44 magnum Blazer ammunition

[pawncop]

Was in a LGS today and on the clearance table was nine(9) boxes of Blazer 44 magnum 240 grain SWC.

Dealer offered them at $14.00 a box. Yeah I bought them all.

Tried looking them up on the net, but could only find 240 grain JHP listed.

Just curious if any members have experience with these rounds.

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[stansdds]

I've never used it and I believe it is a discontinued product. The only references I can find indicate that it is aluminum cased ammo, so the shells are not reloadable. It is a reduced velocity load using a swaged lead bullet, so velocity is probably around 1000 fps from a 6 inch barrel. $14/box of 50 is a fair price for this ammo, a few years ago one box sold for $26 on one of the gun auction sites, but recently it has been going for $15 to $20/box.

 

[pawncop]

Thank you for the information. Not a huge shooter of 44 magnum but I have two (2) so I thought it was a good deal.

 

[Dave Lively]

$14 / box of 50 is a great price for any 44 ammo, special or magnum. I have no experience with it but for range ammo I don't see how you can wrong with that price.

 

[luvsmiths]

Thank you for the information. Not a huge shooter of 44 magnum but I have two (2) so I thought it was a good deal.

That WAS a great deal. I have NEVER seen that 14 a box or anywhere even CLOSE!
I shoot that when I have it. It is great range ammo. I would have jumped on that deal personally, as you did.
28 cents a round.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

It should be decent range ammo but at that price it is great.

 

[rwt1405]

I'd say you got a very good deal!

I'd have taken it all, also.

 

[BC38]

$14 / box of 50 is a great price for any 44 ammo, special or magnum. I have no experience with it but for range ammo I don't see how you can wrong with that price.

My thoughts exactly. I reload 44 magnum and I'd buy all I can get at $14 a box. They're $8-$10 a box to reload.

 

[Paul105]

Would love to see a picture of the bullet. If it's the Speer swaged lead SWC and these are true magnum loads, severe leading could be a problem.

Hope these shoot well with minimal leading -- if so, OP got a great deal.

Paul

 

[Rule3]

Are these aluminum case? If so there are several of them listed on auction sites. Must be older, discontinued?

 

[dla]

This is 900fps stuff, I believe. I tried shooting it in my 329pd, but the bullets pulled. I gave the rest of the box to a friend who liked steel revolvers.
But if I didn't reload, and wanted plinking ammo for steel revolvers, this would be perfect - especially at that price.

 

[pawncop]

The rounds are the aluminum cartridges so they can't be reloaded.

I am presuming they have been discontinued as the load is not listed on the CCI website, only the JHP version.

I am very grateful for your responses. The velocities of 900 to 1000 FPS seems appropriate. I will be watching for excessive leading.

I wonder about the time frame when they were discontinued.

 

[crazyphil]

I bought a new PPK and a box of Blazers about 15 years ago. Went right
to the range. Many, many misfires. Took the gun back. The shop gave
me another new PPK. Went back to the range. Same experience. Back
to the gun shop. They sent the whole lot of Blazers back. Bottom line:
I wouldn't think Blazers was a good deal if you sent them to me FREE
and postpaid.

 

[Biggfoot44]

This was the aluminum case counterparts of the then semi- common .44mag 240gr lead ammo @ nominal 1,000fps . The original R-P version was more of a RNFP shape, while the Blazer was more of a true SWC . For either the vels were typically in the 900's .

Not withstanding the above happenings with the PPK , this load was a good one . ( And I never personally had any issues with aluminum Blazers .)

The 240gr Lead @ 1000fps loading was reportedly brought out by R-P at the urging of gunwriter Hal Swiggett , who considered such a load to be ideal for whitetail hunting . Later on , this loading was offered in the yellow box UMC line .

 

[6518John]

Would love to see a picture of the bullet.

I believe these are the loads.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Those are the ones .

 

[BC38]

I bought a new PPK and a box of Blazers about 15 years ago. Went right
to the range. Many, many misfires. Took the gun back. The shop gave
me another new PPK. Went back to the range. Same experience. Back
to the gun shop. They sent the whole lot of Blazers back. Bottom line:
I wouldn't think Blazers was a good deal if you sent them to me FREE
and postpaid.

Wow Phil, talk about holding a grudge!
You still feel that strongly after having ONE bad experience 15 years ago?
Not a believer in second chances, eh?

FWIW, I've shot a box or two of the Blazer aluminum cased ammo in 9mm, 357mag, and 44special.
Every round went bang. They were all a little on the mild side as best I can recall, but otherwise no issues. I generally don't buy aluminum or steel cased because I want the reloadable brass and additional cost for brass cased is offset by the value of the brass. BUT, if I could get it as cheaply as the OP I'd buy it, just for those occasions where I can't retrieve my brass due to range rules or don't want to try due to weeds or whatever.

 

[pawncop]

6518John, those are the rounds. Again I am grateful for the information.

 

[6518John]

I think those are great loads. I like Blazer ammo. And I don't think you have to be afeard or ashamed of any 240 grain SWC lead load at 900-1000FPS against paper, man or beast.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have shot Blazer 357, 38 Special and 9mm.
While shooting them in my Kahn Runt 9,
Did get get 2-3 failures to return to full battery ,
Gun was hot and dirty.
Only shoot them for paper punching.