How do S&B and Fiocchi stack up?

[Howaido]

I am considering the .25 auto as a 2nd gun. I have settled on the fact that I will need to practice with it to make CNS hits possible. I am planning on FMJ use.

Just wondering how Sellier & Bellot and Fiocchi handgun ammo compare in terms of feeding, going bang, and power in comparison to the big name american ammo makers. Thanks.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Not sure about .25 ACP, but Fiocchi in most calibers is usually loaded a little "hotter" than American-made ammo in the same caliber. I've shot both brands in 9mm and .45 and don't recall any problems with them.

 

[grimjaw]

Both have been good, reliable performers in my experience. Lots of .38 Special, 9x19, and 9x18 down the pipe with no issues whatsoever.

jm

 

[bluetopper]

Every bit as good from my experience with them. I wouldn't hesitate at all.

Fiocchi is as good as it gets in my opinion.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

FWIW: If you want to shoot your "British Bulldog" revolver in .450 Short Colt, Nagant revolver, 8mm Steyr pistol, etc., Fiocchi makes the ammo for these and other oddball/obsolete cartridges. They seem to have discontinued the 5.7mm Velo Dog.
http://www.fiocchiusa.com/cat_centerfire.html

 

[Ed Ames]

I have only excellent experiences with both brands. I've fired many 100s of rounds of each (though NOT .25ACP) and they have always been loaded to full pressure (unlike too many "cheap" brands), accurate, and reliable.

Off the top of my head I've mostly used:

Fiocchi 9x19mm, 12ga buckshot, 12ga target loads

S&B 9x18mm MAK, 9x19mm, .45ACP, .38Sp., and I think .380.

I don't think that's a complete list though....

The only down side is that they are always (nearly always?) FMJ of some sort (ball, truncated cone, or the like). OTOH, when I want FMJ these are two brands I seek out first. I think fiocchi 9mm is loaded to NATO specs -- it ain't your white box target round anyway.

 

[rklessdriver]

Same experience here.

I've shot thousands of Fioochi and S&B ammo over the years. I've NEVER had any reason to complain, it's quality stuff.

Will

 

[Taurus_9mm]

Both make great ammo, never any problems of which to speak.

 

[Spyvie]

S & B is good, kinda hard primers but otherwise just fine.

Fiocchi is da bomb! I dont have a chrono or any ballistic jel but it sure feels hot. From what I have read elswhere it is some of the hottest loaded .380 and .32 around. I've shot it in .357, 9mm, and .380. Judging just by recoil and report I am pleased. I prefer it over any other ammo at a similar price.

 

[nwilliams]

I'm a big fan of S&B!

Fiocchi is also very good.

 

[Snowdog]

Same here. I've considered S&B premium ammunition ever since I discovered them nearly 15 years ago. I understand they've been serving the American shooter long before that. Before I began reloading exclusively, I fed my 1911s with Sellier&Bellot ball ammunition at a thrifty $7 and change for 50 rounds... and this wasn't all that long ago.

 

[CWL]

Fiocchi is comparable to any good USA brand in terms of quality.

S&B is good stuff, not as good as Fiocchi though, and it is really dirty. Nothing wrong with performance as practice ammo, but I'd go with Fiocchi over S&B if they were the same price.

 

[jerkface11]

Fiocchi .38 super is great. I love nickle cases and it's loaded hot.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Fiocchi is good stuff, I shot this stuff out of my .40 before I started reloading, you know, when it went from $175/case to $300/case.

 

[Vonderek]

Have used S&B 9mm & 45 without incident but my .32 Guardian will absolutely not function with S&B. Fiocchi 9mm, 45, and .357 have all worked fine for me.

 

[stalkingbear]

I've gotten ahold of some bad lots of S&B in .45acp of which several failed to fire. PLEASE reconsider getting an .380 instead of the .25 before you actually have to use it & succeed in pissing somebody off.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I would stay away from anything in .25 ACP. I saw an attempted suiside with one when I was a kid. The neighborhood drunk shot himself in the head with one and the little bullet just bounced off his skull.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

Fiocchi has a plant in Nixa Missouri that produces 9mm as well as others.

 

[KevininPa]

Fiocchi Is Hot!

Before I reloaded, I loved Fiocchi for my .380s. My stuff is hotter now (though not by much). The europeans load much hotter than us. I guess they have less lawyers and less sue-happy lazy,liberal , lay-abouts.

 

[Howaido]

Thanks guys. I know the limitations of the .25acp. It would be nice if somebody made a solid copper load for it, but I think that would be considered AP?

 

[Snowdog]

Vonderek, S&B may not work in your Guardian since they have a fairly lengthy OAL. I use 'em in my P32 for this reason as it seems to prohibit rimlock and the 73gr slug seems to be launched rather energetically compared to some American-loaded fodder.

 

[Racinbob]

I havn't tryed S&B and only shot 9mm Fiocchis. There was a big difference between them and WWB. I loved them. Everyone seems to agree that they are hotter than most. The factory spec's don't indicate that but the feel does.

 

[Snoogens]

I Use both brands in my S&W 908 and my Sig P6, in 9mm of course. After firing about 3,000 rounds of it at the range, I can say that so far the S&B is clean, accurate, loaded slightly hotter (than say, WWB), and very high quality....it's even packaged in a smaller pattern in an oil impregnated box for better long term storage. The Fiocchi JHP ammo is what I use for SD...also loaded hotter (with a big muzzle flash), louder and more accurate than the S&B. Have only fired about 200 rounds of Fiocchi, but have not had a single problem or complaint so far! Don't know how prices compare to other areas, but here in S Florida, Fiocchi runs about $22.00 a box for 115gr JHP; S&B 115gr FMJ usually costs about $15.00 a box.

 

[Snoogens]

I Use both brands in my S&W 908 and my Sig P6, in 9mm of course. After firing about 3,000 rounds of it at the range, I can say that so far the S&B is clean, accurate, loaded slightly hotter (than say, WWB), and very high quality....it's even packaged in a smaller pattern in an oil impregnated box for better long term storage. The Fiocchi JHP ammo is what I use for SD...also loaded hotter (with a big muzzle flash), louder and more accurate than the S&B. Have only fired about 200 rounds of Fiocchi, but have not had a single problem or complaint so far! Don't know how prices compare to other areas, but here in S Florida, Fiocchi runs about $22.00 a box for 115gr JHP; S&B 115gr FMJ usually costs about $15.00 a box.

 

[airrascal]

Use both and like both for FMJ. Have used 9mm, .380 .357sig, .40S&W, .45acp and .32 (7.65). My CZ83 7.65 hates domestic stuff but can't get enough of th S&B or Fiocchi.