I have shot a couple or 3 thousand 22s...no real problem other than being dirtier than most and maybe not as accurate as the US made stuff. I have about 300 of their 9mm. May try some soon to see how it is.
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Armscore, you have a real problem
- Thread starter PeterJ
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rockquarry
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Spend a little more and get a better quality American-made product. Granted, they aren't perfect either, but it might be better to take a chance on them before tryimg the cheap imported stuff. If you make price the deciding factor, you will often be disappointed.
SWFan27
Member
I have three Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum revolvers. They function fine and shoot great, except when using Armscor ammo. There are usually a few duds in each box that won't go bang. Someone online joked that Armscor should advertise that you get 45 rounds and 5 snap caps per box. I will never buy Armscor again and I am using up whatever I have stashed away.
Yesterday there was some event at the range, so I did not stay long. I only shot 22 rounds of 357 Mag, and 3 rounds would not fire. That was through my always dependable 686+. Last week I brought my Models 19 and 66 and had 2 rounds that would not fire out of a box of 50. It might be the cheapest stuff pricewise, but not if you factor in the duds in each box.
Prior to this, and after many thousands of rounds of centerfire ammunition, I have had one dud that would not fire. That was a 357 Magnum, Magtech 158 grain soft point round. I have had a handful of high primers with my dad's reloads. The only other centerfire factory ammo problem I have ever had was a high primer on one round of a Remington HTP 38 Spl. Armscor gets the trophy. Thankfully I was just shooting holes in paper. If they make self-defense ammo, best of luck to anyone trusting their lives with it.
Yesterday there was some event at the range, so I did not stay long. I only shot 22 rounds of 357 Mag, and 3 rounds would not fire. That was through my always dependable 686+. Last week I brought my Models 19 and 66 and had 2 rounds that would not fire out of a box of 50. It might be the cheapest stuff pricewise, but not if you factor in the duds in each box.
Prior to this, and after many thousands of rounds of centerfire ammunition, I have had one dud that would not fire. That was a 357 Magnum, Magtech 158 grain soft point round. I have had a handful of high primers with my dad's reloads. The only other centerfire factory ammo problem I have ever had was a high primer on one round of a Remington HTP 38 Spl. Armscor gets the trophy. Thankfully I was just shooting holes in paper. If they make self-defense ammo, best of luck to anyone trusting their lives with it.
smoothshooter
Member
Is all the ammo you have been using from the same lot number?
SWFan27
Member
No. The 125 grain is older than the 158 grain. They are both extremely problematic. I have never had a problem like this with other brands.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Shooters saving a few pennies on a box of ammo. Why not buy American?
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
The LGS had a Black Friday sale (prior to the Pandemic) and one of the Bargains was cases of Armscor .45 ACP. I never had a problem with any of the rounds and I used the brass for reloading and not a problem for reloading either.
Yendor357
Member
Two weeks ago I was in Rural King. They had Armscor 36 grain brass plated hollow point on sale. $3 for 50. I bought 2 boxes. Excellent accuracy; I get half inch groups at thirty yards from a sandbag rest with a 10/22 with a custom heavy barrel. I have a 4.5 inch Ruger Mk II that put 5 shots right at 1.5 inches at 25, from a rest.
I went back to Rural King and bought 20 more boxes. The stuff is a little waxy, which is ok. It’s shoots about as clean as anything else. My 4 inch 617 doesn’t shoot it very well, 2.5 inch groups at 25. But the Rugers shoot Armscor like that what they were built to do.
I haven’t really kept track, but I guess I’ve shot over 300 rounds of the stuff. I have yet to have a malfunction of any type. The Armscor 36 grain HP is about 25 fps slower than CCI. Standard deviation is respectable.
Maybe Armscor upped their rim fire ammo quality. I know for sure that I’m going to buy more.
I went back to Rural King and bought 20 more boxes. The stuff is a little waxy, which is ok. It’s shoots about as clean as anything else. My 4 inch 617 doesn’t shoot it very well, 2.5 inch groups at 25. But the Rugers shoot Armscor like that what they were built to do.
I haven’t really kept track, but I guess I’ve shot over 300 rounds of the stuff. I have yet to have a malfunction of any type. The Armscor 36 grain HP is about 25 fps slower than CCI. Standard deviation is respectable.
Maybe Armscor upped their rim fire ammo quality. I know for sure that I’m going to buy more.
Shooters saving a few pennies on a box of ammo. Why not buy American?
FYI: Much of Armscor’s ammo is made in Montana.
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SWFan27
Member
I have read mixed reviews concerning the Armscor rimfire stuff. Never tried it and never will. After my experience with their centerfire ammunition, I will avoid the brand like the plague. I am glad to hear it worked well for you.
THE PILGRIM
Member
It’s a no-go for me, all calibers.
Plenty of better brands available, why take a chance?
Plenty of better brands available, why take a chance?
Sgt. Buzzard
Member
Just say no. Shooters don't let other Shooters load Amscor.
This has been a Public Service Announcement.
This has been a Public Service Announcement.
SWFan27
Member
I won't risk another penny spent on anything Armscor, but my S&W 617 ten shot 22LR revolver will shoot anything. If it does not go bang the first time, I just flip the round so the firing pin hits a different spot on the rim where it most likely has some primer.
For target 22LR the copper plated Federal Champion is hard to beat. Very low failure rate, accurate and always easy to extract from the revolver's cylinder. A lot of brands have me smacking my ejector rod to get the brass out because it is thin and expanded after being fired.
Yendor357
Member
I took inventory, I’ve fired 10 boxes, or 500 rounds of Armscor 36 grain brass plated HP. Still not a malf. ( Ruger Mk II, 10/22, 617)
You won’t try the stuff? COOL! That just leaves more good quality, low priced 22 ammo for me.
EDIT: In the interest of science, I ran 100 rounds of Armscor 36 grain HP brass plated thru my 7 inch M41. Some people say those guns are fussy, but that’s not been my experience with my 2 M41s. That target is not my best work. But honestly, as badly as I was shaking, I’m surprised it was that good. 64 year old dude, drinking a big ol’ diet Dr Pepper, then trying to get all squinty eyed isn’t conducive to fine results.
I then hit my 3 inch steel round 20 in a row from 27 yards. Then I stretched it out to 100. My victim was Mini Iron Man.(16X12 with a 4 inch square head) I missed shot #29 out of 30. Darn!
I shot one round into 2 milk jugs laid end to end. The bullet went into one cap traveled thru both jugs and out the back cap, striking a board I place back there, in case it got thru both jugs, which it did. The hollow point was plugged with red plastic from the cap. I found the bullet. Zero expansion.
You won’t try the stuff? COOL! That just leaves more good quality, low priced 22 ammo for me.
EDIT: In the interest of science, I ran 100 rounds of Armscor 36 grain HP brass plated thru my 7 inch M41. Some people say those guns are fussy, but that’s not been my experience with my 2 M41s. That target is not my best work. But honestly, as badly as I was shaking, I’m surprised it was that good. 64 year old dude, drinking a big ol’ diet Dr Pepper, then trying to get all squinty eyed isn’t conducive to fine results.
I then hit my 3 inch steel round 20 in a row from 27 yards. Then I stretched it out to 100. My victim was Mini Iron Man.(16X12 with a 4 inch square head) I missed shot #29 out of 30. Darn!
I shot one round into 2 milk jugs laid end to end. The bullet went into one cap traveled thru both jugs and out the back cap, striking a board I place back there, in case it got thru both jugs, which it did. The hollow point was plugged with red plastic from the cap. I found the bullet. Zero expansion.
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SWFan27
Member
Looks like you got lucky, and I am glad to hear it. Armscor is way to hit or miss for me to take another chance on.
I haven't shot much of their ammo. Just a couple of boxes of 44spl, and a brick or two of their 22LR.
No problems so far.
No problems so far.
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American Quality/Armscor/Cheaper Than Dirt
In September of 2025 I purchased 250 rounds of American Quality 5.56 62 gr. ammo from Cheaper Than Dirt.
Out of 250 rounds, I have fired, or tried to fire 88. Of the 88 only about 45 functioned properly, the remaining were either duds, or had jammed in both my AR rifles.
This is a failure rate of more than 50%.
Cheaper Than Dirt has changed ownership in the time since I placed this order and the new owners aren't taking ownership of this issue.
In September of 2025 I purchased 250 rounds of American Quality 5.56 62 gr. ammo from Cheaper Than Dirt.
Out of 250 rounds, I have fired, or tried to fire 88. Of the 88 only about 45 functioned properly, the remaining were either duds, or had jammed in both my AR rifles.
This is a failure rate of more than 50%.
Cheaper Than Dirt has changed ownership in the time since I placed this order and the new owners aren't taking ownership of this issue.
After the gouging shenanigans they pulled during the big 22LR shortage a few years ago, I haven't ever visited their website since - and don't intend to.
So, this situation with the dud ammo doesn't surprise me one bit. Sounds like the new owners are no better than the previous owners.
No thanks.
But thank YOU for letting the rest of us know.
