I read about "low powered ammo" all the time causing failures in various guns (the Beretta PX4 compact here lately) and the response is usually "buy quality ammo and see if trouble goes away". My question is...which brands do you guys consider "low powered ammo" and which brands do you consider "good quality ammo". I ask this due to the fact that I've never had a problem with any ammo I've ever bought at a gun shop, shooting range, online, or Walmart causing any trouble with any pistol I own . I've shot Blazer Brass, Fiocchi, Federal, Magtech, Aguila, Prvi Partizan, RWS, Sellier & Bellot, Speer and Winchester in caliber of .380, 9mm, and .45 ACP. So whats "low powered" and whats "quality ammo"?
Good quailty ammo?
- Thread starter labhound
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Carter
Member
For quality, I like anything with NATO written beside it (ammunitiontogo.com usually has good deals on winchester ranger nato) and fiocchi. Thats what my experience is limited to.
Low quality. I usually think tula (get it at walmart when in a hurry).
In the middle I'd say regular federal. Never gave me a problem in any handgun, but not the most powerful.
Low quality. I usually think tula (get it at walmart when in a hurry).
In the middle I'd say regular federal. Never gave me a problem in any handgun, but not the most powerful.
If that's true at all, then it applies mostly if not entirely to 9mm Parabellum, which does seem to be conservatively loaded in America (except for personal defense loads, which tend to be hot). I've also seen the opposite with .40 S&W, for example.
Nushif
Member
S&B is some great stuff. When I buy ammo I either buy really cheap plinking stuff, like the UMC bricks, or S&B. And I do load mine hotter, too. Right about to S&B level.
cheygriz
member
The "low powered ammo" you hear about is American made 9MM. If shooting a 9MM, just buy +P for American made, or else buy european made.
The American manufacturers are far too frightened by lawyers to make "normal" 9MM up to it's original design specs.
Look for +P or the NATO cross in American made 9MM ammo.
The American manufacturers are far too frightened by lawyers to make "normal" 9MM up to it's original design specs.
Look for +P or the NATO cross in American made 9MM ammo.
There's a chart of 9mm muzzle velocity floating around the forum, somewhere. The lowest powered ammo on there, IIRC, was Federal Champion.
It's not that American ammo makers are lame. They simply realize that people spend most of their shooting budget on punching paper. They can make more money by offering a range of ammo including some with lighter loads. If they cycle your gun, then so much the better. Seems like most reloaders love their pet plinking loads that are even weaker! If you want some strong American made ammo, try to find some Winchester Ranger 127 gr +P+. It makes major power factor!
It's not that American ammo makers are lame. They simply realize that people spend most of their shooting budget on punching paper. They can make more money by offering a range of ammo including some with lighter loads. If they cycle your gun, then so much the better. Seems like most reloaders love their pet plinking loads that are even weaker! If you want some strong American made ammo, try to find some Winchester Ranger 127 gr +P+. It makes major power factor!
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mbruce
Member
I like "low-powered ammo..".. no need to have a recoil or PF when shooting at the range having fun. I can download 9mm to barely a kick and steel still falls.
but different strokes for different folks.
but different strokes for different folks.
There is an ammo velocity comparison that was done by some of the guys at the stoppingpower.net forum that covers some of the more popular brands.
http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11925
http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11925
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