Anyone heard of/used Bitterroot Valley ammo? How is it? I picked up a 50rd box of 158gr LSWC .357mag today for $15 a box. It's in Starline brass and looks ok to me. I think this is the company Cheaper Than Dirt sells.
Bitterroot Valley?
- Thread starter ARMinSC
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
supersmitt
US Veteran
bitterroot valley
I have used BVAC ammo in my 9mm, 38spcl., and 32 auto. All have performed very well with no misfire and a clean burn. It is sold on cheaper than dirt at a great price, so I use it a lot. I just added a MOD57 S&W 41 Mag. with 6" barrel, so I will let you know how the ammo does in one of the big boys. I do know that the stated fps is usually lower than real world speeds, but the accuracy has always been great. Let me know if you have any problems though. Smitty.
I have used BVAC ammo in my 9mm, 38spcl., and 32 auto. All have performed very well with no misfire and a clean burn. It is sold on cheaper than dirt at a great price, so I use it a lot. I just added a MOD57 S&W 41 Mag. with 6" barrel, so I will let you know how the ammo does in one of the big boys. I do know that the stated fps is usually lower than real world speeds, but the accuracy has always been great. Let me know if you have any problems though. Smitty.
snoopdawg45
Member
Bitterroot Valley
I have used it in the 22 mag. with great results.
John
I have used it in the 22 mag. with great results.
John
Bullzaye
US Veteran
My understanding is that BVAC is an offshoot of HSM. I had originally heard that there was some differences of opinion within HSM, and one group split off to form BVAC...not sure if there's any truth to that or not.
What I do know is this: About 4 or 5 years ago when BVAC was just starting up, someone in the Phoenix area organized a group buy with BVAC. Several friends of mine and myself went in on about 4K of 5.56 and 3K of 9mm. The 5.56 seemed okay, not excellent...but decent practice ammo.
The 9mm however, was another story. To make a long story short...it's accuracy was atrocious. It didn't matter which pistol, or even carbine...the "group" looked like a shot pattern. Many strikes on the target exhibited keyholing. My friends experienced the same problems. We bundled what we had remaining, and sold it locally. Good riddance.
Granted, this was years ago. I see other people seem to have had good results with some of their pistol ammo, so perhaps we just got a bad batch, or perhaps it was "teething pains" for BVAC. At the last show I attended in Phoenix, Miwall had ammo cheaper than BVAC. For my money, I'd much rather have Miwall, even if I have to pay more. Maybe someday, if I continue to hear great reports about BVAC, I may give them another try. But for the moment, I'll pass on their ammo.
Tim
What I do know is this: About 4 or 5 years ago when BVAC was just starting up, someone in the Phoenix area organized a group buy with BVAC. Several friends of mine and myself went in on about 4K of 5.56 and 3K of 9mm. The 5.56 seemed okay, not excellent...but decent practice ammo.
The 9mm however, was another story. To make a long story short...it's accuracy was atrocious. It didn't matter which pistol, or even carbine...the "group" looked like a shot pattern. Many strikes on the target exhibited keyholing. My friends experienced the same problems. We bundled what we had remaining, and sold it locally. Good riddance.
Granted, this was years ago. I see other people seem to have had good results with some of their pistol ammo, so perhaps we just got a bad batch, or perhaps it was "teething pains" for BVAC. At the last show I attended in Phoenix, Miwall had ammo cheaper than BVAC. For my money, I'd much rather have Miwall, even if I have to pay more. Maybe someday, if I continue to hear great reports about BVAC, I may give them another try. But for the moment, I'll pass on their ammo.
Tim
Test
We tested some of their 9mm rounds.
YouTube - 9mm Luger - Bitterroot Valley 124 Gr. X-Treme Defense - Ammo Test
Andre'
We tested some of their 9mm rounds.
YouTube - 9mm Luger - Bitterroot Valley 124 Gr. X-Treme Defense - Ammo Test
Andre'
I fired 150 rounds of the 115gr "FMJ" (discovered they were plated when I was able to shape the bullet with a simple pinch of the fingers) through my M&P9 the other day and had keyholing and terrible accuracy; not to mention it didn't enjoy the hard primers either has a couple that would only fire after two attempts. Needless to say I will not be stopping by there booth to purchase more at a local gunshow anytime soon. Not worth the savings and safe to say its probably still ****.
team sidewinder
Member
Hope this isn't too far off topic but I used the close relative company HSM for some 7MM rifle ammo with terrible accuracy results. Looked like a shotgun pattern BUT I gave it to a freind and he has killed two elk with it and thinks it is pretty good ammo. Go figure. My gun didn't like it.
Finn McCool
Member
I've shot a lot of the 158 gr. 38s. I didn't think they were that accurate and they were definitely dirty. I remember when they were $6.79 a box. I shot a lot of them back then.
Larry from Bend
Member
I bought some BVAC 240 grain lead in 44 Special. It worked fine -- a bit dirty but no big deal -- accuracy was good. It did 770 fps in a 4 5/8" barrel. I did appreciate getting the new Starline brass.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
last year I Bought 4round boxes of .338 Lapua Mag on sale for about $4 a round. IT shoots terrible! about 4" at 100 yards out of a Savage 110 SB, Nightforce 5-22x56 nxf. GOOD ammo is sub MOA. I read an article that they had army contracts to fill, Uncle Sam rejects substandard products, which they might dump cheep to recover costs, This might explain why some is great and some is trash. Cheeper than Dirt, may have lower standards than the U.S.Army, they certinally seem lower than mine. Ivan
BVAC is operated by the former production foreman of HSM. I don't know why the split/competitor status. I have purchased BVAC in 10mm and have no complaints. Frankly I wasn't wanting their ammo as much as I wanted more 10mm cases and buying BVAC on sale was only very slightly more than buying the new,empty Starline brass.
