Has anyone here used Winchester Service Grade .45 ACP? I have a case of 1000 en route from SGAmmo for $233 + 25 shipping. Thought it was a great price for American-made reloadable .45 ammo, but I've never seen it reviewed. My understanding is that it's Milspec ammo with the usual warnings and the UPC code stamped on the box. It's 230 grain FMJ ball with a nominal 865 ft/sec velocity. Any comments?
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Winchester Service Grade .45 ACP
- Thread starter HKSmith
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MichiganScott
Member
I've read online that it's a bit hotter than white box, but I suspect it is range ammo with little difference.
If you want better accuracy, load your own.
If you want better accuracy, load your own.
Hairtrigger
Member
What part of Ohio are you in? You can bring it to the flatlands of Northwest Ohio, I have a couple of nice 1911’s and also a chronograph we could have some fun
Small or large primer?
DWalt
Member
The actual Mil Spec MV for the .45 M1911 is 855+/- 25 ft/sec at 25', with a SD of <27 ft/sec. If you have a chrono, you can check to see if it meets the spec.
Fishinfool
Member
Does it have crimped / staked primers? If so, I would probably just buy white box to avoid the reloading hassle.
Larry
Larry
OP
Thanks for all the replies. I received the ammo today and it looks very nice and is nicely packaged. To answer some of your questions:
1. Primers are large pistol and not crimped.
2. According to Revolverguy's post above, he chrono'ed this ammo at 862 ft/sec.
3. Headstamp is WMA 18. WMA is Winchester's plant in Mississippi; it stands for Winchester Military Ammunition, but they produce both military and commercial ammunition. I assume the 18 means 2018, so it's the freshest ammo I've got (unless it's WW I surplus from 1918!).
4. I don't know whether this ammo is more or less accurate than my reloads, which are mostly 185-200 grain bullets at about 750 ft/sec, but I'll certainly try to determine that.
5. Thanks for the invitation to the Flatlands, but I live east of Cleveland more than 200 miles away, so I'll have to pass.
6. I do carry hardball sometimes in my 1911's. Used to use Hornady, but they stopped making .45 ACP hardball, now using Federal which is a bit hotter. I'll consider using this ammo for carry after shooting a couple of hundred rounds.
1. Primers are large pistol and not crimped.
2. According to Revolverguy's post above, he chrono'ed this ammo at 862 ft/sec.
3. Headstamp is WMA 18. WMA is Winchester's plant in Mississippi; it stands for Winchester Military Ammunition, but they produce both military and commercial ammunition. I assume the 18 means 2018, so it's the freshest ammo I've got (unless it's WW I surplus from 1918!).
4. I don't know whether this ammo is more or less accurate than my reloads, which are mostly 185-200 grain bullets at about 750 ft/sec, but I'll certainly try to determine that.
5. Thanks for the invitation to the Flatlands, but I live east of Cleveland more than 200 miles away, so I'll have to pass.
6. I do carry hardball sometimes in my 1911's. Used to use Hornady, but they stopped making .45 ACP hardball, now using Federal which is a bit hotter. I'll consider using this ammo for carry after shooting a couple of hundred rounds.
DWalt
Member
"But I don't think it is real military ammo."
It's probably not, as the U. S. military doesn't have much need for newly made .45 ACP ammunition today and probably has not purchased any for at least 30 years. I think there may be some special ops use for it, but I imagine there are many millions of rounds of earlier .45 ammo still in storage somewhere for them.
It's probably not, as the U. S. military doesn't have much need for newly made .45 ACP ammunition today and probably has not purchased any for at least 30 years. I think there may be some special ops use for it, but I imagine there are many millions of rounds of earlier .45 ammo still in storage somewhere for them.
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usmc2427765
US Veteran
I have used the 185 grain SWC in 45 ACP and it functioned well and was reasonably accurate, as well as, available at a good price.
Between my Shield .45 and my FNX-45T, I've shot about 2000 rounds of Winchester Service Grade .45acp. It is very good ammo, and at S G Ammo's price, it's a screaming deal. I'd order some myself, if I didn't have 600 or so rounds left from my last order. My only reservation is that I shoot American Eagle .45acp a little more accurately. (It is rated at 890 fps muzzle velocity.) However when the American Eagle rounds are not available at a decent price, I do not hesitate to buy Winchester Service Grade.
