Test of Bargain 9mm Ammo

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Guns & Ammo has a test this month (October) of budget 115 gr 9mm plinking ammo. They tested Federal Champion, Fiocchi Range Dynamics, Magtech, Remington Range, Sig Sauer Elite, and Winchester White Box. The author felt the Federal ammo was plated and not FMJ. The test pistols were 3 polymer framed with 4.5, 4.43, and 4.4 inch barrels. The pistols each had a red dot sight and the tests were fired at 25 yards. WW had the most consistent velocity, lowest extreme spreads, smallest average group size and second highest average velocity. Magtech had the highest average velocity and second smallest average group size. Sig had the most weight (.3 grains) and OAL (.002 inch) consistency. Fiocchi had the lowest average velocity. Remington had the largest average group size. The difference in smallest and largest group average was .07. The difference in average velocity was 87 fps. I wish the author had tested a CCI or Blazer branded product.
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I read a thread about this on another forum. WW seemed to perform pretty well. Maybe it isn't as bad after all? I've never had a problem with it.
 
I'm sure that Federal has gone to plated bullets for most, if not all, of their FMJ semi-auto pistol budget loads. Federal and CCI/Speer are under the control of one company, so it's natural that Federal would be switched to the less expensive Speer plated bullets.
 
This is interesting because back in 2020 I I chronographed two Walmart factory fmj loads and my fmj reload to see how they compared. I shot WW 100 round pack 115gr fmj, UMC 115gr fmj and my reload of 124gr Winchester fmj bullet (2,000 bulk pack from Midway) with Win231 in once shot Speer nickel plated bras. WW ammo was purchased about 10 years prior while UMC ammo was only few weeks old. My reloads were 20 years old. All ammo were stored in air-conditioned closet.
I don't have my notes with me but the WW had the worst performance with over 100 fps difference between high and low velocity. UMC was better with about 50 fps difference. My reloads were better than UMC and more accurate than others.
Again, this was ammo that wee manufactured years ago.
 
The SIG Elite 115gr FMJ appears to be significantly hotter (at a claimed 1185fps) than the others...? Jus' sayin'...

Cheers!
 
I read the article. It was OK for the ammo he tested but some of the ones he included such as the Sig and Federal I wouldn't consider "budget". I wonder why he didn't test some of the obvious like Blazer, Monarch and S&B.
 
I seldom shoot any factory ammo, but with the cheap stuff or anything else, why not shoot what fires every time, feeds with 100% reliability, shoots to point of aim (or very close to it) and is most accurate? Why nitpick on differences of SD or ES, weight consistency of a cartridge, etc.? Pointless. Go with small groups and other factors mentioned in the first sentence. They're all that's important.
 
Polymer guns?

If they would have just asked, I could have loaned the some real pistols, and an AR IN 9mm.

The velocity data was relevant. The accuracy, not so much.
 
max said:
Guns & Ammo has a test this month (October) of budget 115 gr 9mm plinking ammo. They tested Federal Champion, Fiocchi Range Dynamics, Magtech, Remington Range, Sig Sauer Elite, and Winchester White Box. The author felt the Federal ammo was plated and not FMJ. The test pistols were 3 polymer framed with 4.5, 4.43, and 4.4 inch barrels. The pistols each had a red dot sight and the tests were fired at 25 yards. WW had the most consistent velocity, lowest extreme spreads, smallest average group size and second highest average velocity. Magtech had the highest average velocity and second smallest average group size. Sig had the most weight (.3 grains) and OAL (.002 inch) consistency. Fiocchi had the lowest average velocity. Remington had the largest average group size. The difference in smallest and largest group average was .07. The difference in average velocity was 87 fps. I wish the author had tested a CCI or Blazer branded product.
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Why would a writer for Guns and Ammo not be able to determine whether or not a bullet was a FMJ or plated?
Simply pull a bullet and look it over. Saw it in half if you want to.
FMJ bullets have thicker jackets and typically do not cover the entire base.
Plated bullets tend to have a very thin covering.
If I were the writer's Editor I would be having a little talk with said writer about the value of thoroughness on technical matters.
 
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Phenix said:
Because self-defense encounters typically take place at conversational distances, and often at arm's length, meaning that even if your gun had no rifling in the barrel you would still be able to get good hits on the target.
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"Typically"? A firm distance is applicable to Internet gunfighting only. Accuracy is always important even if it's only for peace of mind and confidence.
 
rockquarry said:
"Typically"? A firm distance is applicable to Internet gunfighting only. Accuracy is always important even if it's only for peace of mind and confidence.
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"Typically" means most of the time. Not "all the time".
Typically, the accuracy of the gun itself is not a factor. Especially when the shooter is not using the sights or is shooting one-handed.
 
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Phenix said:
"Typically" means most of the time. Not "all the time".
Typically, the accuracy of the gun itself is not a factor. Especially whin the shooter is not using the sights or is shooting one-handed.
Click to expand...
I'll stay with my original comments. You can't predict the points you mention.
 
His accuracy testing is not relevant because
What works well in his guns may not shoot so good in yours. Or vice versa.

Nobody that I know of, that is after accuracy, is shooting 115 grain ball ammo.

Nobody that I know of is carrying 115 ball ammo for self defense.

That stuff is good for hosing down steel plats at short distance, not much else.
 
Yendor357 said:
His accuracy testing is not relevant because
What works well in his guns may not shoot so good in yours. Or vice versa.

Nobody that I know of, that is after accuracy, is shooting 115 grain ball ammo.

Nobody that I know of is carrying 115 ball ammo for self defense.

That stuff is good for hosing down steel plats at short distance, not much else.
Click to expand...
Still, some will shoot more accurately than others. Accuracy is always relevant. There are no negative aspects to good accuracy, but this article sound like something on the level of a YouTube piece.
 
Yendor357 said:
His accuracy testing is not relevant because
What works well in his guns may not shoot so good in yours. Or vice versa.

Nobody that I know of, that is after accuracy, is shooting 115 grain ball ammo.

Nobody that I know of is carrying 115 ball ammo for self defense.

That stuff is good for hosing down steel plats at short distance, not much else.
Click to expand...
I can't prove this, but I suspect that when some gangbanger shoots up a crowd by firing a bunch of shots with multiple hits he is most likely using 9mm ball because is is cheap and readily available.
It might also be part of the reason that when the shooter gets a bunch of hits there are relatively few actual fatalities.
Anyone think that idea has any merit?
 
bedwards said:
Also the Monarch. I've been running a lot of it lately.
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I have read that Monarch is Academy's house re-branding of various manufacturers - people have reported getting that ammo at different times and it has different headstamps. It sounds like it's just a mass purchase of whatever they get a good deal on at the time, and put their own packaging on.

Edit to add- Here's an example: https://thegunzone.com/who-makes-monarch-ammo/
 
Many years ago we felt Winchester ammo was below Remington in accuracy. Lots of paper groups showed us that.

A few years ago I bought a couple FNS pistols and Winchester shot better in those than anything else. The Remington and Federal didn't shoot worth beans in either of them.

The Winchester is totally unimpressive in my 9MM and .40 S&W CZ pistols.

The Winchester is my go to ammo in the M&P .40 S&W pistols (Shield and full size pistols).

Guns are funny like that. If you have a load that shoots well in different brands of pistols you're lucky.

Yeah, shooting well is a relative term influenced by what our expectations are.

My experience, with my pistols, is Winchester 9MM FMJ, 115 grain or 124 grain FMJ NATO shoots great in the M&P pistols, big or small. The CZ's don't care for it at all.

The Federal 115 grain FMJ is awesome in the CZs and does okay in the M&Ps.

Go buy two new cars side by side on a car lot. One will run better, one will run longer, one will do better on a certain gas brand than another.
 
max said:
Guns & Ammo has a test this month (October) of budget 115 gr 9mm plinking ammo. They tested Federal Champion, Fiocchi Range Dynamics, Magtech, Remington Range, Sig Sauer Elite, and Winchester White Box. The author felt the Federal ammo was plated and not FMJ. The test pistols were 3 polymer framed with 4.5, 4.43, and 4.4 inch barrels. The pistols each had a red dot sight and the tests were fired at 25 yards. WW had the most consistent velocity, lowest extreme spreads, smallest average group size and second highest average velocity. Magtech had the highest average velocity and second smallest average group size. Sig had the most weight (.3 grains) and OAL (.002 inch) consistency. Fiocchi had the lowest average velocity. Remington had the largest average group size. The difference in smallest and largest group average was .07. The difference in average velocity was 87 fps. I wish the author had tested a CCI or Blazer branded product.
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You have to realize Gun Rag articles are not meant to inform or educate (and often the author is even unqualified to write about firearms) but are nothing more than paid advertisements for the ammo and firearms manufacturers. Many times if you are familiar with this or that product being hawked you can often tell the Author never even really tested the item he is crowning and fawning over.

I am old enough to remember the Guns & Ammo magazine of the 1960's that had at least some useful information in it and triple the amount of articles to read and ponder over. Today anyone who has the equivalent of a 6th grade education would feel insulted when reading it.

When you run out of toilet paper the pages of a Gun Rag make a good substitute.

Gun fights often take place at mere feet, not yards, meaning accuracy and bullet expansion are often meaningless.

Did you notice the plug in the article for using an electronic sight. In the real world adding the bulk and weight of an electronic sight, some of which even rely on batteries, makes as much sense as putting nips on a bull. But hey you have to remember electronic sights are now "The Latest and the Greatest".
 
Yendor357 said:
His accuracy testing is not relevant because
What works well in his guns may not shoot so good in yours. Or vice versa.

Nobody that I know of, that is after accuracy, is shooting 115 grain ball ammo.

Nobody that I know of is carrying 115 ball ammo for self defense.

That stuff is good for hosing down steel plats at short distance, not much else.
Click to expand...

I have on occasion and will carry 115 grain ball ammo, if it is flat point. I have many 9mms, one is the Glock 43 another is the smallest made the KelTec Pf9, 12.7 ounces, hides in the front pocket. Short barrel ammo does not expand, I shoot for heads, I was trained that way, I want as much penetration as I can get.

Back up a minute, I was a military executive protection specialist, protected the highest ranking military man in the US, CINCSAC and sometimes his family, and protected foreign heard of state under terrorist threat, even protected the Shahs of some countries, under real terrorist threats and many others. We carried 1911s in 45 acp. Out ammo of choice was 230 grain military ball. Why?

Pretty darn simple. We are shooting to stop people with guns or running at us with bombs. We always want penetration, we do not have time for a person to bleed out. So we want a head shot, a neck shot, a spine shot from the front or side, getting past the skin and muscle, maybe going through and arm bone, and then all the way into the spine and any organs.

Ball ammo in 9mm or 45 acp will do that, expanding ammo may not. Just depends on whether you want a cop like stop, or an immediate death of the shooters brain system.

So, sure, I have no problem with 9mm 115 grain ammo for defense. My experience is different than most, I get that, and my training is different. If I can hit an 8 inch gong at 50 yards, the surely I can hit a nose at 7 yards, all in the training.

Of course if you can only belly shoot your attackers, you probably want frangible or some bullet type that makes massive shallow holes in fat and muscle.

Just saying.
 
M1A4ME said:
Many years ago we felt Winchester ammo was below Remington in accuracy. Lots of paper groups showed us that.

A few years ago I bought a couple FNS pistols and Winchester shot better in those than anything else. The Remington and Federal didn't shoot worth beans in either of them.

The Winchester is totally unimpressive in my 9MM and .40 S&W CZ pistols.

The Winchester is my go to ammo in the M&P .40 S&W pistols (Shield and full size pistols).

Guns are funny like that. If you have a load that shoots well in different brands of pistols you're lucky.

Yeah, shooting well is a relative term influenced by what our expectations are.

My experience, with my pistols, is Winchester 9MM FMJ, 115 grain or 124 grain FMJ NATO shoots great in the M&P pistols, big or small. The CZ's don't care for it at all.

The Federal 115 grain FMJ is awesome in the CZs and does okay in the M&Ps.

Go buy two new cars side by side on a car lot. One will run better, one will run longer, one will do better on a certain gas brand than another.
Click to expand...


When I retired I bougth 2 new SW models 637, we travel in an RV and I wanted to travel in anti gun states, so I bought 2 identical J frames, from Buds Gun Shop with my military police discount. Serial numbers are not consecutive but close.

Took them to the range with White Box JHP ammo. One averages 921 fps and wives averages 888 fps. quite a bit of difference for 2 guns probably made minutes apart.

There is no cylinder gap difference or noticeable end shake, guns are identical, but there is 33 fps difference is speed and some power.

As to white box, I have never had an issue with it and would carry it for defense if it is all I had, no problems at all. I am retired military and law enforcement, I do not believe that ammo choice matters much in surviving a gun battle, too many more important factors. As I stated above, nothing but a head, direct spine shot or indirect spine shot is immediate. Survival is not the bullet it is the acts of the victim.
 
Yendor357 said:
His accuracy testing is not relevant because
What works well in his guns may not shoot so good in yours. Or vice versa.

Nobody that I know of, that is after accuracy, is shooting 115 grain ball ammo.

Nobody that I know of is carrying 115 ball ammo for self defense.

That stuff is good for hosing down steel plats at short distance, not much else.
Click to expand...
9 mm ball is not the best for shooting people and critters, but it is much better than nothing at all.
Getting shot with ball ammo is still a great deterrent for miscreants.
 
Law-dog said:
I have on occasion and will carry 115 grain ball ammo, if it is flat point. I have many 9mms, one is the Glock 43 another is the smallest made the KelTec Pf9, 12.7 ounces, hides in the front pocket. Short barrel ammo does not expand, I shoot for heads, I was trained that way, I want as much penetration as I can get.

Back up a minute, I was a military executive protection specialist, protected the highest ranking military man in the US, CINCSAC and sometimes his family, and protected foreign heard of state under terrorist threat, even protected the Shahs of some countries, under real terrorist threats and many others. We carried 1911s in 45 acp. Out ammo of choice was 230 grain military ball. Why?

Pretty darn simple. We are shooting to stop people with guns or running at us with bombs. We always want penetration, we do not have time for a person to bleed out. So we want a head shot, a neck shot, a spine shot from the front or side, getting past the skin and muscle, maybe going through and arm bone, and then all the way into the spine and any organs.

Ball ammo in 9mm or 45 acp will do that, expanding ammo may not. Just depends on whether you want a cop like stop, or an immediate death of the shooters brain system.

So, sure, I have no problem with 9mm 115 grain ammo for defense. My experience is different than most, I get that, and my training is different. If I can hit an 8 inch gong at 50 yards, the surely I can hit a nose at 7 yards, all in the training.

Of course if you can only belly shoot your attackers, you probably want frangible or some bullet type that makes massive shallow holes in fat and muscle.

Just saying.
Click to expand...
Ball also has the advantage in shooting through car bodies and car windows better than expanding bullets do.
Sometimes I alternate ammo in my magazine JHP-FMJ-JHP-FMJ-JHP-FMJ, etc.
Or make every third round a FMJ.
 
I have found accuracy can vary with different guns and same ammo. My 1911 will eat anything but it has 124 gr coated RN that is very consistent on the range. My Glock 17L works great with everything except the conical flat point. It throws a wide spread. I found every gun can have a pet load and that load works poorly in another gun. The same goes with factory ammo.

I use 9mm as a range gun. I have a 1911 GOVT and Glock 17 clone are the range guns. I am better with the 1911. My carry could be a 10mm, 45, 357, or 22 Mag.
 
I only shoot Factory ammo when I have to, mostly JHP ammo.
My 3 to 5inch barrel 9mm pistols have seen a huge aray of FMJ, FN and coated weight bullets
from 115 to 147 grs from 900 to 1400fps with fast to super slow powders with my chrony and just paper
to bring home the data.
70% of most bullets give accuracy that I can live with, for targe practice. 7% are better than average, depending
on the load and poistol.
However I did have one style of the Berry's bullet that, jammed, stove piped and was all over the paper, no matter
what powder or OAL that I tried in a 3,5 & 5" pistol.

If you reload or buy ammo and get some ammo the groups tight......................
stock up!!
 
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