Preferred Ammo Brand?
- Thread starter BabaBlueJay
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OP
Buffalo Bore worked well for me too, I like their stuff a lot!
I'd have to say over my lifetime Federal has been my overall go to ammo supplier. I remember my dad buying me a brick from R&S home and auto for $5.90 in maybe 1964. had to do "paperwork" for the bound book then. Lasted most of the Summer. Got my 1st real handgun in 1977 as an I&A PO also in NJ. Federal 125gr hp's were real fire breathers then, my favorite. Here in Fla I've bought whatever was "on sale", my best score being 270 boxes of WWB from Bass Pro by Universal Studios for $3.88/box maybe 2005. Just finished shooting the last of it a year ago, 1 dud in the 10K+ rounds I personally shot (Sold off 2500 rds in the last panic (2012?) to get the rest free. Right now if you inventoried what I have, half is Federal the rest domestic and foreign makes. I have 12 rds Fed 124 gr non+P HST's in my 6906 so you could intimate I bet my life on it. Joe
Federal, Winchester, Remington, Sig...
1. My own as loaded
.2 Winchester
.3 Federal
.4 Remington
99.8% of what I shoot I load.
.2 Winchester
.3 Federal
.4 Remington
99.8% of what I shoot I load.
For defensive rounds I favor HST or Gold Dot. Range ammo, pretty much anything I can get ahold of.I've probably shot every brand known to man over the years. The only things that have given me problems were S&B and Winchester in .380 and some commercial reloads in 9mm that gave me a squib - think they were LA something or other brand. No serious problems with any other center fire ammo other than some Tula 9mm steel case that made the gun feel "sluggish" for want of a better word. I think that was due to the rough surface of the case slowing down the slide as it strips the top round from the mag. They didn't malfunction, they just felt wrong.
I've shot Winchester, Federal, Remington, Lawman, American Eagle, Blazer, Fiocchi, IMI, S&B, Tula, Browning, Monarch, Wolf - both steel and gold, Magtech, Blazer, Blazer Brass, several brands of commercial reloads, Brown Bear, Red Army Standard, Aguila, Herter's, Hornady, HSM, Sig Sauer, Browning, Armscor (Filipino and USA made), and probably some others I can't remember off the top of my hand.
I've shot Winchester, Federal, Remington, Lawman, American Eagle, Blazer, Fiocchi, IMI, S&B, Tula, Browning, Monarch, Wolf - both steel and gold, Magtech, Blazer, Blazer Brass, several brands of commercial reloads, Brown Bear, Red Army Standard, Aguila, Herter's, Hornady, HSM, Sig Sauer, Browning, Armscor (Filipino and USA made), and probably some others I can't remember off the top of my hand.
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Very well then.The caliber you use most frequently
S&W 640-1: Speer 38 Special +P Short Barrel 135gr JHP.
S&W 6946: Federal 147 grain HST or Winchester Ranger-T 147 grain JHP, both standard pressure, not +P.
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Virtually all walls since 1950 are drywall. The only thing I've found that doesn't pass through with enough remaining energy to cause death or serious bodily injury is a .177 pellet at about 300 f/s. Unless your house was built by Abe Lincoln and has solid wood walls made of trees, you really don't need/want your current ammo.
It appears you're picking your scenarios to justify your ammo choice/availability. If you can get S&B in a SJHP configuration, go with it. Preferably in a weight less than 158 gr if you're using .357.
"Safety is mostly a myth. It does not exist in nature and, as a whole, the children of man do not know it." Helen Keller.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Lately I don't see enough ammo for sale to be very selective with Favs.
I bought pretty much anything I can use unless it's super extra expensive.
I will pass on low end 22s like Thunderbolts.
But I do have a bunch of 22 tucked away.
I bought pretty much anything I can use unless it's super extra expensive.
I will pass on low end 22s like Thunderbolts.
But I do have a bunch of 22 tucked away.
Fishinfool
Member
I mostly load my own for most all rifle and handgun. When it comes to reasonably priced .22's, CCI all the way.
Inexpensive centerfire ammo that is actually quite good? I have had excellent results with PPU 7.62x51 NATO ammo in my battle rifles - accurate and reliable.
Bought one of those 1000 yard rifles in 6.5cm, and tested a variety of factory ammo. The most accurate factory load was also the cheapest - the S&B 140 grain FMJ. Fourteen bucks and change a box, at the time.
Only really bad centerfire ammo I ever used was some 1990's Remington 7mm/08 that would not group at all, and each shot sounded different, and a box of Federal .357's that had rims so thick and out of spec that they would bind on the recoil shield of my revolvers.
Larry
Inexpensive centerfire ammo that is actually quite good? I have had excellent results with PPU 7.62x51 NATO ammo in my battle rifles - accurate and reliable.
Bought one of those 1000 yard rifles in 6.5cm, and tested a variety of factory ammo. The most accurate factory load was also the cheapest - the S&B 140 grain FMJ. Fourteen bucks and change a box, at the time.
Only really bad centerfire ammo I ever used was some 1990's Remington 7mm/08 that would not group at all, and each shot sounded different, and a box of Federal .357's that had rims so thick and out of spec that they would bind on the recoil shield of my revolvers.
Larry
OLDSTER
Member
The only pistol I own that's ammo sensitive, is my EDC, Seecamp .32acp. This gun was actually designed around Winchester Silver Tip HPs. And only three other .32 HP cartridges will work. PMC
Bronze, Speer Gold Dot, and Federal Hydra-Shock.
Bronze, Speer Gold Dot, and Federal Hydra-Shock.
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OP
Thanks for all the input on here. I learned that I should stock an equal amount of hollow point for defense as I do FMJ for plinking and specific situations where I may need to have more penetration. I find it fascinating that some of you make your own ammo. I would, but as a newbie I feel I'd blow myself up.
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Biggfoot44
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It would seem that at the moment , the controlling factor for the OP is what is on his local shelves that day .
I have a good amount of HST, Gold Dot, Golden Saber, and Hornady Critical Defense, and Critical Duty.
I have more Ranger T than anything thou. Had to get Ranger Bonded for 38 Special.
For killing paper I use what ever I can find.
Favorite 22 is CCI SV and sub sonic.
I have more Ranger T than anything thou. Had to get Ranger Bonded for 38 Special.
For killing paper I use what ever I can find.
Favorite 22 is CCI SV and sub sonic.
OP
Nah… you can assume what you like, but luckily for me I can have stuff shipped to my state. I've tried most of the big brands S&B just shoots best for me
I've tried Hornady, Federal, Winchester, Buffalo Bore, Fiocchi, Speer, and Norma among others. Nice try with the snark though 
https://i.imgur.com/edeatcB.jpg
You can go back to the kids table now, your meal of words is served
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scoobysnacker
Member
Brand is somewhat dependent on caliber.
I "know" 9mm, and prefer European brands for range use. S&B, Fiocchi, MEN, top tier. PPU, next; and then PMC (Korean) and American Eagle (US) because they are as good but usually cost a bit more.
Blazer Brass if the price is low, is ok- soft loads, won't beat up the gun at all.
I'm leery of Winchester White Box and Remington UMC, because they've been very inconsistent over the years. Winchester is sitting with yet another recall right now.
Self defense, I have Speer Gold Dots.
I "know" 9mm, and prefer European brands for range use. S&B, Fiocchi, MEN, top tier. PPU, next; and then PMC (Korean) and American Eagle (US) because they are as good but usually cost a bit more.
Blazer Brass if the price is low, is ok- soft loads, won't beat up the gun at all.
I'm leery of Winchester White Box and Remington UMC, because they've been very inconsistent over the years. Winchester is sitting with yet another recall right now.
Self defense, I have Speer Gold Dots.
Here are a couple of useful websites to help you choose self-defense rounds:
Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests
Good Luck and Welcome to the Forum!
Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests
Good Luck and Welcome to the Forum!
OP
Thanks for the resources
always fun to learn more. Appreciate the links!I guess S&B SJHP didn't even make cut for testing. Of the ones they tested I like Gold Dot best, still have some .38 special from them but want to try their .357 Magnum rounds. May order some because I agree with some of the comments saying my S&B while nice for plinking might not be suitable for most defensive situations. I wish they tested their defensive rounds but maybe they just aren't up to snuff. Gold Dot/Hornady/Hydrashok I tested in .38 special; had poor results with the Hornady and Hydrashok but maybe I'll shoot their .357 magnum stuff better. Worth a test to be sure!
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The right answer is this: Stick with the name brands, many of which have been mentioned in the above responses to your post.
There seem to be a ton of new ammo manufacturers on the scene these days, and I don't trust them to have the same QC as the name brands. Plus, they are usually not significantly cheaper. And then there is the safety and reliability risk of running those brands through your guns.
I like and respect my guns (and myself) too much to run second-rate ammo through them.
There seem to be a ton of new ammo manufacturers on the scene these days, and I don't trust them to have the same QC as the name brands. Plus, they are usually not significantly cheaper. And then there is the safety and reliability risk of running those brands through your guns.
I like and respect my guns (and myself) too much to run second-rate ammo through them.
