Ammo questions

[DRL247]

OP, also check to see whether your ammo is +P or not, as +P has more velocity/power, and shouldn't be used in some guns.

Thanks for the heads up. And thanks for all the responses everyone. They really help out. When I bought the 2 different brands I had no clue about either one, but was a bit tripped out at how different they shot and felt.

[ktmguy]

The question I'm always wondering is, "Are the differences significant enough to affect the outcome for ordinary shooters in real life shooting scenarios?"

For practice purposes, I'm not such a great shot that a 1/2" variation in POI is going to be detectable in my groups if I'm standing at 25 yards with a pistol. For defense purposes, I've read that something close to 80% of shots fired by police don't hit the suspect at all.

Is this one of those things where if you have to ask the question then you don't shoot well enough for the answer to matter?

EDIT TO ADD: I suppose it is possible that normal factory pistol ammo has significant variations like +/- 3" at 25yds and I just don't know it. Whenever I've seen something like that with factory ammo I've always assumed it must be the shooter.

Yes, the difference is noticeable for shooters of all abilities. Mostly, different ammos from different manufacturers will have slight to significantly different points of impact or impact shift. For factory ammo from the same box it usually shoots well enough that people won't really notice a difference depending on quality of course, if it's wolf or Tula or other really cheap ammo you may notice. But for win. White box or pmc or umc or any other good plinking ammo they should group consistently enough for the majority of people won't notice a difference. But some guns, whether short barrel or longer, fast twist or slow, all metal or polymer, they just shoots some ammo differently(inconsistent/poorly) and shoots some ammo right on( extremely accurately and repeatably). By trying a few different boxes of ammo you will eventually come across one that works for you and your pistol...and hopefully your wallet. And that is the ammo you stock up on.

When I say for you, I mean it hits point of aim and recoils to your liking or within your comfort zone. When I say your pistol, I mean it feeds and ejects without malfunctioning and groups consistently well(puts bullets in relatively the same place).

Remember not every pistol is the same, you may find an ammo that works great for your gun but then you buy a second and it just doesn't seem to be as accurate, a lot of people jump to the conclusion that it's the new gun that's the problem because that is the only factor that has changed. When in all actuality it's not the gun, the gun just doesn't like the same ammo as the previous gun. A lot of precision rifle shooters spend absurd amounts of time and energy hand loading ammo to each specific rifle to get the absolute best accuracy they can out of each different rifle and then have to start over when they rebarrel it or buy a new rifle. But factory ammo manufacturers try to make ammo as universal as possible so it will work in the largest variety of guns, barrels and shooters hands. All you can do is find a factory loading that works for your combination. As you practice and improve so shall your ability to judge ammo quality and determine what you and your gun like. Sometimes the ammo just works great in your set up the first time and you don't have to try out alternatives and that does happen occasionally depending on what your expectations are.

[djhall]

Yes, the difference is noticeable for shooters of all abilities. Mostly, different ammos from different manufacturers will have slight to significantly different points of impact or impact shift. ...

Thank you for addressing my question. I'm trying to visualize the effects of what you describe on a target. I think I am hearing essentially 3 things:

Firing 9mm 115gr +P might shift the location of my whole group on the target by a few inches as compared to shooting something like 9mm 147gr standard pressure.

Shot to shot consistency can vary considerably between a high quality ammo like Federal HST and a low quality ammo like basic Tula FMJ. That might show up in tighter groups when firing the Federal and larger groups when firing the Tula.

Finally, different guns sometimes like or dislike certain ammo for no easily discernable reason. This might show up as one of my guns consistently shooting significantly tighter groups with Federal HST 147gr than Speer Gold Dot 147gr, while another one of my guns consistently shoots significantly tighter groups with the Speer than with the Federal.

I assume it is the cumulative effects that can add up to a noticeable change in the group size and POA vs POI for even moderately skilled shooters. Interesting. I never considered it as a cumulative effect when each individual effect seemed like it should be insignificant for all but highly skilled shooters.

[ktmguy]

Yep you got it, even tho I probably didn't explain it as well as some even more experienced shooters than myself could have. Glad I could help, have a happy new year.

[WMG]

I sometimes a Fiocchi 117gr jhp in a handgun that also shoots blazer 124's FMJ to the same POI at about 18 yds ..... but not at 25yds.
Changing brands and even lot numbers within a brand can change where your bullet goes.