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Firearms and Gear => General Discussion => Topic started by: GhostWarrior on April 24, 2012, 04:38:22 PM
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I'm posting this in a couple places one here one on the Ammunition Board and one or 2 more places so I can get the widest range of answers. I think it would benefit ALL our members if there was some sort of answer for a question like this.
My question is: Say you have a 9mm and 3 or 4 different 9mm CZ's or possibly even a mix of brands (if that doesn't mess up the answer), And you wanted to stock up on one round for all the 9's, that would meet pretty much every purpose, things, animals, people, (I hope I Never have to do that), what would you get? 116 grain, 124 grain Sub sonic or sonic, and is there an overall particular manufacture that pretty much something you can count on. I'm looking a ball/FMJ since the only way HP's will work in all my 9's is if I have the ramps polished and I couldn't afford to have that done on a bet. So FMJ is pretty much all I'm interested in.
I actually have that same question for .380, .40's, .45's. .308's. I figure the Mak and Tok rounds I'm just going to have to go with surplus unless there is an American and or non-corrosive answer for those.
Is there a single manufacture that anyone would buy all their ammo from if they could get a good price for case lots, and what is a decent price on case lots for any of those. Be advised I just got a letter from Federal telling me they not only can't/won't sell to me at even retail let alone a discount for testing purposes, but the Federal literally cannot meet its current demand for product. Keep that in mind if you like Federal. It could get ugly trying to find any or at a reasonable price. I don't think this is going to be an easy thing to answer even the 9mm part let alone the others. And if anyone has a better way to set up the question to get the answers, I would love it.
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If I could, I would buy Federal HST for all of my firearms. I have it for the 9mm, but the FLGS hasn't had any in .45 and I don't much carry my .380s. They make it for everything though... It's a great performing round at a decent price. Also, the 9mm is +P. I would imagine that the .45 is as well...
Here you go...
http://www.kylesgunshop.com/viewstoreitem.php/KylesGunshop/pd2214639/Federal_HST_9mm_124gr_LE_P9HST1_50_Rounds_ (http://www.kylesgunshop.com/viewstoreitem.php/KylesGunshop/pd2214639/Federal_HST_9mm_124gr_LE_P9HST1_50_Rounds_)
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Thanks I'll look it over. Since it's police grade I'm presuming it's subsonic? Which would be perfect for the suppressed 9 waiting on the suppressor for. Sonic rounds tend to defeat the purpose for some strange reason, having to do with speed and physics. :grin:
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I didn't know that's how it worked... I don't want subsonic ammo... I figured that since it was +p it would be moving at higher velocities. I guess you learn something every day!
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I haven't tried many other types, I pretty much use Federal. Walmart carries it but it is sometimes hard to find. I buy the hundred rd boxes. I buy as many as the wife will allow....usually not more than 2-3 at a time. But Walmart will sell you as many as they have.....Call around to get info on availability. Last time I bought they had 700 rds avail....
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Man... The title said "FMJ", too... I'm batting zero on this one. Federal is OK. I really prefer the Remington White Box. It has never done me wrong, and I have used it from the .22 variety all the way up to the .45 with great success... It's cheap, it works, and I even got an extra round in a box once! :laugh:
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Man... The title said "FMJ", too... I'm batting zero on this one. Federal is OK. I really prefer the Remington White Box. It has never done me wrong, and I have used it from the .22 variety all the way up to the .45 with great success... It's cheap, it works, and I even got an extra round in a box once! :laugh:
They only reason I haven't used Remington white box is because the Federal was cheaper. I have also never had a single issue with Federal. The only issues I've had have been with Independence (Blazer) and some surplus ammo. Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but isn't Federal and Remington both FMJ's?
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I have found that the Sellor & Bennot is good for me. Seems clean burning with little barrel smoke. Both the 115g and 124g FMJ. About $12 for box of 50 w/ shipping) at Able Ammo. I put together a quick pricing chart for 9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP and .270 rifle ammo, and overall, they have some of the best prices with shipping. I have not tried the S & B in anything but the 9mm. Cabels offers Herters brand which is made by S & B, but have not tried it either, but is cheapest .45 ACP at Cabelas I have found.
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I have had relative success with the S&B, but I did get one box that was pretty bad. Still, I know one box isn't make or break (as long it isn't the Self-Defense stuff), so I don't worry about it too much.
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DJ Jaystone (http://www.czforum.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=2340): Hey may I impose on you and ask if you could send me the template for that quick pricing chart you used. I tried doing one in Excel, and I think it got to complicated. My two failures, I talk to much and I over think projects. It's a good thing I am in touch with my anneal retentive side or I would still be designing the form :laugh: , However on the plus side, I'm a very helpfull fellow even when I have no idea what the situation is, and I'm extremely humble. :cool:
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No problem! It is fairly simple, and only has a few ammo places,.but seems to be some of the best prices I have found. Is in Excel. No large bulk, just some up to 1200 rounds. Does not look like I can attach here, so I will send email.
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Ghostwarrior, I can't seem to find your email button. :embarrassed: If you can send me an email, I will send back with my list if you like.
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Got it thank you very much. It is easier than the one I was doing. I'll use it.
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Glad to be of some help!
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Great prices on Great Ammo!
I just got 1000 rds of 9mm/147 gr Blue Bullets from TNT Munitions last month and will be ordering another 1000 next week! Try'em, you'll like'm!
https://www.tntmunitions.com/9mm-luger.html (https://www.tntmunitions.com/9mm-luger.html)
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Great prices on Great Ammo!
I just got 1000 rds of 9mm/147 gr Blue Bullets from TNT Munitions last month and will be ordering another 1000 next week! Try'em, you'll like'm!
https://www.tntmunitions.com/9mm-luger.html (https://www.tntmunitions.com/9mm-luger.html)
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Speer Lawman FMJ in 1000 round box is cheaper from SGAmmo than Winchester White Box from Walmart, and is indoor sweet.
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Precision delta both components and loaded. I also use lawman sometimes due to the fact I get a good deal from Leo friends.
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I'd think the rough basic answer is, "No." There isn't one maker/FMJ that is best for all purposes.
Smoothing the answer up is that FMJ is probably a good choice for general use, practice, etc. A typical FMJ round from a good manufacturer should be consistent, feed well, be reliable, reasonably accurate, etc., and might well be the least expensive option. Some shooters may find reloading a good idea, especially high volume shooters. Re-using brass may drive the price down and while lead bullets might be cheaper, I'm not sure that's always the case and environmental concerns or range requirements may vary. Steel or aluminum cases may be cheaper for practice and less trouble to retrieve and reuse (you can't really, but maybe scoop up for scrap/recycling in some ways?). Price and availablity may vary but I'd think that may result in different makers moving to the top of the list at times. Recently I found bulk Winchester white box .40 S&W FMJ at WalMart in 50 and 200 round boxes and the 200 round sale price was crazy cheap. Cheaper than available on-line, etc. Just found a 250 round box of Ranger Brass .40 locally that was extremely competitive with on line pricing. Both worked fine but the Winchester was still cheaper and after comparing in use, if I find the Winchester again at that price, I'll get more. I would not be uncomfortable buying other makers, S&B, Remington, etc. For FMJ/practice, I'd go with what was cheapest.
Others may find reloads or remanufactured ammo for less, maybe steel or aluminum case ammo. Local sources/pricing may or may not be competitive but the hassles of shipping and freight costs may make different brands or sources better at times. Market forces will drive price and availability changes rapidly these days, too. There may or may not be warranty/quality issue with some types as well.
I would not use FMJ for personal protection if I could avoid it. While real world, especially military, experience shows FMJ type ammunition "works," real world experiences also show that it is less effective than readily available (for most of us) alternatives. There are a lot of factors that differ between military use, legal considerations of various sorts, and tons of discussions on these issues out there. What I do is to some extent look for reliable brands, standardized or comparable test results of that load if available, and availability such that I can test fire a reasonable quantity of that specific load in the gun I expect to use it in to test reliability.
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This is a good thread to resurrect.
I have to re-examine the question, and I do this reluctantly. The concept of a universal, and versatile, round works as much as the number of handguns in your position. Let's say you own and use a
- TS 9mm - For USPSA Competition (Major PF)
- 75 or 85 Combat - For Production or IDPA
- PCR - Self Defense
- 1911 - Steel Challenge / Plinking
Now re-ask the question and what is your result?
Might I suggest buying in bulk by general category : Competition, Self-Defense, and Practice/Plinking. This way you optimize your results and can keep track. My personal preferences are:
- Geco for competition - bulk is available and ammo is pretty consistent between batches
- SigSauer for Self Defense - I liked the gel test result/videos
- Geco, Sellier & Bellot - Practice (Competition/target)
There also are a few local custom loaders that may be worth considering. If you supply materials the price can be quite reasonable and the might work with you to find a custom load that can be averaged across all your handguns. I was recently talking to Two Brothers Ammo (Tampa area) about this and they can produce some pretty large batches. Although in their case I am not sure if they are getting their business completely off the ground just yet.
To sum up, since competition accurate bullets seems to fall into flat point or, even, hollow point, there may be a compromise to be had where the comp cost is a tweak higher due to a better hollow point and the offset is you self defense slightly less effective as you may not get the best spreading hollow point. But a sufficient one. I think part of the key at this point is measuring all your barrels to find an average/optimal OAL and see who can build to that spec.
.02 for the day.
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Federal, Speer, Winchester, Remington, hornady seem to have some of the most reliable cartridges & highest quality control standards in the industry. Of course there are many others, but those are the top of the pyramid in my opinion. You may consider powerball ammo, shaped like fmj but performs like hollow point for defense purposes if your gun has feed issues. Don't know if it's available nor do I have experience with it. American made only for me for my pistols, with the exception of pmc bronze 115 gr. hp in my pcr due to its massive expansion. Russian ammo quality control is pretty bad. I avoid no name brands, and remanufactured cartridges personally. Can't go wrong with the previously mentioned brands or their variants.