Ammo Question

What do you intend to do with your guns and how good of a shot are you? If your just going to shoot targets at the range, get the cheapest brand of FMJ. Try JHP from the major players in small quantities at the range for carry/defense ammo, however. Your gun will pick out what it likes best. Obviously you want to look over the brands that present FTE/FTF in your weapon as the first round of elimination. I usually pick three brands to try in quantities of twenty when I get a new handgun for evaluation. Then I'll do a couple hundred more for extended testing. Your budget and available loads at your local venue may permit more than that but it suffices for my needs.

I only use Federal JHP in 45, because my one and only 1911 has always liked it and I never felt the need to go away from that. On the other hand, I have several carry guns chambered in .40 that each require a separate brand of ammo for optimal operation, neither of which are Federal.

Major players: Speer, Federal, Remington, Winchester, Hornady, CorBon. I also recommend Double Tap as an alternative to Speer as the Gold Dot projectile is also used in their JHP designs and the DT can be purchased a bit cheaper. Disclaimer: by no means is this list exhaustive.
 
A Quality Brand/Brass Cased/ FMJ

Quality in my opion:
Federal AE
Speer Lawman
IMI

Opinion based on what has worked well in my pistols and is consistant in its quality.

I dont mind a quality FMJ, even though people can only refer to them as a "practice ammo". They have never failed in any semi-auto I have ever owned. If a FMJ can serve the military then it can serve me as well.

I only use Brass Cased ammo because I have had lesser type cases swell or deform from the heat/pressure and cause a pistol failure..
 
GOAL

ALL shooting starts with a 'goal': What, specifically, do you want your bullet (the exiting projectile) to do?
What 'work' do you wish it to perform?

Make noise?
Make dirt clods disappear?
Shoot an attacker? a deer? a groundhog?
Or a target?
A Bullseye target? An IPSC target? Any target :D ?

In this exact order:

1) Ammo must be reliable in function.

2) It must offer controllable accuracy.

3) Its bullet must be appropriate for the intended use.

4) Other stuff.


For 'practice' ammo I recommend starting at the bottom of the price ladder, and working upward in price until your specific personal performance goals are met.

For defense ammo I recommend most any big-name modern-design hollowpoint load, non +P in 45 ACP.
When in doubt buy Winchester (not because they're 'best', but because they're 'good enough'. Then, as you learn more, you can decide for yourself).
 
I'm a real fan of any of the loadings that www.doubletapammo.com makes. That's all I put in any of my carry guns and it works rather well so far. Shot a 100 LB Mutt the other day on my dad's property with one of their .357 sigs and said canine was DRT. Anecdotal I know, but, I was impressed.
 
I am 'familiar' with DoubleTap

While Mr. McNett's boutique choices can be superb, they are not normally available 'locally', and they are normally expensive, and they are not normally easily controllable in novice hands.
 
While Mr. McNett's boutique choices can be superb, they are not normally available 'locally', and they are normally expensive, and they are not normally easily controllable in novice hands.
Click to expand...

Yes, you do have to order them which is a -1. As far as controllability goes I guess that's a matter of opinion. I tend not to notice hand gun recoil too much until I'm in .44 mag land.

RE:Price, I order 200 to 250 rounds at a time, and UPS ground usually charges about 12 dollars. Which puts the price per 50 into the 31 - 35 dollar range. Which doesn't strike me as too bad for premium SD ammo.
 
Last edited:
demonstration vs opinion

There is no "opinion" when viewing the results on target.

(I am in no way disparaging DoubleTap, as I am 'familiar' with it; I was offering advice to the OP.)
 
There is no "opinion" when viewing the results on target.

(I am in no way disparaging DoubleTap, as I am 'familiar' with it; I was offering advice to the OP.)
Click to expand...

Heck I don't care, it's not like I work for Mike or have any stock in the company. :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top