like the rest of us.

Fiocchi ammo tends to run a little more powerful than American stuff. Fiocchi is an Italian firm, though I hear that it now makes ammo at a plant in Missouri.
Apparently, Fiocchi still loads it like the Italian stuff.
European ammo tends to be slightly more powerful, to more powerful, than American stuff. Depends on the caliber and whether it's loaded for rifle or pistol.
European ammo for the 8mm Mauser has long been known to be more powerful than American stuff. The Germans load the ol' 8mm up off its knees, figuring that the shooter will use it only in strong, modern guns.
Here in America, our manufacturers tend to load ammo more conservatively, figuring that it will find its way into old or weak guns.
The above in mind, I'm not surprised that Fiocchi .45 ACP seems hotter than the standard American stuff.
Fiocchi makes an excellent .38 Special load with a full-metal-jacket of 158 grs. Just a plain ol' round nose, nothing fancy. But if you envision that you may have to punch through a car window or door with a .38 Special, that's the load to use.
When I carry my S&W Model 637 snubnose, I carry two extra speedloaders. One of them is loaded with the Fiocchi FMJ ammo.

Part of the lore that the German Luger is an unreliable feeder is due to American, lower-pressured ammo being used in it. This problem dates back to just after World War I, when returning Doughboys found their Lugers unreliable with (the newly introduced) American 9mm ammo.
The same problem surfaced after GIs returned from World War II.
If you have an old Luger, try some Fiocchi 9mm FMJ in it. Odds are, it will function fine because of the slightly higher "zip" of the Fiocchi ammo.

I like Fiocchi ammo. It's accurate and offers some loads not usually found on shelves; the .38 Special 158 gr. FMJ, for example.
The "white box" Winchester FMJ of 130 grs. is weak stuff, by comparison. I would not trust it for needed penetration.
I carried the 130 gr. .38 Special FMJ loads in the Air Force, in a 4" S&W Model 15. It was notorious for having less stopping power than the 148 gr. wadcutters with which we qualified.
One sergeant shot at a fleeting vehicle and all three 130 gr. FMJ bullets bounced off the trunk and rear window. The Fiocchi stuff, if we'd had it then, would have certainly punched a hole through.

I'll have to try the Fiocchi .45 ammo. Should be good stuff for my Kimber Custom Classic Target, when I carry it.

Fiocchi

I work for fiocchi. We make federal as well. And our plant is located in ozark Mo.

Some of the European loadings of traditional European cartridges, such as .32 auto, are loaded hotter than the US versions...I often carry a .32 ACP pistol, and use S&B ball ammo only. Out of a 4.5" barrel it is well over 1000 FPS and VERY accurate*...Penetrates 11" or more as well, and there is little recoil to worry about.

I have read that many US brands of ammo are made elsewhere and just carry the US brand names. I did not know that Fiocchi was made here...but it is very good, reliable ammo.

* the pistol is a 1944 FN Browning Model 1922 with German commercial proofs. It has some finish dings, so I decided to carry it after replacing the springs. It is a gem, has never failed and is extremely accurate.

Yeah. It's made by machine and it's inspected by 5 people as it goes down the line. So only the good quality shells are shipped out.

I've run some Fiocchi thru my CZ-82 9mm Mak and it is on the hotter side but works well. But then just about anything does in the -82.

Gatofeo said:

Part of the lore that the German Luger is an unreliable feeder is due to American, lower-pressured ammo being used in it. This problem dates back to just after World War I, when returning Doughboys found their Lugers unreliable with (the newly introduced) American 9mm ammo.
The same problem surfaced after GIs returned from World War II.
If you have an old Luger, try some Fiocchi 9mm FMJ in it. Odds are, it will function fine because of the slightly higher "zip" of the Fiocchi ammo.

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I have a friend who-after some experimenting-settled on 147gr Fiocchi as his "go to" off the shelf Luger ammo. Even though he's a handloader, he's found it to be even more reliable in his Luger than his handloads(and now that ammo prices have come back down, not a lot more expensive).

As for some other stuff-one of the most accurate 32 S&W long loads I've ever used is the Fiocchi Wadcutter. It's also one of the least expensive 32 long ammos on the market-I can usually find it locally for around $18 a box. Even though I have dies and brass for 32 long, I find it "finicky" enough to load-and I shoot so little of it-that I usually shoot the Fiocchi wadcutters. Although no commercial 32 long ammo is anywhere close to hot, the Fiocchi wadcutters are probably one of the lightest loads on the market.

Fio is very good ammo.

blink183sktr said:

I work for fiocchi. We make federal as well. And our plant is located in ozark Mo.

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What products does Fiocchi make for Federal? Loaded ammunition, components (cases, bullets) or both?

blink183sktr said:

I work for fiocchi. We make federal as well. And our plant is located in ozark Mo.

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Any idea why the 9mm 115gr blue box performed like dog doo in my Steyr?

schgsd said:

Any idea why the 9mm 115gr blue box performed like dog doo in my Steyr?

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Probably designed for a heavier bullet...124 grain.

Well you are not imagining anything. The Fiocchi 45 that I bought a whole case of, is warm. As in 900-950 fps with a 230 gr bullet warm. The bullets in those rounds seem to be seated deeper than most other brands. Shorter OAL. They are also small primer pocket brass.
I have half a case of 115gr 9mm Fiocchi as well and think that stuff is good. I didn't crony those yet though.

How old are you now and how long has it been since shooting those 45's?
Getting older just happens before you realize it, sneaks up and your muscle tone is gone, the hands aren't as steady, the eyesight fades, then you find yourself asking the doctor about those "pills" that might cause a 4 hour dejection....yeah might just be age related, I can relate!
Gary

blink183sktr said:

I work for fiocchi. We make federal as well. And our plant is located in ozark Mo.

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Where is the plant at? I drive through Ozark several times a year.

schgsd said:

Any idea why the 9mm 115gr blue box performed like dog doo in my Steyr?

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I use it in my Taurus and my M&P .40 converted with a Storm Lake Barrel. I have had no issues with it and really enjoy shooting it. I also use the 170 gr. .40 in both of my .40 S&W.

I've been liking the Fiocci in 45 acp - it cycles my Les Baer 1911 which can be picky and not like light loaded ammo as it is still pretty tight. But yes it does have more recoil than some others.

My shooter Luger (see avatar) prefers 124gr Fiocchi, which is a little hotter than average.

I shoot Fiocchi through my Bersa 380 and browning 1910. 380 auto
Works great for me.

I'd like Fiocchi to make another run of .455 Webley. I agree that their .32 S&W long wadcutter is pleasant and accurate. However, S&B makes .32 S&W long with a 100 grain round nose, flat point bullet that is just the ticket for those revolvers marked .32 New Police made by those guys across the river.