Practice ammo

libertarian · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 10:36 PM

Anyone have any ideas on good practice ammo?

I've been using WWB but I wouldn't object to something cheaper, if it's reasonably reliable. Is CCI Blazer any good? I dunno if I'd trust aluminum cases in .40, but maybe it'd be OK in 9mm? Any other recommendations (or good, cheap sources)?

TIA

* Note: Before you ask, yes, I always do some practicing and reliability testing with any carry ammo before I trust it, but if I'm shooting paper it's a bit of a waste of JHPs (and $$$).

Poogsdad · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 12:04 AM

I can recommend Ammo Direct for good quality inexpensive ammunition. As a cowboy action shooter I used to go through about 1000 rounds a month between shoots and personal practice sessions.

More recently I have been going through a lot of .45 ACP and .38 Special.

They offer a large variety of factory reloaded ammunition as well as factory new ammunition for both short guns and long guns.

They sell ammunition from other manufacturers as well as their own house brand "Kinematics Research" ammunition.

They give credit for customer supplied cases toward the purchase of ammunition and will reload customer supplied cases to specific customer requirements as well. They do request at least 1000 empty cases before doing this, however.

I generally send them 1000 cases at a time and have them reload a custom cowboy load for me (.44 caliber, 240 Grain, Lead Flat Point Bullet, loaded to 900 FPS, in .44 Magnum Cases). It ends up costing me around 12 cents a round, which is cheaper, more accurate, and more consistent than anything I can load myself.

Recently I have been buying a lot of their .38 Special and .45 ACP house brand ammo and am quite satisfied.

The following URL will take you to their website: http://www.ammodirect.com.

In my area, availability of inexpensive ammunition is limited. Even with the cost of shipping, I still save money, particularly with large orders.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

**BonoVox** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libertarian

Anyone have any ideas on good practice ammo?

I've been using WWB but I wouldn't object to something cheaper, if it's reasonably reliable. Is CCI Blazer any good? I dunno if I'd trust aluminum cases in .40, but maybe it'd be OK in 9mm? Any other recommendations (or good, cheap sources)?

TIA

* Note: Before you ask, yes, I always do some practicing and reliability testing with any carry ammo before I trust it, but if I'm shooting paper it's a bit of a waste of JHPs (and $$$).

Blazer Brass at Wally World is tough to beat. I just picked up some at the store in Orange.

$11.98 for 45ACP.
I think the 40S&W was around $10.XX.

It is less than WWB and I feel it is slightly cleaner. Though not clean by any means. For paper it works great.

**1buba** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:33 AM

Good responses above.

I don't want to go off on a tangent, but due to this weekend's bill signings, I'd like to make a comment.

There is NO better time than now to start reloading. Even if you don't plan to start today, i suggest you place an order for brass. I know of "a guy" that pedals brass on the web. This whole ammo thing could get real ugly.

Just my .02...

ptbarnacle · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 02:57 PM

Hi 1buba:

Which bill affects ammo, and how?

I missed that one because I was busy micro engraving all my firing pins to stamp happy faces on primers.

Thanks,

Ptbarnacle

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1buba

Good responses above.

I don't want to go off on a tangent, but due to this weekend's bill signings, I'd like to make a comment.

There is NO better time than now to start reloading. Even if you don't plan to start today, i suggest you place an order for brass. I know of "a guy" that pedals brass on the web. This whole ammo thing could get real ugly.

Just my .02...

ptbarnacle · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 03:00 PM

Sorry, just caught it. Asked before I read recent posts. See, I was busy this weekend.

**1buba** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptbarnacle

Sorry, just caught it. Asked before I read recent posts. See, I was busy this weekend.

Glad you were busy!!!

Your steak did the trick, 24 hours later i was a grandpa. lol
BTW, you ever start serving won tons, and you will pick up business from the rest of the shooters. lol

There were actually several lousy bills signed this term... The latest for the gun folks was the micro-stamping (picking up brass will be more than a hobby now), and the no lead hunting bullets. I'm still trying to understand the latter. I don't know if it effects all of CA, just SoCal, or what. Haven't had time to read the thing yet.

**sealbeach** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonoVox

Blazer Brass at Wally World is tough to beat. I just picked up some at the store in Orange.

$11.98 for 45ACP.
I think the 40S&W was around $10.XX.

It is less than WWB and I feel it is slightly cleaner. Though not clean by any means. For paper it works great.

+1 on the BlazerBrass, it always goes "bang" and you save money as practice ammo. Good stuff, IMHO.

**spc** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1buba

Glad you were busy!!!

Your steak did the trick, 24 hours later i was a grandpa. lol
BTW, you ever start serving won tons, and you will pick up business from the rest of the shooters. lol

There were actually several lousy bills signed this term... The latest for the gun folks was the micro-stamping (picking up brass will be more than a hobby now), and the no lead hunting bullets. I'm still trying to understand the latter. I don't know if it effects all of CA, just SoCal, or what. Haven't had time to read the thing yet.

The no lead ammo bill, AB821 covers usage in the California Condor range. I do not believe there are condors up your way, but who knows how they will define their range.

Needless to say I am very discouraged with the Govenor's decisions. Both of these bills have no basis in reality.

spc

**1buba** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc

The no lead ammo bill, AB821 covers usage in the California Condor range. I do not believe there are condors up your way, but who knows how they will define their range.

Thanks spc,
That was the thumbnail that i had seen on it. Seems like it was just south of the central valley. That means my coyote rounds are still GTG.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc

Needless to say I am very discouraged with the Govenor's decisions. Both of these bills have no basis in reality.

spc

I think we have a consensus over this. Maybe we need a new forum on the board - titled "where I am moving to"... We will be going to Alaska, not positive on the time line, but it may be soon if a certain agency comes to any more of my job sites...

ptbarnacle · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc

The no lead ammo bill, AB821 covers usage in the California Condor range. I do not believe there are condors up your way, but who knows how they will define their range.

Needless to say I am very discouraged with the Govenor's decisions. Both of these bills have no basis in reality.

spc

Condors taste like spotted owl. JK

ptbarnacle · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sealbeach

+1 on the BlazerBrass, it always goes "bang" and you save money as practice ammo. Good stuff, IMHO.

I found Blazer Brass on sale at Walmart in Folsom a couple weeks ago and bought a few hundred rounds to break in a gun. It was as accurate as I could aim and was very reliable, but I have to admit I hid the boxes. I used to frown on blazer but to shoot often and still eat, Blazer it is. I still carry black talon from way back when I bought it, and still need to source some ranger ammo.

I did move down a few lanes when the guy next to me had 2 squibs out of 6 rounds from some old stuff. He had to borrow a rod from the rangemaster to clear the bullet from the cylinder gap.