"Ratings" and/or Reviews of Multiple Brands of AMMO?

[GConn]

Greetings:

Anyone aware of any professional, INDEPENDENT "ratings" of ammo brands, please?

I am guessing (purely speculating), but I would suspect the top three "SELLERS" are (?) Remington, Federal, and Winchester (maybe in that order - perhaps not), but I would LOVE to hear/read-see documentation on lesser-priced and lesser known brands as well.

Short of that, I'd be happy to read unbiased, quality reviews, and/or see unbiased, quality anecdotal reportings.

Currently looking (mainly) for info/data on 12-gauge, 9mm (and .45 if available), and some wheel-gun stuff, .38, .357, & .44 cal. info/data.

Am I asking too much (hah)?

Thanks in advance for any/all replies,
G. C. in V-A . . .

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by GConn

Am I asking too much (hah)?

Yeah, probably asking too much. I believe the only place you're gonna get unbiased info on anything firearm related is right where your'e at, a good message board. Fact is magazines & websites make most of their money on advertising, I can't help but believe whomever pays the most gets the best review. JMHO, take it or leave it.
BTW, what part of VA ya from? I'm near Chatham, little north of Danville.

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by GConn

Greetings:

Anyone aware of any professional, INDEPENDENT "ratings" of ammo brands, please?

I am guessing (purely speculating), but I would suspect the top three "SELLERS" are (?) Remington, Federal, and Winchester (maybe in that order - perhaps not), but I would LOVE to hear/read-see documentation on lesser-priced and lesser known brands as well.

Short of that, I'd be happy to read unbiased, quality reviews, and/or see unbiased, quality anecdotal reportings.

Currently looking (mainly) for info/data on 12-gauge, 9mm (and .45 if available), and some wheel-gun stuff, .38, .357, & .44 cal. info/data.

Am I asking too much (hah)?

Thanks in advance for any/all replies,
G. C. in V-A . . .

This falls into the unbiased review category, most of the ammo comparisons I've read have been in the gun rags. I've never searched much online, but I will give it a go and see what I can dig up.

When I need to have some factory ammo; I think my best bang for the buck is with MagTech or Fed AE. Most loads that the kids and friends shoot are factory loads, so I do keep a few hundred rounds in my stock. My youngest has rolled his own and he got to take the first shot with those ones.

I find the MagTech brass to be excellent for reloading. Most of the Fed AE is good, but I've had some .327 Fed cases split the neck after 3-4 reloads. I find both brands to be very consistent and there's not much powder fouling. The 45acp MagTech is accurate and cycles my P220 with a 20# spring. I shoot the 32SWL Wadcutters and they're much more accurate than Fiochii (sp??).
I shoot the Fed AE in 327Fed, 38spcl and 380; yet to have a defective round. I can't say the same about Rem UMC or WWB; although both those brands have been pretty good too.

[JLA]

I have tested alot of Factory ammo in pistols.. I have top 2 brands I look for the very few times I do buy factory loaded ammo.. Winchester White Box, and Speer Lawman. Everything else is "Dang, y'all aint got WWB or SLM, Guess ill take that crap"

Most all of it shoots, but these 2 brands are what hits the target best for me... Keep in mind im anal about how my ammo groups so all of them may be satifactory to you.. depends on your personal accuracy preference.

That WWB ammo shoots 1 holers from my .45s. Only reason I dont buy too often is because I reload ammo that will shoot one holers for less than half the cost.

[312shooter]

I think my best bang for the buck is with MagTech or Fed AE.

+1

[RandyP]

Lots of choices and fortunately IMHO they are all good. I have yet to find a 'name brand' ammo that wouldn't function in one of my firearms. Discounting my ammo finicky Beretta Bobcat 21a which ONLY likes high velocity, high price CCI.

Considering all the variables involved in getting acceptable accuracy from a pistol, again just this one old fart's opinion, the actual ammo used is the last item on the list for me. Some pistols do not function well with certain hollow point styles but I have yet to find anything in FMJ or RN that a pistol won't digest quite well. Including my own reloads.

[rcairflr]

I would say for accuracy, your choice of ammo is very important. Attached is a picture of a target that I used with my Browning .223 at 100 yards. The Hornady is a tight group and the Federal American Eagle is much worse. The white box Winchester was even worse than the Federal AE out of my rifle. If all you are doing is trying to hit the target, than no, the choice of ammo doesn't matter, they will all go boom.

[RandyP]

"Attached is a picture of a target that I used with my Browning .223 at 100 yards"

What kind of pistol is that? Do note that the OP and my comment about ammo and accuracy related to pistols at ranges I suspect are not 100 yards?

While there are doubtless a number of shooters who could tell the difference even at pistol distance, they are surely not the majority of shooters (for sure not the ones I see all the time at my local indoor range - lol.)