Can I trust Walmart generic hollow points as my main self-defense ammo?

J

JohnH1963

Moderator
When I go to Walmart, there are boxes and boxes of cheap hollow-point ammo? Sometimes they are cheaper then the non-generic FMJ.

What can I lose by going with the generic hollow-point? All of the hollow-points look the same to me.
 
I think it's safe to say that you can trust walmart's generic ammo.Thats mainly what i use when target practicing,their hollow points are mainly lead where as most other hollowpoints are jacketed hollow points.When using personal defence rounds i would use jhp's only because i mainly carry semi-autos and jhp's feed better in mine.Now if you are using a revolver they are great.So yea go out and have fun with em.:D
 
Winchester JHP from WalMart may not be as good as premium JHP ammo from a major company, but it's better than just about anything you could get 20 years ago at any price.

It wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd carry it and not be concerned.
 
Winchester JHP from WalMart may not be as good as premium JHP ammo from a major company
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And how is Winchester NOT a major company??? :confused::confused::confused:

If Wal-Mart has their own brand of ammo (I've never seen it), it's made by someone else. Wal-Mart doesn't make ammo. The problem is: you don't know who made it or what the specs/ballistics are on it. As for what they carry, a reputable band of JHP (such as Winchester) will suffice for some. However, I prefer a couple of brands Wal-Mart doesn't carry, namely Speer and Corbon.

Just for the record, Are you willing to compromise your safety on cheap, unknown ammo???
 
The "generic" ammo is Winchester JHP. I just bought several boxes. Winchester is not going to make "cheap" ammo that does not work. They don't want to risk a lawsuit, all ammo from a major maker is going to be consistent in quality and performance.
 
The Winchester 230gr HP's I get at Wal-Mart are what I carry in my S&W commander, it's always been consistent, it doesn't cost so much that I can't practice with it too and most important, it's functions 100% it my commander.
 
Not sure....

If I consider Winchester to be a premium JHP (its not Federal). There is no doubt that Winchester is a good name brand, reliable ammo. It is no Hydrashok and they do not make the claims that other companies make in their advertising. I think this may be what the other poster was trying to say.
 
Reminds me of along time ago a doctor friend of mine wanted a Browning .22 rifle. I told him they had them at Wal-Mart. He secrewed up his face and said, "but are they any good?"

If you get Winchester, Remington, CCI, and Federal JHPs at Wal-mart, I can assure you they are the same Winchester, Remington, CCI, and Federal JHPs you get at any fancy store. They don't sell 'seconds' in the sporting goods section.
 
Winchester may not be a "premium" hollowpoint... But I'd bet a whole lotta paychecks they killed lots of bad guys before there was such a thing as "premium". I'd bet my life that I could kill you just as dead as with Speer gold dots or whatever as long as I hit the mark...

Another example, Remington has been making Core Lokt hunting bullets for as long as I can recall (I'm in my mid 40's). Everybody has to have the whiz bang partition, H frame, premium bonded, sintered, ultra fancy bullets (yours truly included). The old Core lokt just got a top rating against all the latest technology bullets.

The point is, there may be an advantage to hydrashoks or the other premiums, but a guy doesn't live any longer with a Remington or Winchester HP to the chest. Shot placement matters most.
 
depends our walmarts sell remington bulk packs. after running some through my glock and ruger 9mm i wont ever buy remington bulk pack again same problem both guns problems cycling and 3 stovepipes. They pump the ammo out so quickly anymore with all manufacturers that i think i got into a bad batch of remington. And ive heard the same from a few others. I dont think the charge was full power in that batch.
 
I don't blame you there dakota! Some ammo won't feed in some guns. That ammo make work fine in a different pistol. Neither my .22LR pistol or rifle will feed remington ammo.

That said, Remington ammo works fine in my bolt guns and their bullets are good for reloading to save a buck.
 
I agree that it depends on the caliber. Its hard to find a bad 40 S&W jhp load. Its hard to find a bad 230gr. jph load for 45's also. The problem with the "generic" jhp's is their expansion reliablity after penetrating heavy clothing, consistency and weight retention. Bullets like the Gold Dot, HST, and DPX are designed to consistently expand after penetrating many different kinds of barriers. Generics will go bang every time; thats not the issue. The Winchester white box jhp's are arguably the best of the budget jph loads available. For calibers other than 40 and 45 I would stick with better bullet designs to ensure proper penetration and expansion, however.
 
im not a bog fan of 180gr in my xd40sc for personal defense. the lighter bullets shoot flatter with less recoil, making me more accurate, and follow up shots faster.

wallyworld rarely sells any .40S&W jhp, let alone 165gr jhp.
 
Winchester personal defense ammo from Wal-mat is about the only SD ammo I can afford right now. I see the same boxes at Gander Mountain selling for $15 or so more.
 
Its hard to find a bad 40 S&W jhp load. Its hard to find a bad 230gr. jph load for 45's also.
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Yup - although again, 230s in a short barrel 45 can be trouble.

Another "eats anything" caliber (within reason of course) is the 357Maggie :). Winchester white box 110gr 357 from WallyWorld will put a serious hurt on.
 
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