How many of you NEVER shoot factory ammo?

[DeadFlies]

I only got into handloading recently and I only do two calibers (9mm and 30-30) but I plan on never buying factory ammo for those guns again.

 

[JohnM]

Never say never.
I have a few assorted boxes of factory stuff which I might shoot someday.
And I've decided I bird hunt so little anymore I gave away all my shotshell equipment and I'll buy a box or 2 of 12 gauge whenever I need some.

 

[JLDickmon]

I shoot factory ammo in my .22LR's.. does that count?

I have a ten year old box of Winchester SXT I use as carry ammo in my .45.. other than that, handloads FTW!

 

[tahoe2]

I handload/reload all my centerfires with the exception of scatterguns (100 pk/$25) & of course my 22's. I get mostly 1"-2" groups with all my handloads depending on the rifle, and 2'-4" from my handguns, no competition shooting, just real world hunting accuracy. Most of my rifles are from the 1930's, 40's, & 50's and I accept the fact that they don't shoot sub MOA, but the deer couldn't tell.

 

[kerreckt]

Rarely shoot factory ammo except rimfire. The only time I shoot factory ammo is if I am test firing something I am considering buying. I answered never shoot factory ammo but now you know I am a liar.

 

[JohnM]

Rimfire stuff hardly counts since it's essentially not reloadable.

 

[gpb]

Whenever I get a new gun the first few boxes are always factory loads. I do this because if there is a problem with the gun it’s much easier to discuss it with the manufacturer if factory ammunition is being used. I have found that if reloads were being used the manufacturer will then blame any faults on that.

However, once the gun has been proven I only use factory ammunition when I need brass or shells.

 

[helotaxi]

I keep my eyes open for good deals on factory ammo loaded with premium bullets and buy it when available. In one case it was just pure luck as I had just purchased a 7mm WSM and couldn't find brass anywhere. Right at that same time, Federal discontinued their load with the 160gn Partition and Midway put it on clearance for $20.49 a box. You'd be hard pressed to load it for that and considering that I couldn't find brass in the first place...10 boxes came to my door. I found a similar deal on Nosler Custom .243 loaded with 85gn Partitions and bought 5 boxes, partly for the ammo and partly for the good brass. Had to but factory ammo for the .308 Marlin Express to get brass as well.

My .45 Colt revolver and carbine have never seen a factory load. My .243 target rifles hasn't either.

 

[Bovice]

I won't say I never shoot factory ammo, but I usually am not. For each new caliber I get, I like to shoot a fair number of factory rounds to get a feel for a baseline, like perceived recoil and velocity. Then I load and try to match it. At least for me, I have gotten the best accuracy by pushing my loadings to factory speeds for the caliber and bullet weight. I like midrange weights in 9mm and .40 and strictly 230 grain for my .45 ACP.

 

[Swampman]

I shoot mostly handloads in HP rifle and pistol although if I see a good deal on factory, I'll sometimes buy it, primarily for the cases.

I cast slugs and buckshot and reload them, for light dove loads I generally shoot factory stuff.

All the .22 rimfire I shoot is factory (some costs considerably more per round than most of my .308 handloads).

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I wouldn't say "never" but it's very rare that I shoot factory centerfire ammo. If I come by some really cheap or free, I'll shoot it up for fun, and so I can load the brass.
I do have a gun that has never fired a factory round, so I wouldn't in that one, just because that's cool.

 

[7mmb]

I voted that I mix in some factory but it is pretty rare, usually just 9mm when I don't have time to crank out a bunch. Other than old SD ammo I have shot maybe 100 rounds of 357 factory ammo since I started reloading in 1999. My 45 Colt Blackhawk has never shot a single round of factory ammo. Every round has been handloaded in the 500 Starline cases I bought when I bought the gun.

 

[mljdeckard]

I would love to have a stockpile of brass big enough to never have to buy any more new. But I'm not there yet.

 

[morcey2]

7x57, I shoot only handloads.

30-06, only handloads out of one rifle, but both handloads and factory (HXP M2) out of the others.

8x57, both handloads and surplus (mostly yugo M75).

7.62x54R, some handloads, but mostly surplus and a little PPU when I need brass.

12GA. Only factory, but I buy reloadable shells, mainly remington gun club. Up to a couple of 5-gal buckets of hulls.

22LR. only handloads.

Matt

 

[mcdonl]

I mostly reload for every caliber although I have a hang up about buying brass so I often will purchase factory ammo until I get a good amount of brass to reload.

 

[mdi]

I have a few .44 magnums that have never seen a factory round since they came into my posession (newest one was 16 yrs ago, and only one out of the 5 has seen a jacketed bullet). About 25 years ago I shot some .38 Specials, factory ammo, in a new gun I bought for my wife, but nuttin' since.

 

[mgmorden]

I shoot about 90% reloads. Realistically I run out every now and then and there are a couple guns I own that I don't reload for (at least not yet).

 

[horsemen61]

My ccw pistol has never shot factory ammo woke of my other guns have a little bit.

 

[mljdeckard]

I suppose I should add a 'but', I don't reload for any of my Chicom guns.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

I voted never but I should say almost never. Once I went to the range with a buddy and forgot to bring ammo for the 9mm so I bought a couple of boxes.

 

[guntech59]

I have to assume that the question discounts rimfire ammo.....other than that I have not fired a factory round in 7 years or so.

 

[420Stainless]

90% handloads, 10% factory. I keep any gun I'm likely to use if I get into a self defense situation loaded with factory ammo just because Ayoob says its a good idea. I break in those with factory ammo and then cycle through ammo that is carried in them on trips to the range and load with fresh after shooting reloads and clean up. Everything I shoot for fun is reloaded by me.

 

[MutinousDoug]

I've shot a lot of CMP Greek HXP in my Garands but I don't think any of my current handguns have seen factory ammo ever. Oh, and I still have an ammo can of LC 55 and LC 66 M1 Carbine ammo that came to me with my dad's gun.
Now I see that some airlines require ammunition be transported in "factory" packaging I guess I'll have to be on the look out for "factory" packaging, should I ever feel the need to fly commercial again.

 

[BYJO4]

Except for 22, I haven't shot factory ammo in years. I enjoy reloading and my loads are usually more accurate than factory and at a much better cost.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I guess I cant say never.... But I have shot in excess of 7000 rounds of various calibers this last year. And maybe.... Maybe 50 of them were store purchased ammo.

I just cant break out the 20 for a box of ammo I can do my self for $4