S&B, Fiocchi, Blazer and Wolf

S

Skorzeny

New member
If the price is the same, which is more reliable, accurate and safe (not loaded too hot), S&B (Czech) or Fiocchi (Italian?)?

Also, is CCI/Blazer good plinking ammo (I don't reload)? Is there any chance of the aluminum casing adversely affecting or damaging the gun?

What about steel-cased ammo?

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
I'd say Fiocchi would be my top choice followed by Blazer & S&B on about same level. Would avoid Wolf for handguns for which other brands exist(their 7.62x39 seems OK, 9x18 is waaay hot and .223/.45 have reputation of inconsistency).
 
I can only tell you out of 9mm glocks, fiocchi has the leaset felt recoil, then blazer then S&B and Wolf are about the same. All four have some what more muzzle flash than normal. I also think fiocchi is the most accurate out of the four mentioned. It is also the most consistent. Blazer and wolf tend to be inconsistent S&B and wolf are more dirty. I would include WIN USA, because for a few bucks more you get a premium practice ammo that is very accurate and reliable IMO. So going back to you question, Fiocchi would be your answer.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chaho:
...going back to you question, Fiocchi would be your answer. [/quote]

I agree, the best 9mm ammo I have ever used is Fiocchi's FMJTC 123 grain. It has performed beyond expectations in my HiPower and Smith & Wesson 3913. For me it's on target, feeds well, and isn't dirty.

I say "...has performed..." because I can't find any more. I bought a case two years ago and loved it. When I returned for more, nobody had it. I'm still looking.

If you can find it, try it.

Joe

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"Suppose you are an idiot. And suppose you are a member of congress.
But I repeat myself."
-- Mark Twain
 
Numbers, have you checked with keisler wholesale ? I think when I ordered my case of 1000 115g they had the 123g, but that was a few months back. Also I saw ads for them but not in cases. I will try to look for the add and get back to you. GOOD LUCK !
 
For cheap quality ammo (somewhat in order) I like:

1. S&B (quality, reloadable, affordable)
2. Winchester ("...")
3. Remington UMC ("...")
4. Fiocchi (warmer than most... typically more $)
5. Blazer (cheap ,accurate, but sticky)
6. Wolf (fine but sometimes inconsistent)



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AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
IMHO, Wolf was the hottest between it, S&B, and Blazer in 9mm. I haven't seen Fiocchi in 9mm. In 9x18, from what I hear the Wolf 109gr (same stuff seen in white boxes according to others) would be the hottest followed by S&B, Fiocchi and Blazer. A funny thing about Fiocchi, next time you see a box look closely for place of origin. Most of the Fiocchi I have come across was made in Italy but I found some Fiocchi 230gr 45ACP that was made in Hungary. It was alright. Most European manufactures tend to load their stuff a tad hotter than US companies, IMHO. As for steel case stuff, Wolf 115gr 9mm, I choose not to use it anymore. I had one round of their 9mm expand in my PJK's chamber and the PJK could not extract it. (second jam, the first was a stovepipe) I got it out and the range owner suggested that steel case stuff may tend to wear more on firearms. FWIW, my G17 and CZ 75B liked the Wolf ammo though.
 
Gregg,
Funny that you mentioned to check the country of origin. The last box of Fiocchi .45 ACP I bought at the range, had "Made in the USA" in big bold letters. Too bad it was sub-par to the Italian stuff. I can only assume that a US commercial ammo company is making it for them.
 
Skorz,

I've been recently burning up a case of S&B 9mm in my G-17. Love the stuff for cheap plinking. Even shot a service pistol match with it and scored higher than the match coordinator using his own G-17.

I recently took some S&B .380acp to the club and shot the PPC course with my SIG P-230. Shot a 515/600 with 2 rounds not scoring. Not bad for this small of a gun chambered for a caliber which really isn't known for match accuracy.

I intend to buy more S&B in the future.

--Rich

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Nothing threatens freedom so much as self rightous ignorance.
 
I've used several ases S&B, IMI, Denel, PMP and am now working my way through a case of Magtech. All of this is 115 gr. 9mm hardball.

I've also shot several cases of IMI and S&B 230 gr. .45 hardball.

The only difference between them I can find is that the S&B is a little hotter and dirtier.

They are all equally reliable, and equally accurate. I think I prefer the S&B, but don't feel as though I'm taking second best when I have to use the others.

Nearly all of these 9mm loads are avaiable in the $110-$130 range for a case (1000 rounds) delivered, from a number of ammo suppliers on the internet.

I have -- and know of several others who have -- had bad luck with CCI Blazer. In my case, I've had many misfires and in one lot (out of one case I bought) 5 squib loads. (It fired, apparently primer only, and the bullet did not clear the barrel.) I don't use Blazer anymore.
 
Definitely go with the Fiocchi. It's a little dirty but fires very nicely. Then again, S&B and Wolf is dirty also. I haven't tried Blazer. IMHO, I would stay away from Wolf. Hot Hot Hot, Dirty Dirty Dirty
 
Fiocchi is #1, period, and far ahead of
other three brands.

Wolf - my personal experience with this ammo has been good. It's cheap and hot, designed
to work in COMBAT pistols. I shot it in CZ-75, and although accuracy was not at best,
CZ and Wolf worked together w/o any problems.
Lot's of fun to shoot this really hot stuff.

S&B - never tried it.

CCI Blazer - it's a cheaply made ammo. In some pitols it may not perform well, as I found. CCI line of .22 is excellent, but
their centerfire ammo is absolutely nothing to be excited about...
 
Fiocchi has a plant in Missouri where they have manufactured ammo for US Sale for years.
(Shotgun and Metallic).


Personally, I have shot more UMC than any other "off-brand" ammo.

I have shot a ton of Blazer and Glock, Inc. uses Blazer as their primary fodder in Smyrna.

I haven't had any problems with the S&B in .45 or .40, but I 've heard of some trouble from other people who've shot it in thier .40's. They may have gotten a bad lot, as they had serious functioning problems with their Sig 239s...
 
My vote is for the Fiocchi - definately #1. Try Summit Ammo, thats where I get mine from and they're good guys to deal with. The last 2 cases I got for $135./case delivered to the door.
 
Fiocchi #1. S&B good, but with hard primers. Wolf, hot load and somewhat dirty.

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DAH BIG DAWG'S ON DUTY
 
Fiocchi goes first for me, then S&B is very reliable in both 9mm and .380. I've had a couple of failures with Wolf in 9mm and no problems with .380. I love the way it burns! Like napalm in the morning...

Roon
 
Has anybody tried Magtech? I am a S&B fan, but my supplier was out and had a good deal on the Magtech. I have only shot a box so far. My first impressions are good. I mixed a mag with S&B and did not notice a difference. I do not like Blazer. It seems hot, and has more muzzle flash.

Best Regards
Sam
 
Sam,
I like Magtech. I've shot the 9 mm head to head with Collins, PMC, UMC, American Eagle, American (Miami), Aquila, and Winchester. I found the Magtech, Collins, PMC, AE, and Winchester to be very similar, with just a very slight nod in preference to the PMC, and would buy whichever one is less expensive. The others I did not like, and would not buy. If I get to the range this weekend, I'm planning on shooting the Magtech and me other favorites against Fiocchi, S&B, and Geco.

I've shot their .40 against PMC, Collins, UMC, AE, American and Aquila. In this group, I again liked the Magtech, PMC, Collins and AE, with a slight preference for Collins. Again, I hope to be shooting the Magtech and others against Fiocchi and S&B this weekend.

My brother feels that Magtech .357 mag is some of the best he has ever shot.

I'm planning a similar comparison with .45 ACP, but just haven't got around to it yet.

I could kick myself for not stocking up on Magtech in all three calibers, when Midway was having their February sale. On March 1st they raised their prices between $20 and $40 a case :(
 
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