Monarch Ammo -- Good/Bad?

The Kid · September 11, 2009, 10:52 PM

Hey guys,

Anyone here ever use Monarch Ammo? I found some at academy sports. I think it's Serbian/Russian/UstobelongtotheUSSR made...any way, I was the lowest price ammo, but am I just buying more trouble than its worth? Remington ammo is $4.00 more...

What do you guys know/think about it?

Personally, I think that I'm going to end up w/ a lot of copper fowling b/c of shoddy primers etc. in my barrel, but if anyone has had any good experience, then my all means, share.

Jason_G · September 11, 2009, 11:03 PM

What did you buy, the steel cased stuff or the brass cased stuff?

Steel = Barnaul. (Russia)
Brass = Prvi Partizan. (Serbia)

Neither will win awards for accuracy IME, but they're cheap and decent enough for plinking out of most guns. The Barnaul steel cased stuff is lacquered, so you may have to contend with buildup in the chamber. The Prvi .308 is not very accurate out of my M1A (about 3 MOA, compared to about 1.75 MOA with Rem UMC 147 gr). The steel cased stuff was kind of weird- seemed like I would have about 3-4 shots within a couple of inches, and one flyer that was at least a couple of inches out of the group at 100 yds, and I know it wasn't me or the rifle.

My take: good ammo for some drills, etc., but don't use it to sight in a rifle or shoot long distances.

Jason

**44 AMP** · September 11, 2009, 11:04 PM

But about 40 years ago, Monarch was a brand of ammo you could get at Mongomery Wards. It came from Canada. My dad had a box of it in .308 Win. He also had a box of DWM ammo, same caliber. I still have those DWM cases, and have reloaded them over a dozen times!

I'm not sure, but I think Monarch became CIL some time later.

Don't know if the Monarch you have is the same stuff or not, sorry. The box should say on it somewhere where its made.

cslinger · September 11, 2009, 11:28 PM

Currently the Monarch at Academy is Privi Partisan from Serbia. It is ok. REALLY dirty especially the .357/.38 stuff but all in all reliable, accurate enough for plinking and seems to have decent quality control.

Never seen Monarch steel stuff, but as was said a good bet is it is Barnaul/Wolf/Brown Bear etc.

The Kid · September 11, 2009, 11:37 PM

So basically, if I use it I'm just going to have to clean my rifle a lot more thoroughly than if I shoot remingtons?

plainsman456 · September 11, 2009, 11:57 PM

I know people that have shot it in their AR-15s with no problems.It doesn't seem to be different than Rem or Win ammo.When I shot it with them and we cleaned the rifle it wasn't that bad.Good Luck

CK_32 · September 12, 2009, 12:10 AM

Yea what kind of gun are you shooting..
that also makes a huge difference because my cousin has a
few rifles and some of them shoot wolf with ease and other
not so well.. Because bolt actions/Semi-auto and different
types of guns and calibers all come into count for most guns
because Wolf ammo isnt the best but is exceptionally a good
bullet in my opinion but in other cases i wouldn't touch the stuff.

The Kid · September 12, 2009, 08:46 AM

Shooting Remington 700 ADL .30-06

REWTX · September 12, 2009, 10:57 AM

I've shot quite a bit of Academy Monarch (.45, .223, .308, and 30.06) with no problems. It seems about as clean as any lower-priced Winchester, Federal, and Remington ammo.

Vern · June 4, 2015, 08:35 PM

I just fired approximately 75 rounds of monarch 9mm fmj through my new Taurus Millennium and apprimatly 35% of them misfired or jammed. I then fired 50 rounds of Blazer fmj's with no jams or misfires. No more Monorch ammo for me

skizzums · June 4, 2015, 08:57 PM

^^ your Taurus is slightly picky about ammo. nothing too serious, but it has such a cramped feed system that it doesn't like everything. although I am surprised it had issue with an FMJ unless it was longer than most. I have issue with wide flat-nosed or gaping hollow-points like sierra sportsmaster. other than that, it runs 100% with, apparently just most, FMJ and pointy HP's like hornaday xtp's.

I like monarch okay, but was surprised to find that it's 54r was less accurate than my surplus ammo, but I have only assumed it was due to the heavier weight. monarch has the brown bear type lacquer coating rather than the tulammo type smoother finish.

know up front the bi-metal jackets DO wear barrels faster than a copper jacket. there's a great test on TTAG about long term bi-metal and it resulted in about 2000 rounds less barrel life, but in the end the savings on ammo was so great that, even with the barrel replacement, it still made the bi-metal bullets more economical

waveslayer · June 4, 2015, 09:05 PM

I have shot a bunch without any malfunctions. FYI, a Jam requires a gun smith... most people experience malfunctions

Dabull · June 4, 2015, 09:09 PM

I shot about 500 rounds of 9mm through various guns and don't recall any issues with accuracy, reliability, or cleanliness.

dakota.potts · June 6, 2015, 11:36 AM

For anybody still wondering on this 6 year old thread, I consider it to be decent. I like the steel stuff more than Tula in my Eastern European guns (Mosin Nagant and VZ58) and I use the brass stuff in everything else for drilling and training when super high precision isn't as necessary as round count and muscle memory

MisterYuck · August 8, 2018, 12:50 PM

I know this is an old thread. I have been using Monarch from Academy in 7.62X39 both in Polymer coated HP rounds and FMJ with excellent results. The polymer coated rounds are a bit more accurate in the gun I shoot, but for $5.99 a box, over the $5.49 it is worth it. I have also used Monarch .30-06 (brass case) 150gr soft point in my Ruger American. This is the most consistent ammo I have seen in this gun to date. It shoots it better than Remington Core Lokts, Winchester Super X and Federal Power Shock. I have also tried the .223 in Polymer coated steel case in my AR-15 with good results. I don't know about the accuracy, but it fires it without malfunctioning. They have recently introduced 140gr FMJ brass case 6.5 creedmoor ammo. I have not tried it yet, as it is not in stores in my area yet, but I will try to post my findings.

Charlie98 · August 8, 2018, 07:39 PM

When I bought my M1a I picked up 2 boxes of the stuff... not knowing it was steel-cased. Not only did it blow a 8" flame straight up out of the muzzle brake, blinding me after every shot, but it had mediocre accuracy. I still have the target... something like 8" at 100'... probably because by the end of the first magazine I was seeing stars from the muzzle flash. Never again.

tahunua001 · August 10, 2018, 12:50 PM

maybe I'm weird but I won't even run remington ammo anymore, winchester either. too many horror stories, too poor of performance in my own experience. I strictly run Vista Outdoors brands (Speer, CCI, Federal, American Eagle) unless I am after brass donors in which case Fioche and PRVI are good enough brass that I don't worry. Hornady is also good but preloaded tends to be too expensive for my liking unless I am buying hunting ammo. magtech is great and I always get good performance out of it, it's Brazilian manufacture if I remember correctly.
I no longer bother with steel cased ammo with few exceptions.

EIB0879 · August 10, 2018, 09:27 PM

I have used .243, .270, and .40 S&W with no problems.

pete2 · August 11, 2018, 09:41 AM

CHEAP.

September 11, 2009, 10:52 PM	#1
The Kid Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 65	Monarch Ammo -- Good/Bad? Hey guys, Anyone here ever use Monarch Ammo? I found some at academy sports. I think it's Serbian/Russian/UstobelongtotheUSSR made...any way, I was the lowest price ammo, but am I just buying more trouble than its worth? Remington ammo is $4.00 more... What do you guys know/think about it? Personally, I think that I'm going to end up w/ a lot of copper fowling b/c of shoddy primers etc. in my barrel, but if anyone has had any good experience, then my all means, share. __________________ "When the lambs is lost in the mountain, he said. They is cry. Sometime come the mother. Sometime the wolf." -- Leader of a group of horsemen to the kid and Sproule in Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

September 11, 2009, 11:03 PM	#2
Jason_G Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,902	What did you buy, the steel cased stuff or the brass cased stuff? Steel = Barnaul. (Russia) Brass = Prvi Partizan. (Serbia) Neither will win awards for accuracy IME, but they're cheap and decent enough for plinking out of most guns. The Barnaul steel cased stuff is lacquered, so you may have to contend with buildup in the chamber. The Prvi .308 is not very accurate out of my M1A (about 3 MOA, compared to about 1.75 MOA with Rem UMC 147 gr). The steel cased stuff was kind of weird- seemed like I would have about 3-4 shots within a couple of inches, and one flyer that was at least a couple of inches out of the group at 100 yds, and I know it wasn't me or the rifle. My take: good ammo for some drills, etc., but don't use it to sight in a rifle or shoot long distances. Jason __________________ "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -Amendment II, Constitution of the United States of America

September 11, 2009, 11:04 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	I don't know about today.... But about 40 years ago, Monarch was a brand of ammo you could get at Mongomery Wards. It came from Canada. My dad had a box of it in .308 Win. He also had a box of DWM ammo, same caliber. I still have those DWM cases, and have reloaded them over a dozen times! I'm not sure, but I think Monarch became CIL some time later. Don't know if the Monarch you have is the same stuff or not, sorry. The box should say on it somewhere where its made. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 11, 2009, 11:28 PM	#4
cslinger Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,045	Currently the Monarch at Academy is Privi Partisan from Serbia. It is ok. REALLY dirty especially the .357/.38 stuff but all in all reliable, accurate enough for plinking and seems to have decent quality control. Never seen Monarch steel stuff, but as was said a good bet is it is Barnaul/Wolf/Brown Bear etc. __________________ "Is there anyway I can write my local gun store off on my taxes as dependents?"

September 11, 2009, 11:37 PM	#5
The Kid Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 65	So basically, if I use it I'm just going to have to clean my rifle a lot more thoroughly than if I shoot remingtons? __________________ "When the lambs is lost in the mountain, he said. They is cry. Sometime come the mother. Sometime the wolf." -- Leader of a group of horsemen to the kid and Sproule in Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

September 11, 2009, 11:57 PM	#6
plainsman456 Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2008 Posts: 260	I know people that have shot it in their AR-15s with no problems.It doesn't seem to be different than Rem or Win ammo.When I shot it with them and we cleaned the rifle it wasn't that bad.Good Luck

September 12, 2009, 12:10 AM	#7
CK_32 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 450	Yea what kind of gun are you shooting.. that also makes a huge difference because my cousin has a few rifles and some of them shoot wolf with ease and other not so well.. Because bolt actions/Semi-auto and different types of guns and calibers all come into count for most guns because Wolf ammo isnt the best but is exceptionally a good bullet in my opinion but in other cases i wouldn't touch the stuff.

September 12, 2009, 08:46 AM	#8
The Kid Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 65	Shooting Remington 700 ADL .30-06 __________________ "When the lambs is lost in the mountain, he said. They is cry. Sometime come the mother. Sometime the wolf." -- Leader of a group of horsemen to the kid and Sproule in Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

September 12, 2009, 10:57 AM	#9
REWTX Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 66	I've shot quite a bit of Academy Monarch (.45, .223, .308, and 30.06) with no problems. It seems about as clean as any lower-priced Winchester, Federal, and Remington ammo.

June 4, 2015, 08:35 PM	#10
Vern Junior Member Join Date: June 4, 2015 Posts: 2	I just fired approximately 75 rounds of monarch 9mm fmj through my new Taurus Millennium and apprimatly 35% of them misfired or jammed. I then fired 50 rounds of Blazer fmj's with no jams or misfires. No more Monorch ammo for me

June 4, 2015, 08:57 PM	#11
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	^^ your Taurus is slightly picky about ammo. nothing too serious, but it has such a cramped feed system that it doesn't like everything. although I am surprised it had issue with an FMJ unless it was longer than most. I have issue with wide flat-nosed or gaping hollow-points like sierra sportsmaster. other than that, it runs 100% with, apparently just most, FMJ and pointy HP's like hornaday xtp's. I like monarch okay, but was surprised to find that it's 54r was less accurate than my surplus ammo, but I have only assumed it was due to the heavier weight. monarch has the brown bear type lacquer coating rather than the tulammo type smoother finish. know up front the bi-metal jackets DO wear barrels faster than a copper jacket. there's a great test on TTAG about long term bi-metal and it resulted in about 2000 rounds less barrel life, but in the end the savings on ammo was so great that, even with the barrel replacement, it still made the bi-metal bullets more economical __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

June 4, 2015, 09:05 PM	#12
waveslayer Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2013 Posts: 246	I have shot a bunch without any malfunctions. FYI, a Jam requires a gun smith... most people experience malfunctions

June 4, 2015, 09:09 PM	#13
Dabull Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 380	I shot about 500 rounds of 9mm through various guns and don't recall any issues with accuracy, reliability, or cleanliness. __________________ "Its better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it." -- Clarence Worley in True Romance

June 6, 2015, 11:36 AM	#14
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	For anybody still wondering on this 6 year old thread, I consider it to be decent. I like the steel stuff more than Tula in my Eastern European guns (Mosin Nagant and VZ58) and I use the brass stuff in everything else for drilling and training when super high precision isn't as necessary as round count and muscle memory __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

August 8, 2018, 12:50 PM	#15
MisterYuck Member Join Date: December 20, 2015 Location: South West Alabama Posts: 39	I know this is an old thread. I have been using Monarch from Academy in 7.62X39 both in Polymer coated HP rounds and FMJ with excellent results. The polymer coated rounds are a bit more accurate in the gun I shoot, but for $5.99 a box, over the $5.49 it is worth it. I have also used Monarch .30-06 (brass case) 150gr soft point in my Ruger American. This is the most consistent ammo I have seen in this gun to date. It shoots it better than Remington Core Lokts, Winchester Super X and Federal Power Shock. I have also tried the .223 in Polymer coated steel case in my AR-15 with good results. I don't know about the accuracy, but it fires it without malfunctioning. They have recently introduced 140gr FMJ brass case 6.5 creedmoor ammo. I have not tried it yet, as it is not in stores in my area yet, but I will try to post my findings.

August 8, 2018, 07:39 PM	#16
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	When I bought my M1a I picked up 2 boxes of the stuff... not knowing it was steel-cased. Not only did it blow a 8" flame straight up out of the muzzle brake, blinding me after every shot, but it had mediocre accuracy. I still have the target... something like 8" at 100'... probably because by the end of the first magazine I was seeing stars from the muzzle flash. Never again. __________________ _______________ "I have this pistol pointed at your heart!" "That is my least vulnerable spot."

August 10, 2018, 12:50 PM	#17
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	maybe I'm weird but I won't even run remington ammo anymore, winchester either. too many horror stories, too poor of performance in my own experience. I strictly run Vista Outdoors brands (Speer, CCI, Federal, American Eagle) unless I am after brass donors in which case Fioche and PRVI are good enough brass that I don't worry. Hornady is also good but preloaded tends to be too expensive for my liking unless I am buying hunting ammo. magtech is great and I always get good performance out of it, it's Brazilian manufacture if I remember correctly. I no longer bother with steel cased ammo with few exceptions. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

August 10, 2018, 09:27 PM	#18
EIB0879 Member Join Date: May 22, 2016 Posts: 45	I have used .243, .270, and .40 S&W with no problems.

August 11, 2018, 09:41 AM	#19
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	CHEAP.