Need .357Sig ammo rec's...

[at-home-daddy]

Need to find some .357Sig ammo at a decent price and, after not being able to find it reasonably priced around here, I went on-line and here's what I found -- if opinions could be offered on brand quality/cleanliness/accuracy/etc and/or store service, I'd appreciate it. And for any SigForum members whom may have already seen this query, I beg your patience.

CHEAPER THAN DIRT:
1). CCI Lawman, $12.50/50 box
2). Federal Amer. Eagle, $13.31/50 box
3). S&B, $8.99/50 box
4). UMC (which I haven't heard good things about), $11.19/50 box
5). Winchester USA (WWB?), $12.51/50 box
6). PMC, $12.58/50 box

GEORGIA ARMS:
1). Canned Heat (reloads...?), $85/500
2). New (?), $17.50/100 box

AMMOMAN:
1). Federal Eagle, $139/500 box ($13.90/50 box)
...with free shipping

OUTDOOR MARKSMAN:
1). Winchester USA (WWB?), $11.95/50 box
2). S&B, $9.50/50 box

NATCHEZ:
1). CCI Lawman, $13.26/50 box
2). Federal Eagle, $11.95/50 box
3). S&B, $9.78/50 box

PRECISION AMMO:
1). $11.25/50 box

WIDENERS:
1). Winchester, $12.50/50 box; $115/500 box

Of all, the S&B certainly seems priced the best...but I've heard the hard primers can cause problems...and the red dye can wear off and mess up the breech face and firing pin. Still, that price sure is purdy...

So, any thoughts on the above brands...and prices...and stores? I don't really care for the WWB in the other calibers I have (though 9mm isn't too bad), so I'm kind of leaning away from that. The Georgia Arms stuff...don't want reloads, good as it may be, and haven't heard anything about their new (?) cartridges (though I'd like to). CCI's stuff has always treated me well in 9mm and .45ACP. Federal Eagle is supposed to pretty good, I think.

Shipping on all, from those who would even disclose it, seems to be compartively similar, except for AmmoMan who offers free shipping. But on that particular store...it sounded as if they were recalls or closeouts or something along those lines...is there a reason to be concerned?

Any experience with any of the brands or stores listed above would be greatly appreciated. This is my first on-line ammo order *and* first purchase of .357Sig ammo...so I'm a bit leary, I guess.

By the way, it's for this...picked it up a few days ago (pic taken just as it taken out of the wrapper, the packing/preservation oil still gleaming on the outside:

 

[at-home-daddy]

Sorry this is duplicated; I've no idea why. Tried deleting one of them, and it wouldn't allow me to do so...

 

[w1mnk]

The Georgia Arms stuff is very good. I would recommend it.

 

[MK11]

CDNN is offering 1,000 rounds of Georgia Arms .357 Sig for $159, I think.

 

[Telperion]

Impact Guns has some surplus 100gr frangible training rounds for 9.99/50 box. I don't know their shipping charges. I can definitely recommend the round though; very little difference in recoil, very clean (it's completely lead free). Depending on your range setup you can do some cool things like shoot steel plates at CQB ranges without fear of backsplash.

 

[treeprof]

Ga Arms is very good - most of my stash is their reloaded Canned Heat, and my SD ammo is usually their new manuf Gold Dots when I carry something in 357 SIG. Ga Arms used to offer free shipping w/a minimum order, but I get mine at gun shows. I've shot maybe 3-4k of it, all of which has been fine, and I have much more than that in my reserves. Their "reloads" are sometimes new brass pulled from stuff that didn't pass muster at another maker. They had literally tons of new nickle-plated brass (Speer, I think) that they bought b/c the powder charge was off at the factory a few yrs back. The maker pulled the components and "parted" them out to places like Ga Arms b/c they couldn't reload it and sell ity as new. Much of the rest of their 357 SIG brass is once-fired stuff from police ranges. I shoot it in a SIG 229, SIG 226 and Glock 32 w/out reservation.

Speer Lawman is good stuff. I've shot maybe 2k of it w/out problem. I got into a bunch for $9/box.

I don't like S&B. Dirty, smelly, an odd wt. bullet and not nearly as accurate as the others.

Win USA White Box is good stuff - I've shot maybe 1k of it in 357 SIG.

I wouldn't shoot UMC in my worst enemy's gun, because I deserve to be shot with something better than that crap. It is filthy and unreliable in the cartridges I've used. I hate it with a passion that burns.

American Eagle is as good as any of the others, but I have more limited experience with it in 357 SIG.

I've not used PMC in 357 SIG, but have shot a good bit of it in .45 and 9 mm w/out any probs.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I buy a lot of S&B at CTD's retail storefront, mostly because I'm cheap. I've got about 1000 rounds of their FMJ through my P229 without a hiccup or FTF. For CCW purposes I carry either Gold Dots or Golden Sabres.

Yes, I think the S&B is dirtier than a lot of other ammo. That just means I clean my pistol after I'm done at the range. I've never had a problem with the red lacquer on the primers.

I think your SiG will digest most anything you put through it. Mine does.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[.45FMJoe]

Precision Ammo gets as cheap as Wally World .45 value packs when you buy 1000 rounds.....

 

[mrapathy2000]

might be able to find winchester white box 100 rounds for $15.

would give everything a try to see what the gun will eat and choke on.

umc has 250 rounds packs not sure if its in 357sig. 40S&W goes for $40.

nice gun.

I would of purchased a gun in 357sig if it werent for the ammo situation.

you might want to purchase a 40S&W or 9mm barrel. not sure how that would work with 9mm probably ok for target/plinking. not sure what you would do for magazine.

reloading is not a bad choice either. I have heard good things of S&B ammo and understand they have been making ammo in Europe for a long time.

 

[at-home-daddy]

Thanks for all the advice, it's much appreciated. I'm going to place an order tomorrow with one of these folks...probably one of the ones that offer a larger assortment, so I can try out several different brands and see which one seems to suit me and my P229 the best. As such, I suppose it'll probably be CheaperThanDirt, for no other reason, really, other than their selection was the best. Will likely throw in an assortment of CCI, Federal, S&B and Winchester. Shoot a couple hundred rounds of each, and that should give me a good idea of which to stick with...then I can reevaluate and see which of these firms offers the best deal on the ammo of my choice.

 

[at-home-daddy]

Just had another thought: I'm heading down to Albany, Oregon (about an hour South of Portland) this weekend, and am wondering if there are any brick-and-mortar shops in Northern Oregon (Portland or Salem or...?) worth stopping at to pick up 800 or 1000 rounds of cheap-but-good-quality .357Sig ammo? I've another thread about doing it on-online, but just had a thought that this might be an easier option (saves Washington sales tax, and I don't have to wait for delivery).

I only have time for one stop, so it's got to be a solid lead on a great deal. So...anyone?