Winchester White Box vs. UMC 9mm FMJ

I've always heard the UMC is cleaner, and have noticed that in my gun. I still generally buy WWB because it's cheaper.

At this level you're talking plinking and target ammo.
I'll buy whichever is cheaper.

AFS

At this level you're talking plinking and target ammo.
I'll buy whichever is cheaper.

Click to expand...

I concur.

I've shot both through my PM9, both seem to shoot just fine.

I recently bought UMC in bulk at Dicks because of the price. If the Winchester were cheaper, I would have bought that.

I've found that the UMC JHP (not FMJ) shoots a little cleaner than WWB. Both felt about the same. Buy whatever is cheapest if the both feed reliably.

WWB is most definitely dirtier.

But it's cheap and it works.
I'll be buying it on occasion until I get setup for reloading.

Whatever is cheaper, or whichever your gun prefers in terms of accuracy.

Being a little dirtier shouldn't matter because you are going to clean your gun anyway. Go with the cheaper stuff.

Just finished shooting both in 9mm. Remington is cleaner and seems more accurate.

hard primers....

My last 100 box of WWB had several hard primers, that caused FTF. I tapped a box of UMC the same day and had zero FTF. I posted a thread thinking it was my PT-111 and several folks noted that it was not uncommon to get hard primers occasionally with WWB.

WWB is definitely dirtier.

But.....it's $2/100 box cheaper in my neck of the woods

Why do people claim that WWB or UMC is only for practice or plinking? WWB is labled as a self defense loading in the JHP version. It always shoots (in my standard factory gun) when the trigger is pulled, and while it is not as accurate as high priced ammo, it still maintains a group smaller than a dinner plate at 20 yards, when using the sights.

I suspect that most defensive shooting will be at much closer range, and too quick for precisely aimed fire, so a flash sight alignment will be used - in this case a highly accurate loading doesn't provide any advantage.

The WWB JHP may not have as consistent expansion as the higher priced ammo, but if you keep pulling the trigger until the threat is stopped, what difference does it make whether the hole is .38 or .45 or expands to .60 after it enters the body. If I shoot twice with one ammo selection, and three times with another, but the same result is accomplished, is one ammo better than another? The next time the number of shots relative to ammo selection might be reversed. The result depends greatly on shot placement, and sometimes on obstructive material (clothing, glass, paneling, shrubbery, etc.).

I wonder whether there is some "snob factor" in the way ammo is rated for defensive use; one guy says my defensive ammo costs $50 per box of 20, so it must be better than the ammo that costs $25 for a box of 50.

It it gets the job done and done well, it is suitable for that role. Does anyone have any evidence the WWB and UMC is not getting the job done well in actual defense shootings?

Noone said they can't be used in self defense, it's just that they aren't the best choice. They weren't really made for that purpose, and there's much better choices in the market. In most cases, though, the ammo will kill them just as dead.

FWIW, I have my 9mm loaded up with UMC JHP currently, and trust it will put an intruder down.

The premium ammo is sweet, and I use it, but I'm not ashamed to load up my Model 10 with UMC 125gn38+p JHP! They have more flash and noise but should get the job done IMO.

Before I began reloading I would prefer the UMC if it was available at the local wally world. Otherwise I got WWB or Blazer.

For just plane ole trigger time on paper,which ever is the cheapest at the time.

i agree with the above post whatever happens to be cheaper, which i normally buy my ammo from wal-mart, so the wwb works out for me. i have never had a single problem out of either of the two types, i have noticed that the wwb was more accurate in my glock 19, but for plinking/ range trigger time the are both great and will both do the trick!

I had a box of 9mm UMC a few years ago that had thin, razor sharp brass shavings still attached to many of the cases. They were hard to see and one ended up deep in my thumb as I tried to load it into a magazine. Ouch! Probably a fluke, but I haven't bought UMC since. WWB has always worked fine for me.

WWB is spotless compared to wolf ammo

Wolf smells like a VW bus running on milk too, but their pistol ammo always seems to be accurate when gun rags do pistol tests. I haven't tried it yet because it conjures up memories of choking on Wolf blowback in the AR. If I'm out of handloads or need brass I buy whichever is cheaper, which is usually WWB.

I have not shot Wolf ammo yet. However, I have read enough stories on the internet (where everything is 100% true!) that the poly-coated steel cases can gum up actions and chew up extractors. I'll pay the $1-$2 more per box for something else. For cheap ammo, I've used CCI Blazer Aluminum FMJ, Federal American Eagle FMJ, Remington UMC JHP, WWB FMJ, and Sellier & Bellot FMJ, all in 9mm 115gr. Cleanest was probably the American Eagle. Accuracy on the S&B was surprisingly good. If you don't reload, buy whatever is cheapest. If you do reload, eliminate CCI Aluminum from the list and get whatever is cheapest.

One of many, I started a thread a few weeks ago about premium SD ammo and "is it worth it?" Reliability of feed, ignition, and expansion where the main pros positive, plus most premium ammo uses a low-flash powder, which could be important in low-light situations. Shot placement still remains the most important thing though.

The difference in cost per shot for me is about 1.5 cents. I think that the UMC 9mm is slightly more accurate than the WWB. But maybe I just had a good day. In either case I think it is fine ammo and like the UMC 9mm 115gr. JHP as well. For $16/100 you can't beat the price and can easily practice with your carry ammo and not break the bank.

i knew it, the horrible wolf has come out again, on another ammo thread!

After having shot a couple thousand of each in 9mm form, I would go with the UMC. To me, it seems to shoot a little straighter but that might just be me. I don't know, WWB has not been good to me lately.

I use both, but more often than not I choose the UMC because of the quantity available.