Recommandation for factory 9x19 ammunition?

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Requiem

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I'm new to shooting and I'm looking to get myself 500 or 1000 rounds of 9x19 to get things started. I've been shopping around a bit, and it's amazing how unfriendly some of our sponsors site are... and once you find the relevant items, 80-90% of them are listed as out of stock. Makes you wonder if there's a shortage or something?

Anyway, can anyone offer any insight?
- Brands to avoid?
- Brands that are uselessly expensive & not worth the extra $$$, etc?
- Other commercial sourcing alternatives?

I don't need them to be gold plated competition rounds, but I'm looking for something that's going to be very consistent across.

So far, my options seem to be:
- American Eagle
- Hornady (Regular or ZOMBIE Z-MAX)
- MFS
- Remington UMC
- Fiocchi

Thanks.
 
You really can't go wrong with Federal/Remington/Winchester -except - I won't use Winclean, and given a choice between UMC (Rem 'white' box) and anything else, I go with anything else. Fiocchi is a little hotter than North American brands, and some folks have had issues with it. Don't use anything you can't reload (MFS), and always pick up your brass. Hornady stuff is normally excellent. Speaking of which Blazer Brass cased is decent too.
 
Nothing at all wrong with MFS other than two things. First do not use it where any targets or the backstop is steel. The bullet jackets are copper washed mild steel and if shot against steel there's a bigger risk of bounce back or damaging the steel if it's not a tough alloy. But if you'll only be shooting at paper, wood or plastic and there's a gravel sand or dirt backstop then buy it in large amounts and enjoy. The only other downside is that it's not reloadable like brass.

I've shot Winclean and loved it. Nothing wrong with it from what I see. Not sure why you don't care much for it. In fact it leaves the inside of the casings bright clean and ready for reloading with no cleaning needed. I just wish I could buy Winclean powder to use for reloading. I'd be all over it! ! !

Other than these two specific brands that have been mentioned I think I've shot just about all the brands at one time or other and had zero issues with any of it. You'll find that 115gn rounds are generally going to cost a smidgeon less due to less bullet weight. But you should try some 124's along the way. I prefer the 124's for the slightly less snappy nature of their recoil over the 115's. But I shot quite a few thousand 115's before finding that out. It's not a huge difference either way so for now you may as well use115's for the price. But be sure to try some 124's along the way once you get a little settled and shoot tighter groups. By then you'll feel the difference more readily. Or you may find that the 115's are just fine for what you're doing.

Most competition guys prefer the 124's or 147's for the slightly softer recoil so they can get the sights back on target for the next shot more quickly.
 
mudgunner49 said:
Yeah - but you can do range clean up with a magnet and extractors can alway be replaced. They're a wear part anyway...
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You havn't learnt the benefit of guests and girlfriends at the range it you're still picking up your own brass!


When buying factory I usually go either Blaser or Federal, both made in the same place I imagine because they come in the same boxes.
 
Haagen_Dazs said:
When buying factory I usually go either Blaser or Federal, both made in the same place I imagine because they come in the same boxes.
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If anyone can PM me (hotlinking to non-sponsor is not permitted) with a place to buy this online, that'd be much appreciated. None of our sponsors seem to have those available.
 
HA, I knew it. Conspiracy.


As far as buying 9mm ammo goes, just find a gun store rear you (I'm sure there's at least 3 in the GTA) and walk in. Then, look for whatever is cheapest and buy it, unless you have something against MFS. Don't mail order ammo unless you're buying 1000 rounds from SFRC and are able to negotiate free shipping or something. It's not worth the cost.

It's not that hard, even I can find 2 places to buy handgun ammo in small town, Vancouver Island.
 
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Requiem said:
If anyone can PM me (hotlinking to non-sponsor is not permitted) with a place to buy this online, that'd be much appreciated. None of our sponsors seem to have those available.
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Given the cost of shipping ammo I would check around your region with all the shops. The price will often be a little higher but the lack of shipping more than makes up for it.

If you really can't find any and MUST order from out of the area so shipping will become an issue then I'd suggest ordering the reloaded stuff from BDX out of Alberta. The price is a bit less so that'll make up for the shipping. And it's good ammo judging by the roughly 1800 rounds of it I've already shot. I'm working my way down through two boxes of 1200.

But first check your area. Shipping costs on ammo are up there due to both weight and how ammo has to be shipped with extra considerations by the carrier.

Tachead, I hadn't realized that they are all under one umbrella company. Thanks.
 
Haagen_Dazs said:
As far as buying 9mm ammo goes, just find a gun store rear you (I'm sure there's at least 3 in the GTA) and walk in. Then, look for whatever is cheapest and buy it, unless you have something against MFS. Don't mail order ammo unless you're buying 1000 rounds from SFRC and get free shipping. It's not worth the cost.

It's not that hard, even I can find 2 places to buy handgun ammo in small town, Vancouver Island.
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BC isn't Ontario and the gun culture there isn't the same =)
I'm not sure even one person "dared" open a gunshop in Toronto proper.

I know of a shop in Hamilton (45mins away) and it's sort of expensive.
Elwood Epps is spectacular but a 2h30m drive away north (+ trip back).

If anyone knows of a good place near, let me know, but so far, ordering online looks attractive.
 
If SFRC is offering free shipping on cases of 1000 then that may well be the best option.

If they are out of stock in your local stores then ask when they are getting more in. 9mm is so popular they won't be out for long.

The point is that asking here isn't giving you the sort of answers that a call or email to the stores within your region will provide. Far better to get a direct answer from the stores than from us. Then do the math on the cost of shipping and see which one ends up being the least expensive option. Unless you do this on your own and do it completely you're not covering all your bases.
 
BCRider said:
Unless you do this on your own and do it completely you're not covering all your bases.
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I did to the extent I was able to:

- The shop in Hamilton is so expensive that paying for shipping is worth it.
- The 5 hours drive round trip to elwood isn't worth it for me.
- SFRC looks like it's my option.

But I'm still asking in case veterans know something I don't. You have to understand that asking most people in Toronto for "a local gunshop" will sort of get you the same reaction as asking for "a local heroin dealer" =) I think I might have a source for good reloads (range person) that I'm investigating. But I'd like also to have factory rounds to try new firearms with and all that.

Anyway, thx for the pointers. Appreciated.
 
In the GTA did you check Target Sports or Al Flaherty's? I remember them having a sale on MFS ammo in the summer but not sure if they stock it normally. Give them a call. Another option is Lebaron but the cheapest ammo in 9mm that they sell is Remington UMC (250 rounds for like $68 I think), if your lucky to find some in stock though. I get my MFS 9mm ammo from Lanz Shooting Supplies since Silverdale is my range.
 
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