ammo review

[Ferox]

Hey guys, I'd appreciate your feedback on some of the ammo I've bought over the past couple months. Maybe you've used some of it or own it. It's really all I've been able to find in stores, but I just want to make sure I have reliable ammo for target/range shooting and home defense.

For my Springfield XD9 I use:

For target/range:
Independence 9mm Luger 115 gr FMJ
Federal Ammunition 9mm Luger 115 Grain FMJ (Range And Target)

For home defense:
Remington UMC 9mm Luger 115 gr JHP
Fiocchi Ammunition 9X19 Luger 92 grs. Expansion Mono-Block

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For my Remington 870 12ga shotgun I use the following for target shooting AND home defense:

Federal Premium - High Velocity - Upland Load
Estate - Dove & Target Load

I know I'm using pheasant loads, but I don't want to risk a slug over-penetrating and taking out my next door neighbor.

Any constructive feedback is appreciated, thanks!

[Capybara]

I would never trust my life or family's lives to Remington ammo. UMC is crap ammo, very weak and often results in FTEs in semi-autos. Also, since you are using 9mm for HD, why not a heavier projectile?

You shouldn't be using game and target loads for HD. Bad choice, most recommend 00 buck for HD but at the least I would use #4s.

[Ferox]

Hmm...I wonder if it's too late to take the UMC ammo back or exchange it? I bought it at a local gun shop...what would you recommend for heavier projectile?

[jsipe007]

I personally use Hornady ammo for HD. Its worth a shot to exchange it. Otherwise you could put it up for sale.

Whatever HD ammo you choose, always buy at least twice as much as you need. I bought 4 boxes of Hornady ammo and shot two through my guns. Whatever you use, you want to make sure it shoots and feeds reliably

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[nephrodoc]

I use gold dot and HST for my SD Ammo in 9mm. Use your other stuff as range ammo.

[Ferox]

Sounds like you guys have more options than I do. I've never seen Hornady, gold dot, or HST at any gun shop in the Sacramento area (my location). It's just Blazer, Independent, Remington, Fiocchi, and Federal around here. Is Remington UMC really that bad?

[M27]

right now you are not going to find a ton of ammo everywhere.

But I guarantee that sac area stores get hornady.
I have not been to all of them but every one I have, has had it at some point.

Even the Elk Grove Wal Mart has hornady from time to time

[tiller]

About 95% of stores will not return ammo

[mjmagee67]

Hmm...I wonder if it's too late to take the UMC ammo back or exchange it? I bought it at a local gun shop...what would you recommend for heavier projectile?

Most all ammo sales are "All purchases final" shoot it for target practice.

[Socalman]

For 9 mm HD or SD I would suggest 127grn. A bit heavier then the 115grn, lighter but faster then 147grn. Just my 3 cents.

[Ferox]

Does the heavier grain mean more recoil?

Anyways, I tested a box of UMC Remington 9mm and it shot just fine, no FTEs...even with rapid-fire...I guess some folks are fanboys of certains types of ammo and not others...granted my Springfield XD9 is only a month old out of the box...not sure if that has anything to do with it...

I've been told to avoid 'steel' cased bullets due to the wear and tear it causes...also to avoid Blazer (aluminum) since you can't reload it...other than that, everything I'm using is brass and I believe it's all domestic

[tradecraft]

You should test more than a box of your home defense ammo before you decide on anything. Why aren't you using 00 buck for the shotgun?

[Ferox]

How many boxes should I test? What's the advantage with 00 buckshot? The shells I'm using now have birdshot...

[ExtremeX]

I don’t think you will find a lot of ammo that won’t be reliable in an XD9… Only way to really know is just shoot the piss out of it.

My XD9 has been a real champ across 4-5k rounds regardless of the ammo I’ve been feeding it. It’s ate everything I’ve given it and in various bullet weights from brass to aluminum cases ammo but the bulk of it being Federal 115gr. As of late it’s been all my own reloads and again, no issues to speak of.

I have a lot of Remington UMC and I agree with the others, it’s not the greatest ammo… It produced way more flash than factory plinking ammo and isn’t loaded very hot. I bought boxes of this stuff for a decent price, it’s good enough to stock up on for SHTF ammo.

For HD ammo, but some serious quality loads like Hornady Critical Defense, Federal HST, Speed Gold Dot, whatever you like. It’s not cheap, and not cheap to practice with either, but I would shoot enough of it until you are comfortable with the way the gun handles it. I shoot about 10 rounds of HD ammo out of my loaded mags just to make sure it works reliably after every 250-500 rounds of practice ammo.

Shotgun…
I agree with the others. Use 00 Buck or #4 Buck (not #4 bird) there is a difference.

Do some research of the use of bird shot for HD, not something I would take a chance on.

[M27]

How many boxes should I test? What's the advantage with 00 buckshot? The shells I'm using now have birdshot...

when it comes to terminal ballistics and defense you are looking for a few things, including energy transfer and penetration.

bird shot has really good energy transfer but poor penetration, the same lack of penetration that you think will keep it from going through walls is also going to keep it from going through your target.

when looking for penetration most people find 12'' minimal and 16'' preferable. 7 1/2 birdshot usually has around 6''

I encourage you to watch some YouTube videos on ballistic test.

birdshot


buckshot


both of these videos are by tnoutdoors9, he does great ballistic test and you can learn a lot about different ammo