Factory Reloaded Ammo, any Good ?

[armedpolak]

So I can buy 1000 rounds of .40S&W for $125 online.
Is that a good deal? Is factory reloaded ammo any good?

 

[quatin]

Some are some aren't. The only one I know is good is "Black Hills". Shoots better than off the shelf factory ammo.

 

[ilbob]

There are a lot of custom reloaders out there.

 

[Deanimator]

As stated by someone else, I wouldn't mess with anything not from a known reliable source. The only one I know of is Black Hills.

 

[Justin]

Definately go with Black Hills. Stay away from the stuff that guys hawk at gun shows, you know "Bob's Like New Reloaded Ammo!"

 

[Smokey Joe]

A better way

Armedpolak--why not just reload yr own, avoid paying the I'net guy his profit, and be sure of what went into each case?

Besides, ammo is heavy, so the freight will be $$'ly, plus also there will be a hazmat fee you get to pay.

 

[trickyasafox]

i've heard good things about miwall reloaded ammo

most people have shot ultramax, and thats usually okay as well.

 

[Bacchus]

I've used Cabela's reloaded ammo without any problems...

 

[Deanimator]

Definately go with Black Hills. Stay away from the stuff that guys hawk at gun shows, you know "Bob's Like New Reloaded Ammo!"

+1 on the gunshow reloads. I've only used that stuff once, out of my 4" Model 29-2. I don't know about anywhere else, but in the Cleveland area, commercial reloads have two and only two criteria, LOUD and BRIGHT.

Let me second the recommendation to reload. It's saved me thousands of dollars over the years, not to mention giving me ammunition that I CAN'T buy, such as the 600/1000 yard .30-06 load for my Savage 112BVSS with 200gr. Sierra Matchkings, IMR4350 and Federal 210M primers. NOBODY makes that load, and if they did, it'd probably be $30/box.

 

[gunsmith]

I have used miwall without any problems

a friend got a bunch of cabelas's and it was terrible...

 

[Lou629]

AP...

You don't mention who it's from, but i don't buy reloads in any case, and since I don't have a .40 in the personal arsenal, i'm unfamiliar with what new factory ammo is going for in that caliber. However i am reminded of that old phrase about "getting what you pay for", so, if it sounds too good to be true, there's likely a reason for that. With a lot of the things we purchase, most of us have a point where price can outweigh other factors, but in the case of ammunition, even if it's half the price of new, do you want to take a chance?

 

[Rexrider]

i've heard good things about miwall reloaded ammo

Here is a rough count of the Milwall ammo I have personally shot.
45acp: 500
9mm: 500
.38 special: 300
.357mag: 400

A friend of mine has shot several thousand rounds of 40S&W in his Glock. Yes, I did tell him that he was breaking a fundamental law of the universe and only bad things can happen if he continues to shoot reloads in his Glock. He just rolls his eyes , says "whatever dude" and cracks open another can of the stuff.

Granted, this thread was not specifically about Milwall, but I just wanted to point out there are some quality factory reloads out there. The trick is finding the right ones.

 

[Car Knocker]

Is factory reloaded ammo any good?

First, you have to define "factory" in the context of reloaded ammunition.

Conceivably, the "factory" could consist of a guy loading in a spare bedroom. Small one-person operations often can, and do, turn out extremely good ammunition. They can also turn out very bad ammunition. Multi-person operations run the same gamut. What needs to be done to assure peace of mind is to evaluate the product, the end result of the process.

1) Is the appearance uniform, with even crimps, uniform case coloration, properly recessed primers and no evidence of bullet shaving?

2) Is overall length consistant within tolerances? (Bear in mind that factory-new ammunition also varies slightly in OAL.)

3) If appearance is satisfactory, shoot a sample of the ammunition (from a rest, if possible). If the ammunition produces a grouping consistant in size and shape to what you get with comparable factory-new ammunition, appears to have consistant recoil and an examination of the spent cases reveals that they are free of defects such as splits and protruding primers, the reloads are probably acceptable.

4) Reloads, compared to factory-new ammunition, may produce more smoke and powder residue; may have more smoke-blackening on the spent cases; may produce more leading if using lead bullets; have a different point of impact and have a different felt-recoil. This doesn't mean the reloads are inferior to factory-new ammunition, just different.

5) Even major manufacturers of new ammunition produce defective product occasionally. What is the reloader's policy on returns of defective ammunition? Does it indicate that the reloader takes pride in his product?

NOTE: Two terms appear frequently in this post: "consistant" and "uniform". Product that is consistant and uniform tends to denote quality.

 

[nitesite]

Georgia Arms makes excellent ammo, but I agree Black Hills is probably the best.

 

[pharmer]

Like everyone else said, that inexpensive reloaded ammo just inside the door at every gunshow in Florida is crap. I bought some .223 about 10 years ago (something like $12/100 in a ploy bag). Bright and shiny, it had not been resized and absolutely would not chamber in an AR15, mini14, or bolt mini MK X. That was probably a good thing. Joe

 

[ilbob]

http://www.nsksales.com/

I have bought 38 special target loads for my M52 from this guy several times. he even went to the trouble to develop a load for my M52 to shoot at 50 feet rather than use his normal loads which are designed for 25 or 50 yards.

The guy specializes in bullseye target loads, and bullseye shooters will not accept stuff that does not go bang everytime.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

I have had good luck with Milwall relaods and their new ammo.

 

[Mannlicher]

I rank Georgia Arms product as good as any factory original loads.

http://www.georgia-arms.com/index1.htm

 

[Dave R]

I've had bad experiences with Ultra-Max. Thumbs down.

 

[V-fib]

I use Cabelas 158gr. LSWC .38 made by HSM (HS Munitions) Stevensville , MT. After many hundreds of rounds I’ve never had any FTF’s. I use it as my carry ammo in my 642. I’ve also had good luck with Ultramax ammo when I had my SP101.

 

[Ala Dan]

As a whole, I'd bet factory reloads aren't as good as MY handloads~!

 

[Firethorn]

Another Georgia Arms satisfied customer here. I've shot several thousand of their rounds without a failure, various calibers.

They polish them up real nice too. Haven't used black hills yet.

-edit : Oh yeah, why I don't personally reload is because 1. Didn't have the room in my apartment for the stuff to reload, and 2: Value my time more than the price difference between ammo bought in bulk and handloading.

Sure, I'll probably eventually get a press, but that'll probably be more for self defense/hunting ammunition than plinking rounds.

 

[RobZ71LM7]

Georgia Arms is hardly another fly by night gunshow seller-nor are they an unknown. Their ammunition is excellent.

 

[gezzer]

Commercial reloaders may be using the same equipment as "factory" ammo manufactures use, loading is loading. Good commercial loaders keep case manufacture together, use tested by the Big powder manufacture powder and not any powder that makes the velocity and pressure, better bullets by the name brand makers.. I find the local commercial loader's product many steps above the big name factory Wal-Mart ammo.