What Defines Quality Ammo?

[Spartikus]

So I have been shooting now for about 5 months and like most people I go for the super cheap stuff to practice at the range. I am getting to a point, however, where I would like to start trying different types of ammo so I can learn how they feel and know what I can rely on as I also conceal carry. With that said, I would like to know...

1. What defines quality ammo?
2. What different grain bullets should I try in 9mm?
3. What brands do you recommend in 9mm?

P.S. Interested in both FMJ and Hollow Point ammo

 

[SicSemper]

Gold dot 115 gr. or Hornday in flex-tip HP

 

[geoff40]

To me it means consistency from round to round, box to box, lot to lot. The exact ammunition you buy should be the same, from a box/lot purchased this week, to another purchased in a year.
Some of it is, with excellent QC from box to box.
But much of it it not so. The powder can be dirty, leaving a lot of residue build up very quickly. Or the lot numbers of the powder used are not very equal in consistency. Or the manufacturer has obvious loose standards from cartridge to cartridge when it comes to the exact amount of powder in each loaded cartridge.
Visibly, sometimes some HPs or SPs can have visible nicks and dings all over the exposed lead nose. No 2 bullets will have the same overall shape/contour, and I believe this will have effect on the accuracy of the ammunition, especially at 50 yards and beyond. Or the weight of the bullets, again not a lot of consistency.
For plinking, cheap ammunition is usually perfectly good, but when ever you find yourself taking careful aim and trying for the 10 ring, or looking for the tightest group possible at 100 yards, or looking for maximum pistol performance in some way, cheap ammunition isn't always a good deal. And by comparison expensive ammunition sometimes isn't worth it either.
As you shoot, try new ammunition, even the same bullet weight/type, but from different manufacturers. Each gun is individual, and what works well for you in your 9mm might not in mine.

At the end of the day, the highest quality possible, the tightest consistency possible from round to round, is found only at the end of a loading bench.

 

[MichiganScott]

I've handloaded since 1972 and feel that my loads are better than anything the factories produce. That being said, I will not load a self defense firearm with anything but factory loads.

I'm not happy unless I have 100% function and 10-ring accuracy in my handloads.

 

[glowe]

I think that any ammunition that has no miss-fires, gives consistent velocities, and most importantly, always hits the spot where the gun is pointed is quality ammo, but that varies from shooter to shooter and from gun to gun. Every gun functions differently with the same ammunition, so experiment with several different manufacturers and bullet types to see what shoots best in your specific conditions. I have rifles, autos, and revolvers that shoot more accurately with the cheapest load on the shelf and some do poorly with the most expensive loads available.

I have found that people can pay way too much for ammo that performs no better than the cheapest box on the shelf. As said earlier, the highest quality ammunition comes from careful attention paid at the reloading bench and the range. If you spend some time adjusting loads for your guns, you will not be able to find manufactured ammo at any price that is better.

 

[JJEH]

A good question.

I would say a quality manufacturer, like Federal, Winchester, Speer, Hornady, Remington, etc...
Also you can try some "boutique" manufacturers like Black Hills, Corbon, Barnes, Wilson Combat, etc.

In the current issue of American Cop Magazine is a pretty good article abt. ammo. Check it out.

A Look At The Best Handgun Ammo | American Cop Magazine

We use Federal, Winchester & Black Hills on a regular basis as well as some other mfr. we just like to try.
For a 9mm I suggest a bullet weight of either 115gr. or 147gr., depends on what you want to use it for.

At the range we use Federal Champion 115gr. FMJ. And "ammo to go" brings it right to your doorstep

 

[GypsmJim]

"Quality" means "consistency". We all are inconsistent at times, thus the ammo neds to be taken out of the equation.

Of the major "first line" brands I have personbally found all to be consistent except for Remington. Centerfire rifle, pistol, unprimed cases, .22 RF - you name it and I've had at least one defect in every box I bought over the last 15 years. I wouldn't take Rem now if it were free.

 

[Leftofcentre67]

I've found Blazer Brass, despite it being cheaper, also is really cheap ammo, and is not consistent. I've found some boxes perform well, then I get another box and I get 1-2 defects. American Eagle I've never had one issue with it so far. And I'm no longer buying Blazer. I've had no issue with Remington for shotgun loads, but maybe it's hard to screw up 000 Buck and Slugs.

 

[photoman]

1. What defines quality ammo?
2. What different grain bullets should I try in 9mm?
3. What brands do you recommend in 9mm?

P.S. Interested in both FMJ and Hollow Point ammo

American Eagle 115gr FMJ and Speer Gold Dot 115gr JHP.

 

[Spartikus]

I've found Blazer Brass, despite it being cheaper, also is really cheap ammo, and is not consistent. I've found some boxes perform well, then I get another box and I get 1-2 defects.

I have found the very same to be true for me as well. It's interesting that I have shot close to a thousand rounds now of Federal ammo that I buy at Walmart (100 round boxes) without a single problem but Blazer Brass has given me a few bad rounds every so often.

 

[blujax01]

9 mm has more brands and weights available than almost any other caliber. My wife prefers 147 grain in her 9 while I prefer 124. Why? Hers is a 9C and the recoil from the 147 grain is more "back" than "flip". The tradeoff is that it takes longer to cycle and hits higher. My 5906 is a tank and I can shoot rockets from it with almost no recoil at all. I would think that the little pocket 9's may run better with 115 or even 95 grain ammo, depending on the shooter.

There is no "best". Stick to name brand and try several different boxes in your gun. You will know.

And after you get sick of paying for ammo, drop down one forum to "Reloading".

We'll keep the light on for you ...

 

[NicholasDM]

Like others have said, "Quality" ammo is just consistent ammo.

Fiocchi and Blazer tend to be really good inexpensive 9mm ammo. My experience with Winchest white box 9mm is that it's mediocre. Dirty but mostly reliable.

If you want to ensure the quality of your ammo, get yourself some reloading gear. A Lee 4-hole Classic Turret Press is a fantastic way to get in to reloading without spending huge amounts of money for something like a Dillon or RCBS (especially with their questionable quality/consistency). I've got at this point about a thousand rounds of 9mm reloaded on mine and the whole rig is great. No problems at all.