Ammo Accuracy Reviews

[WNC Seabee]

Anyone have links to a list of ammo accuracy reviews? You can find threads about individual choices here and there, especially the beat-to-death "What SD/HD Ammo is best?". For sake of this thread, I don't care about penetration stats, bullet expansion, etc. I want to know what ammo tends to be most accurate for a given caliber.

I understand that reviews are subject to a particular weapon; I just want some place to start.

Especially .45ACP since I just got a new one !

 

[kcshooter]

I understand that reviews are subject to a particular weapon

This is really the key. I don't know of any ammo that is particularly innacurate. So what your gun likes is really the biggest factor, and that's really the place for you to start. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but I think it really is the best answer. Sorry.

 

[tipoc]

I have to agree with kcshooter here. Most factory stuff is fairly good. It's more a matter of what is most accurate out of your guns in your hands. In .45 most loads from the major manufacturers are useful.

It would be easier to tell you what is usually not so good than to tell you what is the best.

tipoc

 

[belus]

The best I think you'll be able to do is looking for ammo reviews that list the standard deviation of velocities. Irrespective of specific guns, a large variance in velocity will not be accurate.

edit: This velocity difference can come from a distribution of bullet weights, powder charges, case dimensions, and/or the degree of crimp. Either one will make you less consistent.

 

[Slowbra01]

*trying not to rant*

Most people ask "which gun is accurate" or rather a particular gun is inaccurate and the same when it comes to ammo.

I for one HATE these questions. People need to start blaming guns or ammunition because the biggest factor of accuracy isn't the gun or the ammo, its the shooter!

Until your skill exceeds your gun, don't focus so much on specialized ammunition.

 

[loop]

I agree on the standard deviation. I've found that an SD of less than four in a pistol and less than seven in a rifle yields incredibly accurate ammo.

OTOH, if you can access standard deviation it probably means you own a chronograph and that you handload.

Which brings me to my next thought. Unless you handload you will never really know just how accurate your gun is capable of shooting.

My .243 will group 1 inch at 300 yards, but this is with a well-developed load. My .45s will all group under an inch at 25 yards, but I have three different loads I use in a dozen .45 ACPs.

If you are lucky enough to find a factory load that is unusually accurate in a gun it won't last. That is due to factory specs. It is usually a powder issue.

I've explained this before, but I'll give the short version here. Factories use bulk powder. They take combinations of powder and buffer to give about the same performance the factory promises on the box.

Reloaders use cannister powders. Cannister powders come in three basic forms, but must be consistent enough to that when a guy from Idaho loads his round it will be very near the same pressure a guy in Florida loads.

Burn rate and pressure are the reasons cannister is preferable to bulk.

Back on topic, I've rarely found a commercial rifle round that will yield and SD of under 100. In pistol ammo, if I could find a commercial round that stayed in the SD range of 25 or less I'd be happy. Truth is that they just aren't out there. Even if you get a box that stays in specs, try the next lot and you aren't even close.

In short, if you want accurate ammo you must roll your own.

And, no matter how inaccurate your gun is, it is more accurate than the shooter.

If you really like accuracy you need to try bench rest...

 

[SureThing]

Well, I play paintball....now say with me here.... and have tried my best to get the most accurate setup. For paintball, the balls must be quality, the barrel must be quality, and the consistancy of the air behind it must be consistant.

So the factors for ammo would be about the same. Gun, Bullet, and powder.

Belive it or not, I have bench tested ammo at 50 ft, and actually found slight differences. Some actually grouped a bit better than others. We used my dads Ruger p89 and Beretta 92.

At the time we were using WWB, Fiochi, UMC, and Blazer. The best, in my hands and my dads in the the 2 different guns was Fiochi.

Being that said, we are only talking bout a couple of inches, from 50 feet difference.

Self defense ammo is supposed to me more percise all around.

Unless you are shooting at someone from 100 feet or so, I don't think it matters.

But if you are going to the range and want to show off, get the most accurate.

 

[Mike U.]

Here ya go:
http://stevespages.com/page8f45acp.html

More .45 ACP terminal performance pics and data than you can shake a stick at. I think he's pretty well covered every .45 ACP load available.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Mike U., that site will be great when I start looking at carry/SD ammo for this pistol.

loop and belus...I've got my reloading supplies on the way!

[rant]
Slowbra...you and your 5 posts may really HATE questions like these. Personally, I really HATE responses that have no bearing on the conversation other than to rant (no matter how hard you tried not too).

I've qualified Expert on every weapon I've ever been handed and have been a shooter my whole life. That being said, this is my first .45. I'm not blaming a gun (hell, I don't even have the pistol in-hand yet), I'm not blaming ammunition. I'm not saying "This gun isn't accurate, obviously it's a POS or the ammo is junk." I am posing a question to a group of guys that know their stuff and looking to be pointed in the right direction regarding a specific topic.

Your comments have no corelation to my original question. If I'd said anything along the line of "This gun's all over th place! MUST be the ammo..." then you'd at least be on topic.

Sorry for my counter-rant, but as I read this board I see about 70% thoughtful (or at least courteous) responses and the rest are just people mouthing off with no value added to the discussion.

There, I've gone and done it. I'm now an official member of the useless post club. [/rant]

 

[WNC Seabee]

Mike U.....looking at that site again, and re-reading the posts re: standard deviation I've got a great place leg up on which commercial loads to buy for my first round of testing. Thanks!

 

[Mike U.]

Outstanding!
I was slack-jawed when I first went there. That man did one helluva lotta shooting and data recording.

 

[Owen]

In 45 ACP, for just plain accuracy, a 185gr LSWC at around 750 fps seems to get it done for a lot of people.

 

[jfh]

owen gets it right--the 185-gr. and 200 gr. (L)SWC bullets have long been the preferred ones for accuracy in the .45ACP.

Personally, I / my 1911 have long preferred the 200 LSWC-over-231 variant, running about 800 fps. I build that one with about 5.0 gr. of 231.

Keep in mind that your 1911 may need a lighter-weight recoil spring to function reliably at that performance level, and / or that you may need 'smithing (ramp polishing) for reliable feeding. You will need to experiment with LOAs to solve the feed problem, and the powder charge will need to be tweaked as well to find your pistol's sweet spot.

And, I'd start with shooting some 'standard' 230-gr. FMJs to burnish the barrel before I'd start seeking accuracy loads.

But, if you're looking for accuracy out of a 1911, the 185-200 (L)SWC at lower velocities is the way to go.

Jim H.

 

[Owen]

http://www.pelhamfishandgame.com/reloading/45/petloads.htm

load data amassed buy the Bullseye-L mailing list.

 

[wanderinwalker]

WNC Seabee, I think your question had legitimate merit. owen and Jim H. got your point; In some calibers, there are a few standard loads that SHOULD group well in almost every pistol. In .45 ACP, it seems to be a 185 or 200 grain LSWC. Another likely candidate is the 200gr Hornady XTP, but I wouldn't rule out the 230gr version either.

It's like Highpower shooting. If your rifle won't shoot Black Hills or Federal Gold Medal well, then it probably won't shoot anything well enough to win.

 

[everallm]

For the word ACCURATE substitute CONSISTENT.

If the ammunition you buy or load has consistent OAL, bullet weight, primer, powder type and weight etc then, assuming a reasonable quality firearm, your results will be better.

I was quite surprised when I started reloading and then started looking at components as well as factory loads at the variance you can get across batches. Not massive but noticeable.