What ammo do you trust?

[BabaBlueJay]

There are so many options out there for ammo, which one do you trust?

For me it comes down to two, Sellier & Bellot FMJ and Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Pistol and Handgun Ammo. Neither has ever caused me an issue, and I can hit small 3 inch metal targets at thirty yards in both double/single action with both in my 686-1.

[Hair Trigger]

Originally Posted by Goudy686

There are so many options out there for ammo, which one do you trust?

My own reloads.

[weatherby]

Originally Posted by Hair Trigger

My own reloads.

Sorry I could only give you the one like buddy.

[racoonbeast]

I have a very high opinion of S&B as well. But, I have an even higher opinion of the ammo that I make.

[BabaBlueJay]

Originally Posted by racoonbeast

I have a very high opinion of S&B as well. But, I have an even higher opinion of the ammo that I make.

What machine do you use to make your own. I would trust my own stuff more too but I do not even know where to start.

[bigwheelzip]

Federal's line of "Personal Defense" branded ammo rides in every defensive caliber magazine I own, from .380acp to 12ga.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

[stanmerrell]

I too give S&B high marks for reliability, availability, and accuracy. They make a 124 gr 9mm load in fmj and hollow point which shoots well in my CZs. It's available locally for a good case price.

[robertrwalsh]

Except for the ammo I actually carry I make pretty much all my own ammo. I prefer to use commercial ammo for my carry ammo due to the often-discussed potential legal pitfalls of doing otherwise. (I too like S&B ammo.)

[Buford57]

I'm the odd man out here. I trust my reloads and nearly all commercial ammo except S&B, Remington ammo produced in the last two years before bankruptcy and the various Russian brands.

S&B because the first two boxes I bought had multiple dud primers. Before the know-it-alls chime in with "Maybe it's your gun": after each failed to fire the first time in the first gun I tried them in additional guns until the primers wore through. Never fired. When it happened with a second box I scratched them off the list. Maybe their QC has improved. Other can risk it. I won't.

Remington because a friend I trust found random rounds within more than one box that were seated so deeply out of spec that neither of us was willing to try firing them. I will pull the bullets, dump the powder and reload. Packaging was undamaged and placement of the rounds within the box eliminated the possibility of "maybe you dropped them" that Remington CS suggested.

Russian because I have better things to do with my time than spend more time cleaning soot out of my guns and off my hands and clothes than I did shooting. I sometimes shoot BP intentionally, but I expect better from smokeless.

Armscor is on probation. Just before the Obama ammo drought I bought 2 bricks of .22 LR from them. I had stuck and/or ruptured cases in bolt action, pump and semi-auto rifles as well as revolvers and semi-auto handguns. They took it all back and refunded my money. Great people to work with. Since I don't use .22 LR for self-defense I may try them if I ever need to buy that caliber again, which is doubtful.

[stansdds]

Outside of 22 LR, I've not had any reliability issues with factory ammo from Fiocchi, Federal, Remington, Speer, or Winchester. I have also had 100% reliability with my reloads. As to what I rely upon for self-defense, it would be Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, or Winchester Ranger T, as I have experience with these loads, but I would not hesitate to use Remington Golden Saber either.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Originally Posted by Goudy686

There are so many options out there for ammo, which one do you trust?

For me it comes down to two, Sellier & Bellot FMJ and Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Pistol and Handgun Ammo. Neither has ever caused me an issue, and I can hit small 3 inch metal targets at thirty yards in both double/single action with both in my 686-1.

I wouldn't trust S&B from what I've shot of it. BB is too expensive to shoot. I trust American Made center fire ammo and my reloads.

[RCL-09]

Trust for what? Self defense? Plinking? Training?

Overall I have not had any issues with most commercial ammo for plinking and training.

Even the russian steel cased ammo has a place in my stock. Not in my pistols, but works fine in my revolvers. Excellent for SMGs.

As for self defense I like the Barnes line in most all calibers, and mostly use that but am comfortable with other major brand quality ammo.

[Laketime]

I've been a Remington man for ever.

[THE PILGRIM]

No problems with any of the several Factory Center Fire ammo I have shot lately.
Including import Steel and aluminum cases.
22LR? Have experienced several Failures to Fire with CCI and other brands in several guns.
Like 2 FTF of CCI Stingers in the same magazine.
Ruger LCP II.

[Nevada Ed]

For factory ammo my SD revolver does best with the Speer Gold Dot.

My pistol SD load that does best for me is made by Federal in a HST load.

Lots of good ammo out there, they just need to be tested for any problems
and hitting near POA, is also a nice thing, if it happens.

[racoonbeast]

I am surprised to hear of the problems with S+B. Not doubting them. Just surprised. Between my two shooting buddies and I, we have probably shot up the better part of twenty thousand rounds of the stuff over that last five or six years. My next problem will be my first one, and my buddies swear by the stuff. They report no issues.

I guess any maker can have problems. It has just not been our lot in life to have bought any thus far.

[MsRuth]

Define "trust."

All will go "bang."

I've never had a problem with S&B, but it is not the cleanest burning stuff I've ever shot. Machts nicht, since I like to clean after using.

My handloads are impeccable-- thanks dad-- but an attorney advised me to use the exact same ammo my local PD, Sheriff, or State Police use in my EDC. That way the question of why I use Gold Dot Short Barrel can honestly be answered with: "that's what ___ determined was the best ammo."

The same attorney said it would be a very slight, but very real possibility that were I to use handloads, any data I kept pertaining to my reloading activity, and practice with same could potentially possibly maybe be subpoenaed.

[bigwheelzip]

Originally Posted by racoonbeast

I am surprised to hear of the problems with S+B. Not doubting them. Just surprised. Between my two shooting buddies and I, we have probably shot up the better part of twenty thousand rounds of the stuff over that last five or six years. My next problem will be my first one, and my buddies swear by the stuff. They report no issues.



I guess any maker can have problems. It has just not been our lot in life to have bought any thus far.

Me also.
I got my S&B fix in the form of their rebranded Herter's at Cabela's. Gone through cases of their .357 and .38sp.
Always flawless, clean burning, and the smooth crimps we're the best at feeding through my Rossi 92.


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[Bozz10mm]

When you say trust, I assume you mean for self and home defense. I trust just a few in that category:

Federal HST
Speer Gold Dot
Remington Golden Saber
Hornady XTP
Sig Sauer V-Crown
Underwood

Okay, so more than just a few.

[sousana]

I use IMI almost exclusively.

[ZGrand]

I've had good luck with Federal, S&B, PMC, Norma, Fiocchi, Aguila, Hornady, CCI, and Sig Sauer. I'm not good enough and don't shoot enough to quantify which is more (or less) accurate, but they all go bang for me. I don't use any of the cheap Russian stuff or remanufactured ammo.

[teletech]

Originally Posted by Goudy686

What machine do you use to make your own. I would trust my own stuff more too but I do not even know where to start.

Pretty much all the single-stage presses are alike for the beginning-to-intermediate reloader. Many of us go on to progressive presses. Other brands make perfectly fine machines and usually for less money, but Dillon Precision makes the progressive presses that seem to be generally recognized as the gold standard.

Like others, I find properly stored ammunition from a reliable maker is amazingly reliable, apart from .22. I'd advise firing some number for function in your particular firearm before relying on it for anything serious.
The only junk ammo I bought new was some Remington 500 packs of .22 I bought a decade or so ago which have about a 5% failure rate.
Surplus ammo depends a lot more on storage than who made it but the Egyptian 9mm was a disaster, the Pakastani .303 wasn't much better.

[Beemerguy53]

I don't reload, and shoot only name-brand factory loads, mostly Federal, Remington, and Winchester. Depending upon caliber, I have some S&B, Blazer, and IMI as well.

My nightstand gun -- a 3" Model 65 -- is loaded with .38+P, Winchester 125-gr. SJHP...

[URIT]

My Governor likes Remington .410 and .45 Colt. My EDC models 3953 or 4053 like Federal, and my other Gen3 range guns eat Fiocchi and Magtech without complaint.

[wellthought1]

Federal, Hornady and Speer work great. I've never had an issue with thousands of rounds.

For me, Winchester is too dirty. Remington is unreliable insofar as firing when the primer is hit.

[MsRuth]

Originally Posted by URIT

My Governor likes...

Three of my former Governors can't buy ammo...what with being convicted felons and all that.

[Billylee]

Winchester is my ‘go to’ for 38 special, CCI Mini mags for 22, and Privi Partisan for 38 S&W.

[quikdraw67]

CCI/Blazer Brass, PP, Fiocci, Norma, no problems.

Remington UMC goes bang, but a little dirty.

Federal/AE no problems.

Cant really say the last time I had a problem with factory ammo.

[Rustyt1953]

I wouldn't need all 10 fingers to count the number of factory duds I've encountered in the last 50 years.

[Tubbsy]

I shoot more federal ammunition than any other brand by a huge margin.... I'm a fan of s&b too... and the occasional box of winchester AA's for clays...

[Igiveup]

Hornady Critical Defense in my carry gun. For general shooting, plinking, just fun stuff, I shoot any ammo that is available at the time, with no particular favorites, as they all go bang.

[S-W4EVER]

I’ve had the best performance out of Federal ammo. Not so with Hornady. Carried some Hornady Critical Duty for a year and then when I went to the Range while it would fire it wouldn’t cycle the action on my 1911 (even though I put a box of the same lot # through the pistol before carrying it. I didn’t contaminate the primers with solvent either, I know better).

[pawncop]

For self defense I still have Hornady Critical Duty. This was the ammunition we were issued and never had any problems with it. I trust it and bet my life that it will work.

I have shot numerous brands and rarely have had any problems.

I do recall an issue with some Winchester .357 Sig rounds that were underpowered and would not cycle my Glock. I don’t recall the name but I think it was some kind of indoor or clean burning product. I do know regular Winchester .357 Sig works very well.

I believe the vast majority of ammunition produced in the U. S. is a quality product and ammunition imported is also acceptable, but possibly not as a high quality product. With the millions of rounds produced there will always be the possibility of a defective round or even entire lots, but overall I think you can trust the name brands listed earlier.

[scoobysnacker]

Originally Posted by Goudy686

There are so many options out there for ammo, which one do you trust?

That's a great question, since there are so many "new"brands out there that we just never saw before.

Coming from a 9mm POV, I have Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP (not +P) for carry. That would be my primary choice. I picked up some Federal Classic 9BP JHP for decent (still below what cheap FMJ is today), would be my second choice out of what I have.

I consider Hornady a good brand and would trust that too.

If forced to use FMJ in emergency (and for range use), my pre-covid preferences were always:

• S&B
• MEN white box NATO
• Fiocchi
  124gr fmj in that order, followed by 115gr fmj in that order.
• I liked Geco and would put it equal to those. I picked up a case of 124gr fmj loose, recently.
  
  In just my own impression, those are loaded warm and consistent, and close to each other. They run clean, and I suspect they all are at Euro NATO spec.
  
• Yavex (Turkish) 124gr fmj. This stuff is hot, I will only shoot out of sturdy platforms I trust, fullsized CZ, Sig, Beretta, 5906.
• Blazer Brass, I consider to be soft range ammo, and consistent.
  I put these 2 brands on the high/low ends of the scale; BB is safe in anything. Yavex will beat most guns up.
  
  In between those, I lump
• PMC
• PPU
• Aguila (it stinks but shoots nice)
• Magtech
• American Eagle
• IMI
  I put these in a group, will take whatever is cheapest of the bunch.
  I don't trust the JHP in those brands to expand, so I would stick with FMJ.
  
  I find Tula/Red Army/Bear/Wolf etc steel to shoot ok, but wouldn't trust outside of a range unless I absolutely had to (in 9x19; in 9x18 Makarov I do).
  
  Based on past experiences, I don't trust Winchester White Box or Remington UMC. Dirty, very inconsistent, had a squib with UMC. I'd trust Russian steel over them.
  Re other cals, WWB doesn't feed well in my .32s, whereas everything else does.

Fairly comprehensive, but there's a lot more out there. I have no idea where Norma 9mm, Belom, Igman, etc fit on that list.

[Valmet]

When it comes to SD stuff- I’ve always been a fan of Rem Golden Saber (9mm 124-gr+P). Target stuff- lots of stuff, WWB, Rem green/white, PPU, Fed White box, Amer Eagle, PMC Bronze, Fiocchi, etc. Pretty much anything not Tula or Wolf (not that it doesn’t work, just find it to burn dirty).

[scoobysnacker]

Originally Posted by Valmet

When it comes to SD stuff- I’ve always been a fan of Rem Golden Saber (9mm 124-gr+P). Target stuff- lots of stuff, WWB, Rem green/white, PPU, Fed White box, Amer Eagle, PMC Bronze, Fiocchi, etc. Pretty much anything not Tula or Wolf (not that it doesn’t work, just find it to burn dirty).

Tula is dirty, but been my personal experience that it's reliable.

Winchester has awful QC, and Remington was worse (it's a different Remington now). I see a recent Winchester recall on another site, so Winchester remains the kings of doing it half-*****ed.

I truly hate to say it, but I'd TRUST Tula over WWB.

[THE PILGRIM]

Lately Have shot some Tula in my Glock 43x.
It does give you a cloud of black smoke and a Hearty Hi-yo Silver.

[Rpg]

I inherently trust all commercially loaded ammo to function in that it will go bang when shot.

When it comes to Handgun ammo that’s supposed to expand, I don’t trust any of it. If you want a big hole, start with a large diameter bullet!

[Rudi]

Certainly over the last couple of years it's been anything I could get. A big fan of Winchester, CCI, and Remington. But have had no problems with any ammo brands.

[BabaBlueJay]

Originally Posted by scoobysnacker

That's a great question, since there are so many "new"brands out there that we just never saw before.

Coming from a 9mm POV, I have Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP (not +P) for carry. That would be my primary choice. I picked up some Federal Classic 9BP JHP for decent (still below what cheap FMJ is today), would be my second choice out of what I have.

I consider Hornady a good brand and would trust that too.

If forced to use FMJ in emergency (and for range use), my pre-covid preferences were always:

• S&B
• MEN white box NATO
• Fiocchi
  124gr fmj in that order, followed by 115gr fmj in that order.
• I liked Geco and would put it equal to those. I picked up a case of 124gr fmj loose, recently.
  
  In just my own impression, those are loaded warm and consistent, and close to each other. They run clean, and I suspect they all are at Euro NATO spec.
  
• Yavex (Turkish) 124gr fmj. This stuff is hot, I will only shoot out of sturdy platforms I trust, fullsized CZ, Sig, Beretta, 5906.
• Blazer Brass, I consider to be soft range ammo, and consistent.
  I put these 2 brands on the high/low ends of the scale; BB is safe in anything. Yavex will beat most guns up.
  
  In between those, I lump
• PMC
• PPU
• Aguila (it stinks but shoots nice)
• Magtech
• American Eagle
• IMI
  I put these in a group, will take whatever is cheapest of the bunch.
  I don't trust the JHP in those brands to expand, so I would stick with FMJ.
  
  I find Tula/Red Army/Bear/Wolf etc steel to shoot ok, but wouldn't trust outside of a range unless I absolutely had to (in 9x19; in 9x18 Makarov I do).
  
  Based on past experiences, I don't trust Winchester White Box or Remington UMC. Dirty, very inconsistent, had a squib with UMC. I'd trust Russian steel over them.
  Re other cals, WWB doesn't feed well in my .32s, whereas everything else does.

Fairly comprehensive, but there's a lot more out there. I have no idea where Norma 9mm, Belom, Igman, etc fit on that list.

Best answer so far IMO. I agree with your entire list, I like gold dot but I can hardly ever find it in 357 so my options are what my local gun store has (which in terms of hollow points is not good) or S&B/Armscor for FMJ and S&B is just better IMO, not that Armscor is trash but S&B is clearly better IMO.

Is it horrible if sometimes I think carrying FMJ I shoot well and just knowing what is beyond my target is better than using hollow points I suck with?

[Rudi]

PMC makes some fine ammo too.

[CH4]

Originally Posted by Bozz10mm

When you say trust, I assume you mean for self and home defense. I trust just a few in that category:

Federal HST
Speer Gold Dot
Remington Golden Saber
Hornady XTP
Sig Sauer V-Crown
Underwood

Okay, so more than just a few.

I agree with the above and will add Buffalo Bore.

[Eddie Southgate]

Mine.......................

[sipowicz]

Anything made after WW1 that wasn't left out in the rain.

[GypsmJim]

Originally Posted by Laketime

I've been a Remington man for ever.

After having problems wit EVERY SINGLE BOX of ANYTHING with the Remington logo, you could not give me any more even for free.

[IAM Rand]

I trust the ones that go bang. I trust my training more. Like cars, baby seats, and just about everything else in this world, sometimes you get something good and sometimes you get a recall. Buy a box, shoot a couple and then load er up. If you are worried about your ammo, work on your malfunction clearing.

[MsRuth]

Originally Posted by teletech

....I find properly stored ammunition from a reliable maker is amazingly reliable, apart from .22... some Remington 500 packs of .22 I bought a decade or so ago which have about a 5% failure rate...

Just my $0.02, but my experience with .22 LR is quite firearm specific, I have two revolvers of different manufacture that I purchased new and have NEVER had a misfire on... I have also never dry fired them.

I have a couple semi autos that occasionally misfire. After a while I started saving the misfired cartridges and have successfully fired each one in those revolvers-- turning the cartridge 180 degrees. Both semi-autos were pre-owned, and are most easily returned to use after cleaning by dry firing.

Because of the way a rimfire firing pin crushes the rim between the pin and the face, it is my belief that the two used firearms have peened their firing pins just a smidge from being dry fired, and this accounts for the fact that they have a 2% or so misfire rate versus the revolvers perfect track record.

[Smokester653]

There's only one entity I put my trust in and it doesn't come in a box. With that being said I pray that I never have to use my weapon that whatever I carry will perform well and stop whatever threat I have encountered. I have used several types and brands of ammo there's one I prefer over the rest but I don't trust it..it's like anything else it may fail when you need it just pray that it doesn't...

[hsmith9491]

Goody don’t shoot anyone 30 yards away.

[raljr1]

Originally Posted by Rustyt1953

I wouldn't need all 10 fingers to count the number of factory duds I've encountered in the last 50 years.

Honestly, in over 50 years of shooting, I cannot recall a factory center fire cartridge not firing.

Robert