Ammo brands you avoid

[Smeckler]

In 22lr I avoid Winchester at all turns. I know people love it, but I've always found it really dirty, and I've had a lot of dud rounds with them.

In 9mm I avoid CCI/Blazer brass. Never have liked it and never found it to be that great. I'll shoot it, but it's the last resort ammo.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I think one reason why so many have had issues with rimfire ammo is due to the past couple of ammo shortages and panic buying. Ammo makers were running full tilt to produce and quality control slipped or was allowed to slip.

I believe it hurt centerfire ammo as well but not to the degree it did rimfire. There have been so many reported problems with rimfire ammunition within the last 8-10 years it may well have been ammunition produced during those time periods.

 

[Fishinfool]

For years I used inexpensive domestic .22 ammo for most all uses. Worked fine. Then, in recent years, I also noticed a decline in quality - Accuracy, reliability - in rifles and handguns that didn't usually have issues. I remember when Winchester Wildcat was a great shooting round, and the old T-22 actually was pretty accurate. Golden bullet Remington's were a top hunting load. Now, CCI is about the only American manufacturer that still makes .22's that I don't have to cross my fingers that they are going to shoot well.

But, in my search for quality .22 ammo, and an increasing interest in .22 ARA / Bench shooting, I realized good stuff is out there, just not necessarily made in this country. Lower / mid-priced .22 ammo from RWS, Eley, SK, Lapua, and Wolf is as good, and often better than the domestic stuff was back "in the day". Their upper end match quality .22's offer Olympic winning accuracy and consistency. At about $15 / $20 a box of fifty, you pay for it though.

Personally, I use CCI for most of my plinking, SK Standard Plus for informal target shooting, and either SK Rifle Match, or Eley Match for serious match shooting.

In general, I have had very few issues with CF rifle & handgun ammo. Some .357's with overly thick rims, and a batch of 1990's Remington 30-06 that wouldn't stay on a target at 100 yards - wild velocity swings.

Larry

 

[Dvus]

Remington "Golden Bullets." They are too inconsistent. I've had several lots where 1 in 3 would not chamber in my revolver, and endlessly jammed up my pistol.

 

[smoothshooter]

I have had nothing but good luck with Winchester White Box FMJ RN 9mm and .380.
Really like the WWB FMJFN in .380 when I can find it. It is usually my .380 carry load of choice.
I have a bunch of Russian Brown Bear steel cased .380 in FMJ and HP.
It functions great thru my 1.0 Bodyguard and Glock Model 42.
Will not chamber at all in my new 2.0 Bodyguard. The cartridges will not go all the way into the chamber, leaving about 1/8” of the base end sticking out.
As I said before, the Glock Model 42 .380 gobbles them up and shoots them with great accuracy.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Strongly recommend you avoid Cabelas- Herters 22LR.
It may be made by Win, which I also avoid.
I shoot Cabelas- Herters 9mm all the time, it’s probably Win White Box.
Have never had a problem!
Did buy some of the New and Improved Remington Ranch Hand 22LR.
Haven’t shot any yet.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Remington Thunderbolts. Worst ammo from Maine to Spain

I see lots of agreement on this one. First time I ever used it was many years ago in my Beretta M 70S. It got so filthy I could pull the trigger and watch the slide cycle.

Oh, that was also the LAST time I ever used it.

I mostly avoid any non-American-made ammunition except for military-grade rifle ammunition. And that has been quite a while, anyway.

 

[rockquarry]

Most of the cheap rimfire ammo is a waste of money if you want something reasonbly accurate that always fires and will function as it should in any gun, handgun or rifle. Spend a little more and get something like CCI SV. Of course, if you do that, you give up whining rights, something it seems many prefer to retain.

 

[CH4]

I normally will shoot just about anything. Having said that, I avoid steel cases and bullets and reloads from individuals.
Just last Sunday, I went to the range with my son. He had a S&W AR in the 22LR. It has been good at eating anything he feeds it. He was shooting Armscor 22 LR and had several FTF. They were getting good firing pin hits and we even tried them twice. So I guess they are off the list.

Good afternoon, sir

Regarding your Armscor 22lr ammo. As VP of International Customer Relations for Armscor/Rock Island Armory, I can tell you that you’re not the first to have experienced this issue. In 2023 we had a few lots containing primer compound that seemingly degraded after passing QA. The likely cause was due to chemicals necessarily purchased from an alternative vendor during Covid. The problem has been corrected and ammo from those identified lots pulled from the chain of commerce and replaced. If you wish, Armscor would like to replace your 22lr ammo. Please PM me for details.

Lou

 

[pasound]

Golden bullets and Thunderbolts. Basically any and all Remington 22.

 

[glenwolde]

Funny. I've shot thousands of Golden Bullets out of my 22a-1 over the last couple of years. It's that gun's favorite ammo. The bullets do often spin in the case but it doesn't seem to affect anything.

My best target with the gun and Golden Bullets, 25 rounds at 15 yards. Normal results aren't usually quite this good but still excellent.

 

[Marcruger]

Remington Thunderbolt 22lr HV. I once had a 22 that was finicky as to what it would shoot tightly. Remington Thunderbolt was it. That said, about every 10 rounds or so, one would go "bang" instead of "BANG" that would result in a bad flyer. You never knew which one would go bang, so it gave no confidence whatsoever.
Recent? Herter's, sold by Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops. Chrono'ed one box and got extreme spread from 450fps to 850fps from one box of 50 rounds. Really! Horrible quality control.....if any.
Defender Ammo out of Fayetteville NC as well. Bought some 44 Special for my dad. It was so lightly loaded and low pressure that much of the powder did not burn. Tied up the gun with one cylinder full. I called the factory and they did not seem to care.

 

[Marcruger]

On the other hand, CCI Standard Velocity 22lr is AMAZINGLY good. And consistent.

 

[tom2]

Didn't some old 22s have a firing pin that crushed the rim on opposite sides, in case the priming was uneven? Anyway rimfire duds have never been a particularly bad problem for me but I suppose you can practice with the stuff you find iffy and get the top shelf or CCI stuff for those times you want to be certain, at the premium price. As for other ammo, I do shy away from brands I have not heard of and researched, or some strange imported brand X stuff. I have not had issues with Win or CCI practice ammo in 9MM. My revolver loads are my own. And they go bang. As for if any of it is "dirty" it is relative and I clean my guns always.

 

[BLLefkay]

Definitely need to avoid BPS.

 

[wetdog]

+ 1 on the Thunderbolts for sure.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

In .22 I really avoid Remington and Winchester but I do buy bulk loads when really cheap for close range revolver practice. I don't know who makes it but the worst I've ever had was Browning. Not even get through a cylinder full on my S&W.

I buy the CCI SV by the case, it's my go to round. Grudge match shooting calls for Eley Match but I like just about everyone I shoot with so it's a rare buy.

 

[sigp220.45]

I pay zero attention to brand, 100% attention to price. Even ****** ammo works on the range!

I love Remington Thunderbolts! Its the only ammo that works EVERY TIME in my beloved Stoeger Luger.

 

[375hh1973]

Double Tap

Almost blew up a Super Blackhawk Hunter in .45 colt.

Their response (or lack thereof) made me want to drive there and beat their ***.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Remanufactured ammunition is just reloads. At the Gun Shows some people sell remanufactured ammunition and it could be reloads they loaded during the week before the Gun Show.

For .22 Rimfire most people who have issues do not clean their .22 rifle or handgun properly and blame it on the ammo.