What's the advantage of higher priced ammo?

[Dick1911]

This is a newbie question - I've been shooting Wolf and CCI Blazer brass in my 1911 with out any problems, but I've only been shooting at the range and have only been through about 500 rounds. Much of the ammo I see on the market is easily twice the price of what I've been buying and I'm wondering what the advantage of the higher priced ammo is?

Thanks - this site it great and has been very educationsal.

 

[DevilDog0402]

There are different types of "higher priced ammo" -

Match grade ammo, Self defense ammo and hunting ammo.

Match grade ammo is desiged for target/competitve shooting and is designed to be more consistent and accurate.

"Premium" self defense ammo is generally either hollow point (for expansion) or frangible (i.e. glaser) and is MUCH more effective at incapacitating a live target than a standard FMJ round.

I keep my carry guns loaded with good quality hollow point ammo, but when I go to the range, I generally shoot the cheaper FMJ ammo.

 

[Jim K]

In truth, the main advantages of high priced ammo are often in the shooter's mind. But some ammo, such as match grade, really is better, made more carefully and under tighter quality control than regular ammunition. That means it is more accurate and more uniform in performance.

In other ammo, like expanding bullet pistol ammo for defense, there is not really a lot of difference; shot placement is a lot more important than what a bullet does or does not do in a body. The fabulous pictures of perfectly mushroomed bullets in the gunzines are usually just that - fabulous in the real meaning of the word.

But even there, that ammo is made in relatively small quantities and usually has better quality control than the made by the ton "white box" ammo. Misfires are less likely, accuracy is better, and again performance is more uniform.

But don't make the mistake of buying expensive ammo and then not shooting it in practice because it is expensive. Unless you shoot enough of it to verify reliability, how do you know it will work when you need it?

Jim

 

[tinygnat219]

There's nothing wrong with Blazer Brass Ammo. Good solid stuff.

 

[trueblue1776]

What's the advantage of higher priced ammo?

Honestly?

1. Manufacturing standards
2. Cleaner
3. Consistency

I still shoot cheap stuff for blasting, for hunting I trust only myself to make the perfect cartridge.

 

[rhubarb]

From the perspective of a reloader, the only advantage of more expensive brands or types of ammo is profit margin for ammo manufacturers.

By reloading, you can produce ammo that is less expensive than the cheapest fodder but as high in quality as the expensive stuff.

 

[trueblue1776]

you can produce ammo that is less expensive than the cheapest fodder but as high in quality as the expensive stuff.

I've been loading my own for a while, tell me your secret. My premium ammo is still expensive to make, my cheap stuff is not really cheap.

 

[Glockafella]

One word....consistency

 

[Ala Dan]

Blazer Brass = good stuff; Wolf = NO-NO; so I have been handloading for
well over 30 year's~!

 

[Never No More]

Would not know, excpet for commie ammo I buy in cans, Ive made my own for 40 years. Dont do store boughts

 

[aka108]

I shoot Blazer and handload in 45 ACP and 9mm. Have shot some higher priced ammo but the results on target were no different. My marksmanship with a handgun leaves a lot (a hell of a lot) to be desired so as long as whatever it is goes down the barrel I'm pretty happy. Friend of mine who shoots competitive benchrest in 22 rf always used the 10 to 12 dollar a box ammo. Claims the lower priced 22 rf is all reclaimed lead and can contain bits of metal other than lead which can mess up a expensive barrel.

 

[Dick1911]

Thanks to all of you for the information. I'm a sponge about information on shooting being relatively new to the sport.

However I did notice a couple of you down on Wolf ammo - why? I've only fired about 450 rounds of the 500 I purchased and didn't have any problems at all.

Thanks to all once again!

 

[Maximum1]

"In truth, the main advantages of high priced ammo are often in the shooter's mind."


I could not disgree more....In truth, the main advantages of high priced ammo IS NOT in the shooter's mind. You actually can defend WITH DATA that Wolf ammo is the same as Corbon DPX??

 

[Whirlwind06]

In truth, the main advantages of high priced ammo are often in the shooter's mind."


I could not disgree more....In truth, the main advantages of high priced ammo IS NOT in the shooter's mind. You actually can defend WITH DATA that Wolf ammo is the same as Corbon DPX??

I think you have to make a distinction between self defense ammo, and range ammo.

 

[trueblue1776]

Even in gun magazines, for gun tests, the better (mid-top shelf) ammo shoots better.

There are exceptions to every rule, but anybody who puts Norma, Lapua, and even Black Hill's better stuff in the same category as WinWB, Prvi and S&B is high.