Bulk ammo question - The Firearms Forum

hackercat13 · 02-01-2011, 10:18 PM

Hello all!

My local shop has great deals on 250, 500, and 1000 round cases of ammo, but being relatively new to shooting (other than wally world ammo), I am not as familiar with the brands. Prices are close enough that I can choose any of these for 9mm (and my .380 as well), so I am hoping for opinions about quality.

My choices are:

BVAC (Bitteroot Valley)
Magtech
Sellier & Bellot

There is a slightly better price on the BVAC, but not enough that it it was clearly inferior I would still buy it.

Looking for clean, reliable target and pliking ammo. Oh, BTW, I am feeding this stuff to Rugers, P-94 and P-85 in 9mm, and LCP as well as my Makarov in .380.

Thanks a ton for your time and expertise!
Chris

312shooter · 02-01-2011, 10:23 PM

Magtech and s&b are very good plinker brands of ammo. I pass on s&b brass for reloading but it shoots well.

woolleyworm · 02-01-2011, 11:09 PM

They're all good quality, whatever you can get your hands on will do you just fine. I do find that SB's sealed primers and tight pockets do make it a bit more difficult to reload, but I still manage to reload them just fine.

mncarpenter · 02-02-2011, 08:45 AM

I like S&B, and can usually find it pretty cheap. Seems to me to be loaded a little hotter than most, but thats my subjective opinion and matters not. I can always tell when I've put an S&B casing in the sizing die, without looking at it and also when priming but never had any problems with it.
312shooter, feel free to send me any S&B brass you don't want...

JLA · 02-02-2011, 08:51 AM

If youre a reloader get the magtech, CBC brass is good stuff (comparable to R-P and WW brass IMO), IF youre not a reloader get either of the other 2. the S&B does have reloadable brass cases, but as stated can be a pain in the arse to get reloaded. I dont have any personal experience with BVAC but I have several shootn buddies (non-reloaders) that its all they use for target practice.

02-01-2011, 10:18 PM	#1
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Bulk ammo question Hello all! My local shop has great deals on 250, 500, and 1000 round cases of ammo, but being relatively new to shooting (other than wally world ammo), I am not as familiar with the brands. Prices are close enough that I can choose any of these for 9mm (and my .380 as well), so I am hoping for opinions about quality. My choices are: BVAC (Bitteroot Valley) Magtech Sellier & Bellot There is a slightly better price on the BVAC, but not enough that it it was clearly inferior I would still buy it. Looking for clean, reliable target and pliking ammo. Oh, BTW, I am feeding this stuff to Rugers, P-94 and P-85 in 9mm, and LCP as well as my Makarov in .380. Thanks a ton for your time and expertise! Chris __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life." -->

02-01-2011, 10:23 PM	#2
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: Bulk ammo question Magtech and s&b are very good plinker brands of ammo. I pass on s&b brass for reloading but it shoots well. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

02-01-2011, 11:09 PM	#3
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: Bulk ammo question They're all good quality, whatever you can get your hands on will do you just fine. I do find that SB's sealed primers and tight pockets do make it a bit more difficult to reload, but I still manage to reload them just fine. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

02-02-2011, 08:45 AM	#4
mncarpenter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 479	Re: Bulk ammo question I like S&B, and can usually find it pretty cheap. Seems to me to be loaded a little hotter than most, but thats my subjective opinion and matters not. I can always tell when I've put an S&B casing in the sizing die, without looking at it and also when priming but never had any problems with it. 312shooter, feel free to send me any S&B brass you don't want... __________________ *"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."- Ronald Reagan* *"Remember to have your democrats neutered or spayed" -Ann Coulter*

02-02-2011, 08:51 AM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: Bulk ammo question If youre a reloader get the magtech, CBC brass is good stuff (comparable to R-P and WW brass IMO), IF youre not a reloader get either of the other 2. the S&B does have reloadable brass cases, but as stated can be a pain in the arse to get reloaded. I dont have any personal experience with BVAC but I have several shootn buddies (non-reloaders) that its all they use for target practice. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!