Cheap Ammo Shootout

[hammerklavier]

I was in the market for some cheap 180 grain .40 S&W recently and saw a great deal on PPU (Pvri Partisan). I've shot their .380 ACP and like it very much, but I wasn't sure if the .40 would shoot well out of my S&W M&P 40C. The short barrel did cause some HPR ammo I fired a while back to keyhole.

So I decided to get one box of every cheap brand I could find and test them all out so I could be prepared to take advantage of any sales in the future.

I got Pvri PPU, Fiocchi, PMC Bronze, Magtech, Am. Eagle, Winchester WB, and Aguila. I didn't get the other Federal brand because I've used it before and already know it works well.

Here are the boxes:

And the lineup:

Headstamps:

Bullets:

My initial impressions:

Nice box: PPU
Honorable mention: PMC
OK: Fiocchi, Am. Eagle, Aguila
Bad: WWB (foam, crushed), Magtech (big, raised)
Stats on box: Magtech, Am. Eagle

Bullets: Magtech more conical, Aguila more rounded

 

[hammerklavier]

I'll post test results after dinner

 

[hammerklavier]

I forgot to mention I only ordered reloadable ammo.

Anyway, the Winchester looked bad, every round was corroded. Here are some typical examples:

And it tore up the target and left smears that indicated possible keyhole problems:

Here is a typical group that I shot from 10 yards:

OK, so that one was the best group, but only because I was having problems with first and last round fliers today.

Fliers (and WWB) aside, my poorest group was with Pvri:

I think this was because it was a much lighter load than the others and that surprised me. If you're looking for a consistent 'reduced recoil' load I suggest you get some Pvri.

 

[hammerklavier]

Fiocchi had a surprising amount of muzzle flash.

Aguila a lot of sparks.

American Eagle and Fiocchi had a bit more recoil, but Magtech was over the top. It was noticeably snappier than my Spear Gold Dot carry ammo and actually banged up my trigger finger a bit. I had never thought .40 as being snappy in my M&P, but Magtech was. I don't know if this translates into more power or not (or maybe it's fast burning powder -- which would be good for short barrels). Anyway, if you're looking for FMJ for self defense you might want to look into Magtech.

 

[hammerklavier]

P.S. I finished off the box of WWB and didn't have any more problems, maybe once the barrel became fouled it settled down?


Also, the box design of Pvri, which I thought was so neat turned out to be not so good because some of the prongs broke:

 

[holdencm9]

I have always had good success with PMC. Pretty accurate and the box is compact. WWB always seems like unnecessary styrofoam and volume waste.

 

[Tcruse]

Good discussion, next time you should include S&B, MFS 2000 Brass, Ruag Precision, and Herters/Blazer TNJ (total nylon jacket). These are the lowest cost ones that I have found to be top tier. Generally, you can find one or more of these locally for under $10 for 50 cnt box.

 

[guyfromohio]

CCI Blaser Aluminum is easily found for $8.99/50 of 115 gr 9mm. Shoots just as well as all my other go-to cheapo stuff.... umc, white box, American Eagle, S&B....

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

Fiocchi is good for the money and the brass is well suited for reloading.

 

[doc2rn]

I like Blazzer for no frills ammo on a budget.

 

[S4BLE]

Thanks for the great write up with photos! I'd be real interested to see the same test but with 165gr ammo. I have the FN FNX 40 and I'm always looking to experiment with different target loads. I've shot lots of 180gr but am just now getting around to trying 165gr.

 

[JERRY]

paper punching Tul ammo has proven itself reliable to me with only one dud .45acp round out of almost 1,000 in 9mm and .45acp.

 

[firesky101]

for handguns mine all love fiocchi, but my rifles are big pmc fans. love me some x-tac.

 

[PO2Hammer]

American Eagle is Federal.

I like it because the brass makes for good hand loads.

 

[The Don]

I tend to get Tulammo $13 a box at my local wal-mart. If I cant get it I get Winchester white box.

 

[Sport45]

My cheap store-bought stuff is CCI Blazer aluminum.

 

[97guns]

i buy cheap and stack deep so im sitting on alot if this steel cased stuff for $8.10 a box shipped

 

[doc540]

cheap = WWB from WalMart (even with local sales tax)

They actually dropped the price a couple of months ago.

 

[Walking Dead]

I chose other. As I generally buy Bitter Root Valley Ammo if I want something cheap to shoot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

American Eagle is Federal.

I like it because the brass makes for good hand loads.

I was about to say the same thing but it's been said so I will just add I agree.

American Eagle ammo is just as good as Federal ammo from what I can tell. (brass is even marked Federal)

 

[brnmuenchow]

That was a hard call to make for me, I am a Winchester guy and the white USA box is geat cheap ammo. On the other hand the PPU brand I also use all the time for my 7.62X25mm, 7.62X54Rmm, etc.. etc.. So if I see both I grab them!

 

[Pyro]

I don't really have a favorite cheap ammo.
Which ever one is the cheapest when I go to the store.
CCI Blazer, WWB. American Eagle appears to be a little more costlier than Federal's bulk stuff.

 

[USAF_Vet]

TulAmmo for 9mm and .45 when I can get it. Remington or Blazer if no Tula. WWB as a last resort.

 

[GLOOB]

I've shot a heck of a lot of brown bear. Probably over 1k rds in 9mm. Not one single problem.
I've shot several hundred Fiocchi in 40 and 45 SW, not one single problem.

Out of the first couple hundreds rounds of Privi Partisan in .380, it has caused multiple type 3 jams in an otherwise reliable handgun, and even had a squib. After measurement of the rounds, it appears they're within SAAMI specs, but the bullets were wider than typical near the tip.

I've shot lots of Magtech, and it's always been good.

PMC is probably my favorite cheap ammo. It's always shot clean, and the cartridges have always been uniform, and pretty. Never had an issue, and it's some of the best brass out there, IMO.

 

[DNS]

Shot a lot of WWB and never had a problem.
Heard plenty of horror stories about it though so maybe i've just gotten lucky.