Shooters generally refer to CCI Blazer ammunition as practice or range ammunition, I notice that CCI Blazer 357 Magnum 158-grain JHP ammunition, for example, is available. While I have never shot any Blazer ammunition except for CCI 45 Colt shotshells (on birds nesting in my eaves where it proved useless yet loud), on paper this 357 ammunition appears to be intended for self-defense or hunting. And if Blazer quality is consistently high quality, why is it not used for such and publicized on the forum?
I've fired and chronographed a fair amount of .380 and 9mm
Blazer ammo over the years and velocities are as high or
higher than brass cased ammo usually. I believe this is
because there is less back thrust from the light aluminum
case compared to brass so it is necessary to keep velocity
up or malfunctions will occur. Even so there are some autos
that will tend to stovepipe with Blazer ammo. But those
who have chronographed magnum revolver rounds report that
velocities are somewhat lower than brass case ammo. The
quality of blazer ammo has improved over the years and I
had a few early rounds of 9mm drop the primer out of the
case and down into my gun. Not what you want in a SD
situation and there's probably some of the old stuff sitting
in people's homes. I haven't had any problems with recent
lots of 9mm but I still like to put a tiny bit of green loctite
on the primers before I shoot it.
