9MM ammo brand questions

[Sparx]

Have any of you guys used S&B, PPU, or Armscor 9MM ammo? These are available for a little less cost and I was looking for your experiences. I have no interest in Wolf or Tulammo, tried a box of Tulammo a few months ago and it was garbage, through 1/2 the box away.

I do reload, but have no interest in loading 9MM not worth my time vs. the minuscule savings.


I have used PPU .45 acp and found it to be weak.

Sparx

[b4uqzme]

...I have used PPU .45 acp and found it to be weak.

Sparx

No issues with either S&B or PPU. I've never tried Armscor. PPU was recommended to me for shooting .40 because it's reputed to be a soft(?) load. It cycled just fine in my K40...seemed to be a little dirty...but I never could tell if it was indeed "soft". Perceived recoil was fine. No more or no less. S&B seems pretty accurate out of my MK9 as I recall. More-so than other major brands = Federal, Blazer... not sure why.

I think all 3 brands you mention are fine for range work. Most recommend the hottest loads you can find for break-in.

JM2cents. Hope that helps.

[yqtszhj]

I love S&B. I've found it to be good stuff and buy all I can when I find it cheap.

[Sparx]

Thanks guys.

I ordered some S&B and 2 boxes of Armscor to try that one out.

I have a CM9, that has about 750 rounds through it of various brands, gun has been flawless. I am very happy with the CM9, have to switch over to it for carry after a box more of defensive is thru it.
Sparx

[DavidR]

I've shot a couple boxes of the US made Armscor with no issues. No experience with their foreign-made ammo.

[Sparx]

One I forgot to ask about is: GECO ammo.
sparx

[OvalNut]

My go to is Speer Lawman TMJ.


Tim

[ltxi]

My go to is Speer Lawman TMJ.


Tim

Mine also as it's close/closer to my carry ammunition, but S&B is good, lower cost range stuff.

[GLOCKROCKER]

One I forgot to ask about is: GECO ammo.
sparx

I ordered a few boxes of Geco .45 a couple months back and like it a lot. Got it at a really good price. I've also shot a lot of PPU in different calibers and haven't had any problems with it either.

[berettabone]

I did have a few problems with Fiocchi 115 gr.........................I think it was because they are a tad longer than the other ammo I use. No issues with PPU, Blazer, Federal.............................

[Streetkahr]

I did have a few problems with Fiocchi 115 gr.........................I think it was because they are a tad longer than the other ammo I use. No issues with PPU, Blazer, Federal.............................

Do you know if Fiocchi 124 gr FMJ has the same issue? Yesterday, I bought 100 rds of it and 100 rds of Blazer Brass 124. 124 gr range ammo is very rare in my area, but 115 gr is common. Went to Adventure Outdoors for their May special of Speer Lawman 124 FMJ for $12.99, which is about 1/2 their regular price. It was the last day of the sale, but it was all gone, so I bought the other 2. They also have American Eagle 124 gr, but it is expensive. Most LGS's here do not carry any 124 gr FMJ. I can always order ammo online, but I hate paying the shipping. Will have to pay shipping on SD ammo though because nobody around here has 124 gr Gold Dot +P JHP or Fed HST. Once I find range ammo that my K9 like best, I will get a case.

Ferro Veritas, In Steel There Is Truth

[Streetkahr]

One I forgot to ask about is: GECO ammo.
sparx

I used to use 124 gr FMJ GECO exclusively for range ammo in the 80's. It was Swiss made back then and pretty hot. It felt like NATO spec. They currently make 115 FMJ and two types of 124 FMJ. One is their old style bi-metal jacket. It has a lead core with steel over that, and then a copper jacket. Although it does nor have a steel core, it will attract a magnet, so some ranges will not allow it. It does 1180 fps with 380 ft lbs, not sure if that is NATO spec. I used to run it in a BHP. They also make a 124 gr FMJ that is a copper jacket over lead for those ranges that do not allow the old style GECO. I intend to get some for my K9 and revisit. I remember being pretty impressed with the quality back in the day. It has always been very affordable. Don't know if it is still Swiss made. It would kind of surprise me if it still was made there with companies looking elsewhere for reduced labor costs. Ammunition Depot has the old style for $11.97/50 rds and SGAmmo has the non-bi metal for $11.95/50 rds. My closest range will not let me shoot the bi-metal, but if I drive 8 miles further ,there is another range where people shoot the .50 Barrett and they don't bat an eye at even steel core ammo, let alone bi-core. If you want to stick with American made ammo, Magtech 124 gr FMJ can be had for a little as $10.99/50 rds and Speer Lawman 124 gr FMJ for $11.99/50. Hope that helps.

Ferro Veritas, In Steel There Is Truth

[berettabone]

Do you know if Fiocchi 124 gr FMJ has the same issue? Yesterday, I bought 100 rds of it and 100 rds of Blazer Brass 124. 124 gr range ammo is very rare in my area, but 115 gr is common. Went to Adventure Outdoors for their May special of Speer Lawman 124 FMJ for $12.99, which is about 1/2 their regular price. It was the last day of the sale, but it was all gone, so I bought the other 2. They also have American Eagle 124 gr, but it is expensive. Most LGS's here do not carry any 124 gr FMJ. I can always order ammo online, but I hate paying the shipping. Will have to pay shipping on SD ammo though because nobody around here has 124 gr Gold Dot +P JHP or Fed HST. Once I find range ammo that my K9 like best, I will get a case.

Ferro Veritas, In Steel There Is Truth

Never tried the Fiocchi 124gr. FMJ, so no help there....................I quit shooting Fiocchi in my Kahr, I have no problems with it in other firearms. I've just been using Fed HST 147gr., and Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr. FTX in the Kahr.

[jpshaw]

Since Tulammo was mentioned I will say there are two types. The steel cased made in Russia and the brass cased made in Italy. The brass cased ammo is not bad. I had a box that got left outside for about a year. Found it still wet in some cloth. The box had disintegrated but the plastic base was still there and most of the rounds were turning green from oxidation. Tried them in my P9. Had two failures to fire and one of those fired after resetting the striker for a second strike. The other was not going to fire at all. There were no failures other then failure to fire. Needless to say it was not that bad for cheap ammo.

[muggsy]

Stick with CCI Blazer Brass or PMC. Both a good and can be found at a decent price.

[Ronni3_J]

I shot 100 rounds of the cheap steel Tulammo through my CW9 last week with no issues. It was all Wallyworld had in stock at the time. Prior to those I bought a 250 round box of reloads from Ventura Munitions. No issues with their rounds either

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[CPTKILLER]

I go with US Made ammo and never no steel case especially for a lot shooting.

There are excellent tests on most common defense ammo to confirm and confirm its performance.

[jocko]

Stick with CCI Blazer Brass or PMC. Both a good and can be found at a decent price.

he's right, hate to admit it.

All guns can be finicky to some brands, although it is not prevelant in most guns with american brand ammo. If u get a finicky brand, fokk um, , just swith brands. Not rocket science..

[happypuppy]

I use blazer brass and PMC too. Works fine in my PM9

[stickbow9]

I love S&B. I've found it to be good stuff and buy all I can when I find it cheap.


+1 Love it

[DXTAC]

I use PPU from CTD, Tula steel cased and the newer brass tub stuff and Federal aluminum from Wally World. Have never had an issue. I broke my Taurus in on 300 rounds of the Tula brass at one time without issue.

Cheers!

Derek


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[DavidWJ]

Just got back from shooting the first 164 rounds through my new CW9. These were 115g brass reloads in cases from all sorts of manufacturers. This pistol fired the ammo, no problem, not a hickup. Before shooting, I did some of the prep suggested on this forum: cleaned it thoroughly, lightly polished the feed ramp and lubricated the sliding surfaces with Molybdenum diSulfide. Can place 7 round 4" groups at 15 yards, with an occasional stray (probably my fault.)

The smooth trigger pull is awesome, but I need to get used to it's length.

Thank you all for your reviews and expertise about these Kahr pistols. You're the reason I decided on the CW9 over a Glock or S&W.

[nmkahrshooter]

I do like Magtech ammo, very clean and guns run great on it.

[ESAFO]

Haven't seen Aguila mentioned anybody have experience with it?

Only bad experience I've had with any ammo was Perfecta 9mm.

[wyntrout]

Aguila makes good ammo but I haven't shot that much of it. Back in 2009/2010 when I was waiting on my P380 with Night Sights... and .380 was just about impossible to find, on a trip to southern Illannoy, I stopped at the the Outdoor Armory up in Tennessee and there was a small trailer with a cardboard sign on it... .380 Ammo For Sale! I bought the 200 rounds that I needed to break in my pistol... when it arrived about 6 months later(after 11 months from ordering). It was Aguila... had never heard of them, but checked out online. Four boxes with tax got me less than $2 back out of my $100 bill.

I still have close to 2K rounds of S&B 92-gr FMJ... bought a bunch online for about $11.99 a box shipped to the door.

I just shot some PPU 9mm FMJ in our G43 Friday and it worked fine... I bought a case of it for my wife, hoping it would be lower recoil as I remember the .40 being... shot some of that, too, in my new P40 DLC. In 9mm the PPU had a brighter flash and just a little smoke... fine.

I'm so glad that I got the G43 instead of the G42 for Wifey. It's big enough for both of us... about the size of my P9 or P40.

Wynn :)

http://blog.wishlantern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/9-11-never-forget-patriots-day.jpg

[ESAFO]

^^Thanks Wyn^^
Had a case delivered yesterday & for the price I'm sure it'll be fine for plinking.

[Barth]

I've shot some SB without issues.
Generally run WWB or Speer Lawman mostly.

Ran 500 rounds of 9mm MEN 124 NATO (along with 500 Winchester 124 NATO) through my SP5K breaking it in.
Seemed to be good stuff -
http://www.sgammo.com/product/surplus/1000-round-case-9mm-nato-124-grain-fmj-ammo-made-men-germany-men9b
1000 rounds @ $219
http://1696252748.rsc.cdn77.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/ek%203-15-16%20001_0.JPG

[SteveOak]

......

I do reload, but have no interest in loading 9MM not worth my time vs. the minuscule savings.


I have used PPU .45 acp and found it to be weak.

Sparx

The main reason I reload is to be able to select the components and performance that I want, especially to be able to use powder that is clean and less variable over temperature. For handguns this is a major consideration, for rifles the bullet is the most important.