Ammo brand loyalty?

[EllisWyatt]

Brand loyalty for me is mostly a tie-breaker when faced with several largely undifferentiated choices. Some people "just get the cheapest" in that situation. I "just get Federal." Federal certainly is my first choice when it's available, unless I have a specific reason to go with something else. Hasn't done me wrong yet.

However when I went to LFI recently none of the stores in the area could get me a half case of Federal American Eagle in time, so I ended up taking a chance on Speer Lawman. Good stuff! Cleaner than any practice round I can remember using before, cycled with no trouble, and all 500 rounds passed visual examination. Certainly can't say *that* for UMC, and while I like AE it does leave things dirtier than I'd like.

So, loyalty? Sure, to a point. I doubt I'll be tossing out all of my Federal and replacing it with Speer any time soon, but they both have earned my confidence.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I am loyal to the lowest bidder.

 

[mrcpu]

I don't reload, although I have started saving my brass stuff if I shoot any.

Outside of that, whatever's cheap. I usually buy the 250 round packs, so when I get somethign, I'm stuck with it for a while.

With that said, I find that CCI both Al and brass has worked just fine for me in situations where some of the other cheap stuff didn't, but not so well that I only use it.

I don't carry yet, so I have not chosen a PD round, but I suspect it will be a more expensive name-brand, and not the junk.

 

[No_Brakes23]

I tend to gravitate towards Winchester or Federal. Some Hornady finds its way into the mix for the hard to find calibers like 7.65 ARG. And after Zumbo-gate, I have purchased a whole heap of Remington ammo to support them, (Can't afford another 870 just yet.)

After I start reloading, my choices will be based less on cost and more on what brass I want.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

My own ammunition is where I hold my loyalty. That is my standard. All else is either too expensive or unreliable. However I will take czech silvertip, milsurp .30 cal carbine.

 

[ARKIESTEEL]

For plinking I am very loyal to whoever is the cheapest. I am loyal to whomever I shot the best for home defense and hunting. I like what my gun feeds and shots well over the high tech rounds for HD. My 1911 shoots the wolf 230 grain fmj stuff real good so I keep it loaded with that.

 

[Clipper]

Serious ammo, what I load in my carry guns...Winchester silvertip HPs.

 

[dfaugh]

"Good stuff" = Federal or Winchester, plus Wolf Match Target in my .22s.

"Medium"= I've used some Sellior & Belloit with decent results

"Cheapo" = probably 5-7k rounds of Wolf over the past couple years, 7.62x39 of course and 9x19. Yeah, its dirty but no big deal in the guns I use it in for plinking.

 

[tbtrout]

I have always liked Federal.

 

[Shooter973]

Ammo Loyalty???

I carry Win. White Box Hollows in my carry 45acp. Its good ammo and there isn't any magic bullet!! My 24 yr old son buys Blazer Brass for his practice ammo, and I love the cases for reloading.
Other than that I can't remember the last box of Factory ammo I bought. I reload everything I shoot except 22 and then it usually the Fed. bulk boxes from wally world. I make great ammo and it costs less than any I can buy!!!

 

[sm]

When I was a pup perhaps, to some extent continued later in life with some things,
I have not been "Loyal" to a lot of life's offerings , including Ammunition, for a a lot of years.

Truth is, too many changes, mergers, acquisitions, out-sourcing - and whatever else goes on.


AA Compression formed hull - THE hull that revolutionized shotgun shells, and for 40 years were "the" hull - are no more. The machine broke and Winchester chose to not fix it.
This new HS hull I refuse to use. I have had 3 pallets of AA shotgun shells delivered in all 4 gauges in years past...not anymore I don't .


My take, is one teaches one how to treat them.
Since Mfgs have chosen often times to take ME for granted, and "think" they can treat me like a brand loyal puppet, let QC slide, let customer service erode, use inferior materials and all...

Sorry man, that dog won't hunt.

My dollars, and I choose to spend my dollars on what I feel I get my monies worth, I get QC, and I get customer service with.

If you screw me over - I do business elsewhere and let others know why I am changing brands.

Brand Loyalty can blind folks, Brand Loyalty does not mean everything in a "brand line" is worth a darn either.

Brand Loyalty requires a key element : Common Sense.

 

[Mark Whiteman]

There is entirely too much trading on a brand name's reputation some entity purchased and failed to earn, to the detriment of some huge customer bases. SAI's flirtations with coupling their history with the original Armory's doesn't set well with me, particularly since the products are not the same as the originals. I own two of their products and see no reason for them changing certain dimensions from the original.
When I went shopping for a used pickup, I bought a nice old Chevy, figuring we make better ones than overseas. The little tattletale tag said it was built in Canada! (not that there's anything wrong with that) When that one wore out beyond fixing after 130K, I did more research, and ended up with a Toyota Tundra. Designed in the US and built in the US. And a better repair and service record.
Nothing stays the same, not even the good stuff. Dammit.