ZQI ammo

L

Lts1990

Inactive
I went to the range over the weekend and shot my 9mm s&w sheild. I picked up some zqi 9mm shells at wal mart price was OK 50 for 13$. Got to the range 2 out of every chip FTE and tried wwb shot fine no problems. Next day I tried the zqi out of my s&w svd 9mm 2 out of every clip flf very dangous having to reload a shell with a hit primer. Anyone else ever have this problem with zqi ammo ? Everything else shoots fine out of both guns.
 
Never shot their pistol ammo, but a couple of weeks ago we fired off some of their .223 ammo. We had 1 ftf and 1 fte out of 40 rnds. The stuff was the dirtiest ammo I've seen since the days of old Belgian WWII surplus stuff.
 
zqi ammo

Yea I mean I could see one or two but I had like 20 shells out of 200 not go off and 10 at least not eject. It wasn't too dirty tho it just did not pro from very well. I know its not the gun because everything else shoots fine for them. After the fact I took the guns apart to see if anything was damaged that would cause the problem and they were both free and clear of and damage.
 
I ran a couple of boxes of .223 through my DPMS. No FTF or FTE. The stuff just didn't seen to be consistent accuracy wise. It may have been my shooting but I don't think it was only me.
 
The ZQI 9mm is loaded to NATO specifications, so it likely has relatively hard primers to comply with NATO drop test requirements. 9mm NATO ammo categorically has ignition problems in certain pistols that don't have very hefty hammer or striker force. It may also have problems if the hammer or striker force is compromised somehow, either by dirt in the striker or firing pin channel, or by user modifications aimed at lessening the trigger pull (e.g. a lighter mainspring).

Although I don't usually recommend detail-stripping pistols, I suggest cleaning out the firing pin or striker channels if there is reason to suspect that oil has gotten in there. Oil tends to make dirt and powder residue stick, and if it gets in the channel, schmutz will tend to build up, particularly if the user subscribes to the aerosol-can "Hose It Down & Wipe It Off" pistol cleaning regimen. :rolleyes: IMHO oil should NOT be applied to the breech face or the underside of the slide except with a lightly-oiled cloth or Q-tip, and it should be wiped off immediately.

FWIW I have observed indifferent to middling accuracy with ZQI ammo, although it has functioned 100% in my S&W M&P9 and Beretta 92S.
 
I have to agree with carguychris, harder NATO primers. I've only tried one box of the ZQ 9MM ammo. It functioned flawlessly in the Hammer fired pistols I tried it in. Since I didn't have any issues with the ZQ ammo, I didn't investigate primer hardness any further. I have thousands of rounds experience with the Winchester Q4318 9MM NATO ammo over the last 15 years or so. I once tried a mainspring one step lighter than factory in a gun. I'd used the Q4318 in this and many other 9MM pistols, revolvers and carbines with never a misfire. I immediately experienced misfires, and evidence of light hammer strikes on the primers of the rounds that did not fire. A second hammer strike fired all the recalcitrant rounds. Never another misfire after changing back to the heavier factory mainspring. As NATO is loaded to a bit higher pressure than SAAMI spec ammo, I'd expect ZQ might use a harder primer too.....ymmv
 
I've shot a lot of ZQI ammo as my local Walmarts always have it on the shelf. I've never had any problems with it. I mainly shoot 9mm out of my M&P 9c but have never had issues with it in other handguns I own.
 
I have only bought it for rifle. My AR10 went from sub moa shooting 168gr boat tails to something that resembled a 50yd shotgun pattern. I used the 147gr ammo and I won't run it through my gun anymore. I wouldn't have beleived it I hadn't seen it for myself. If I did use it it would be for 25 to 50yd open sight plinking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top