In what ammo brand/grains your semi automatics work best?

pblanc

I have had issues with somewhat under-powered Eastern European 9mm Para ammo failing to cycle my Berettas.
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Which ammo is this? Been my experience that S&B (Czech) and PPU (Serbia) are on the hotter end of the spectrum.

Is it the Hungarian RWS or Geco?
 
Actually, the ammo that I recall having issues with was the Serbian-made Prvi Partizan, although I had shot quite a lot of it before buying 200 under-powered cartridges. These failed to cycle the slide of two Berettas (a 92FS and a Cougar 8000) that had been completely ammo tolerant before that experience.

I do not recall any issues with Sellier & Bellot. In fact, that seems to me to have been above average in quality in my experience.
 
pblanc Actually, the ammo that I recall having issues with was the Serbian-made Prvi Partizan, although I had shot quite a lot of it before buying 200 under-powered cartridges. These failed to cycle the slide of two Berettas (a 92FS and a Cougar 8000) that had been completely ammo tolerant before that experience.

I do not recall any issues with Sellier & Bellot. In fact, that seems to me to have been above average in quality in my experience.
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Thanks for the reply.

You must have gotten a bad batch, as the PPU (Prvi Partizan) 9mm ammo I've shot has always packed a little punch.

OK, here's a long post, hopefully it can help someone.

My "oomph" tester, to see if ammo is soft or hot, is a Chinese T-54 in 9mm. This was my first pistol, so I've held onto it over the years.
This gun, with the military grip panels and the way the grip angle is, it seems to be more sensitive to loads. Not that it doesn't function, but that I feel the recoil impulse more. It has a 4.5 inch barrel (approx), so I can also judge the "fireball" aspect, or any sparks indicating whether all the powder burns cleanly before the bullet leaves the barrel...

Over the years, using this pistol as a meter:

Blazer, Freedom reman; has been gentle.
UMC... my limited experiences with that have been too variable to try them again. Several boxes over the years, just did not like it at all. Couldn't group

WWB- this originally was my standard ammo, before the world changed. Didn't know any better, so I just shot it up and assumed it was "good". My experience is that it is inconsistent too, though not as bad as UMC. Soft to moderate, open groups, pretty dirty. (Blazer Aluminum, of all things, led me to conclude that WWB was inconsistent; as the Blazer ammo produced a more uniform recoil).

American Eagle= consistent at the mid-level, clean. It recoiled as firmly as the WWB, but didn't fluctuate like that did.

PMC- first tried this during one of the initial 9mm shortages, maybe the first one under Obama. Found it comparable to American Eagle, with maybe a little more recoil, but quite consistent. Clean flash, but left the internals dirtier than American Eagle did.

Sellier and Bellot- I actually bought a few boxes at the gunshow when I got my T-54, think it was before 2000, so during Clinton's run. I shot it up, but changed to WWB, because of availability and "made in America"; I've switched back and try to stick with it now. Cleaner (by a lot) than WWB, firm recoil, clean fireball with no sparks, tight groups.
I'd say the 124 has a little more recoil than the 115 (S&B and Herters), not a lot.
I always save a box to keep beside my CZ 75, since they're both Czech :)

Fiocchi- I found this very comparable to Sellier and Bellot, clean, nice flash, firm recoil, no sparks. I went to this around the same time I went to S&B, and I'd buy more, if it didn't cost just a little more than S&B whenever I look. I save 1 box to keep beside my Beretta 92SF, because Italian :)

PPU (prvi partizan)- started shooting this during the first shortage. It felt like a good thump recoil, along the lines of PMC, maybe cleaner. Seems to have a clean fireball without sparks for me. Now that I have a Zastava CZ99, gonna need to keep a box alongside that, because Serbian :)

Aguila- came across a good deal about a year ago, maybe 8.99 a box; I bought a case before that all sold out. 124 gr with crimped cases. Has a good firm recoil, pretty dirty, throws sparks occasionally. I might keep a box alongside my Star pistols, as Star is Spanish, and Aguila is Mexican... it's the closest I can find to native ammo on the market. :o

Yavex- tried this out awhile back, thought it was ok. I recently got a decent stash at a solid price, before it all vanished. 124 gr, sealed primers and cases, Turkish ammo. Like the Aguila, it has a good firm recoil, throws a couple of sparks, but not as dirty when I clean the gun. Good groups.

MEN- I got some of this when I got the S&B surplus white box, I think some of the boxes had both MEN and S&B in it. This is NATO spec with the cross markings. Good, firm, clean. Shoots identical to the Sellier and Bellot I've gotten. Groups are ok, maybe the best I've been able to get out of my FEG P9 (Hi-Power clone).

I think that's all, barring some ammo bought at the range...

Regarding my FEG HP, the S&B and MEN white box ammo groups well. With WWB, I seriously thought that gun might have a crown issue, as it threw up big groupings despite everything I did. This is at standard distances, maybe from 7 to 15 yds.

For accuracy over a bigger distance- I'm always shooting while standing, 2 handed hold in some version of Weaver stance (I'm just most comfortable and balanced that way), lefthanded. At 7 ft to infinity...
and for the record, I'm a decent shot, but I do not compete or anything like that. I'm by no means a dead-on shooter, but I do think I shoot ok for my own needs and purposes.

Ok then;
Indoor range- 25 yards, CZ 75, shooting at an empty S&B box clipped to the target (think about the size of a pack of cigarettes):
S&B 124 gr FMJ from the white box- 4 of 5 on paper, one flyer (and I could tell that the front blade drifted when I shot).

Outdoor range, 50 yd range, I think the berm is around 55 or so.
Star Modelo B Super, shooting at white paper plates (actually styrofoam), not the full dinner plates but I'd guess the next size smaller; someone had a few laying on the berm.
S&B regular stuff, 115 gr fmj, it took me a couple-3 shots to zero in, then I was able to hit the plates pretty consistently.
 
My experience sort of mirrors that of scoobysnacker.

Blazer Brass has been consistently reliable for me as has Federal American Eagle. I usually shoot the 124 grain in 9mm if I have a choice. I haven't noticed Blazer to be softer thatn American Eagle but I haven't really analyzed it critically.

PMC bronze and Sellier and Bellot also seem to be consistently good. I have had good results with Fiocchi but I have read on the net in the last year or two a number of complaints regarding Fiocchi. One shooter who chronographed it claims it is loaded weaker than in prior years. Fiocchi also makes the "Pefecta" 9mm ammo sold by Walmart, which is distributed by Tulammo, and I have heard some complain about that.

I have had acceptable results with Remington UMC, Magtech, and Winchester white box but all seem to be somewhat less consistent than the prior brands. I have had very good results with the 124 gr NATO spec ammo sold by Winchester and Freedom Munitions, however. Aquila has also been a decent performer.

I have shot some Geco and quite a bit of PPU. My impression was that it was OK, not superb. Much of the 9mm PPU ammo I have shot is the stuff sold by Academy Sports and branded Monarch brass. The 200 rounds of bad PPU I got came in Privi Partizan boxes, however, and I am pretty sure it was 115 grain.

Another brand that I have had absolutely no complaints about is Speer Lawman.

If the price is right, my top choices in 9mm ammo are 124 grain NATO by Winchester or Freedom, 124 grain Speer Lawman, 124 grain PMC bronze, 124 grain Federal American Eagle, or 124 grain Blazer Brass by CCI.
 
My 9mms seem to be the most accurate with 124gr bullets. I don't shoot steel or aluminum cases so I can't comment on those.

My .22s function best with ammo that is 1200fps+ with a round nose (RN) bullet. I don't understand why anyone shooting a .22LR pistol would use the HP ammo. I can see it (kinda) using it in a rifle for varmint control but target pistol shooting only asks for function issues.
 
I break in all my autos with hot ammo...a couple hundred +p rounds usually loosen things up to the point where they will reliably run anything. Certain guns , like SIG, KIMBER, HK, are built pretty tight, and might be finniky with lower powered ammo when brand new

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
For 9mm, I strongly prefer factory new 124gr brass...after that, I'm not picky (or my guns aren't picky rather) and generally just look for a good deal on one of the many respectable brands. But if I can get it at my price, Sellier & Bellot 124gr in the compact white boxes is my preference for FMJ. It's accurate and spirited 9mm, and they package 50 rounds less wastefully--in a box practically the size of a single bar soap box. I like being able to store so much more boxed ammo in my ammo cans this way! For SD rounds, it's straight Federal HST 124gr standard loads.

For .45 ACP FMJ, much the same as the 9mm, except now brass in 230gr. Any good value. I'll say that American Eagle has never let me down at the range, and it's easy to find it at somewhat reasonable internet prices, so that tends to be my benchmark. Don't care much for Winchester White Box. In .45 SD rounds, I also like HST here in 230gr but am also a fan of the bonded Golden Sabers.

In .22, Mini Mags of course. But from there, that's where it's fun sorting it all out with the various guns. Test, test, test. For my guns, the universal bulk ammo that all my .22's digest very reliably is Blazer, so I get it when I can. My SR22 hated anything Federal. Federal bulk, Federal Automatch, Federal whatever. Got rid of the SR22 and definitely don't go out of my way to acquire federal blue box bulk nowadays, although my S&W 15-22 does like Automatch. Still trying to find out what my PPQ .22 won't eat..I've been amazed at how reliably the Walther cycles whatever, especially after my SR22 experience. Night and day!
 
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The cheapest 9mm 115 grain that I can buy................. which includes some Re-manufactured stuff I get from my local gun shop! Three thousand plus rounds with the re-manufactured (reloads) and so far never a bad one! :D
 
I shoot mostly 115 gr stuff. Any and all brands. I roll the cartridges on a flat surface (I have a plastic tray) and if they wobble, I put them aside and shoot the good ones. I see more wobblers in WWB than any other brand, but usually it's one in a box of 50 or so. The only spark throwers I recall lately have been Perfecta. They all shoot fine though.
 
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