Which American brand would you reach for?

PushPuller · May 27, 2018, 07:35 AM

The results from the non American brands poll was really interesting to me and had a lot broader input than I though it would. Now I'm curious what your guys opinions on American ammunition manufacturers. If you could only choose one American brand for the rest of your life, which would it be?

This isn't caliber specific because quality control on American brands seems to be a lot more consistent across calibers but if one caliber preforms better than an other in the same brand feel free to explain. but for ease lets stick with handgun calibers.

I went with Remington, and Federal for my choices. No real reason for the preference other than they are the two most commonly used brands my family uses and has used for decades with no issues. Ya know? what's not broken don't fix kind of thing.

fourbore · May 27, 2018, 07:48 AM

What is this handgun ammo? I would choose federal and then count on doing a lot of reloading to fill the gaps in available loads and quality.

Hornady makes great ammo, where low volume with precision and performance count. I could buy the components if I had to.

I refuse to take a poll where I am inclined to choose Federal over Hornady. That is very misleading.

fourbore · May 27, 2018, 07:53 AM

I dont see CCI. I guess the bulk heads would only know the company as Blazer? Do components even count? Primers?

Some one just choose Remington! OMG.

PushPuller · May 27, 2018, 08:15 AM

Quote:

I dont see CCI. I guess the bulk heads would only know the company as Blazer? Do components even count? Primers?

Components can count if something is worth noting. I also didn't put CCI because I feel like Blazer is better known by the average shooter and non-reloaders.

disseminator · May 27, 2018, 11:25 AM

I only shoot factory ammo for self defense so that is what my choice is based on:

Speer Gold Dot
Federal HST

With the Federal HST being slightly superior IMO.

FITASC · May 27, 2018, 11:35 AM

For only one, make mine Speer. Their 124 9mm Lawman series is great for practice and their Gold Dots are excellent. Same for 38/357

Minorcan · May 27, 2018, 11:38 AM

I chose Ferderal and Hornady. But I do buy others depending on need and end use. For example I would choose other brands for my lever guns and different for my rifle versus revolver.

osbornk · May 27, 2018, 11:39 AM

I buy based on price and I don't care what brand it is.

muzzleblast... · May 27, 2018, 02:38 PM

As far as I am concerned Federal has been the leader in premium ammo for a few decades.

kymasabe · May 27, 2018, 03:02 PM

I could be happy with federal or hornady, I gave the vote to hornady though if having to choose just one. I've had nothing but problems with Remington though, would be the last American ammo a buy

MandolinMan · May 27, 2018, 03:16 PM

Whatever is on sale. I've never experienced a problem with any of the above brands.

Bob Wright · May 27, 2018, 04:30 PM

I seldom buy factory loaded ammunition. Both Winchester and Federal have given me the best service for the brass, each giving me the most reloads out of one lot of brass. However, Winchester seems to meet the needs I have for loaded ammunition. The two brands are very close.

As to components, the old Remington .44 caliber bullet, a 240 gr. semi-jacketed hollow point, was a superb JHP for loading in the .44 Magnum as well as in the .44 Special.

Bob Wright

stevelyn · May 27, 2018, 06:07 PM

Speer and Federal for me. I can find Gold Dots in 50rd boxes. Everyone else seems to offer their ammo in 20rd packaging.

bn12gg · May 27, 2018, 06:26 PM

Ammo seems pretty much like gasoline for the car. I buy the least expensive per round. You either blow it out the exhaust or blow it out the barrel.

Yea, for certain of the guns I have my preferences.

.02.
David

Dufus · May 27, 2018, 09:00 PM

I choose none of the above. I don't shoot factory ammo in anything.

Therefore, I did not vote as my choice is not on the list.

Water-Man · May 27, 2018, 11:13 PM

Federal & Hornady.

GarandTd · May 27, 2018, 11:33 PM

I voted Federal, but Hornady is a very close second and Blazer makes a solid third.

See, Federal has the best priced most consistent 9mm I've ever experienced with their 115gr 9mm fmj. Hornady gets my vote for quality and covering the less popular calibers. I buy the Hornady lever evolution in 35 Remington and the Hornady vintage match 8mm Mauser. CCI Blazer has taken my 22rimfire spotlight with solid groups and above average reliability and solid uniformity.

GarandTd · May 27, 2018, 11:42 PM

If I could afford to, I guess I would reach for Hornady for everything. My vote of Federal still stands though.

Maverick36 · May 28, 2018, 10:34 AM

Mostly Freedom Ammo ( new, not reman).
Speer Lawman 124gr
Nothing steel or aluminum cased.
Brass cased at .20 cent or lower per round.

JWT · May 28, 2018, 12:36 PM

I've found Winchester and Remington to be a bit dirtier than others and stay away from them. Have had no issues with aluminum cased ammo and will shoot it if I get good prices.

Pops1085 · May 28, 2018, 01:48 PM

Winchester. I just have the most experience shooting handguns with old Olin Winchester ammo and feel the most comfortable with it. It's not that I've never had a bad round or had a jam in my life... But it happens so rarely and using one type of ammo allows me to more easily diagnose when issues occur.

I've had jams with literally every common brand of ammo out there, they all fowl the gun eventually, some will be more accurate than others, but Winchester is my middle of the road, low cost solution for general plinking. Plus the brass is decent also.

bedbugbilly · May 28, 2018, 07:02 PM

I haven't purchased factory ammo in years - I cast my own and reload. When I was having to buy ammo years ago - it was pretty much based on price.

44caliberkid · May 28, 2018, 09:22 PM

Don't leave out Black Hills.

Remington74 · May 29, 2018, 11:56 AM

Federal. Available locally and feeds without issues in my LCP.

mr bolo · May 29, 2018, 02:10 PM

Im satisfied with WINCHESTER ammunition

I have never had a problem like what I read about on the forums?

it seems like some people like to blame the ammo? when it could just be their gun doesnt function reliably with certain brands? a good gun should take any factory ammo you fire out of it.

if it doesnt, your gun is probably not that good or finicky.

View Poll Results: Which brand would you select?
Remington	11	9.91%
Browning	2	1.80%
Speer	24	21.62%
Federal	55	49.55%
Winchester	25	22.52%
Hornady	33	29.73%
Blazer	5	4.50%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 111. You may not vote on this poll

May 27, 2018, 07:35 AM	#1
PushPuller Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2018 Posts: 156	Which American brand would you reach for? The results from the non American brands poll was really interesting to me and had a lot broader input than I though it would. Now I'm curious what your guys opinions on American ammunition manufacturers. If you could only choose one American brand for the rest of your life, which would it be? This isn't caliber specific because quality control on American brands seems to be a lot more consistent across calibers but if one caliber preforms better than an other in the same brand feel free to explain. but for ease lets stick with handgun calibers. I went with Remington, and Federal for my choices. No real reason for the preference other than they are the two most commonly used brands my family uses and has used for decades with no issues. Ya know? what's not broken don't fix kind of thing. Last edited by PushPuller; May 27, 2018 at 07:50 AM.

May 27, 2018, 11:35 AM	#6
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	For only one, make mine Speer. Their 124 9mm Lawman series is great for practice and their Gold Dots are excellent. Same for 38/357 __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

May 27, 2018, 03:02 PM	#10
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	I could be happy with federal or hornady, I gave the vote to hornady though if having to choose just one. I've had nothing but problems with Remington though, would be the last American ammo a buy __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

May 27, 2018, 03:16 PM	#11
MandolinMan Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2013 Posts: 339	Whatever is on sale. I've never experienced a problem with any of the above brands. __________________ " The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." Col. Jeff Cooper

May 27, 2018, 07:48 AM	#2
fourbore Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2015 Location: new england Posts: 1,159	What is this handgun ammo? I would choose federal and then count on doing a lot of reloading to fill the gaps in available loads and quality. Hornady makes great ammo, where low volume with precision and performance count. I could buy the components if I had to. I refuse to take a poll where I am inclined to choose Federal over Hornady. That is very misleading.

May 27, 2018, 07:53 AM	#3
fourbore Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2015 Location: new england Posts: 1,159	I dont see CCI. I guess the bulk heads would only know the company as Blazer? Do components even count? Primers? Some one just choose Remington! OMG.

May 27, 2018, 11:25 AM	#5
disseminator Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 960	I only shoot factory ammo for self defense so that is what my choice is based on: Speer Gold Dot Federal HST With the Federal HST being slightly superior IMO.

May 27, 2018, 11:38 AM	#7
Minorcan Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2015 Posts: 379	I chose Ferderal and Hornady. But I do buy others depending on need and end use. For example I would choose other brands for my lever guns and different for my rifle versus revolver.

May 27, 2018, 11:39 AM	#8
osbornk Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2012 Location: Mountains of Appalachia Posts: 1,598	I buy based on price and I don't care what brand it is.

May 27, 2018, 02:38 PM	#9
muzzleblast... Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2015 Location: Obwat, TN Posts: 285	As far as I am concerned Federal has been the leader in premium ammo for a few decades.

May 27, 2018, 04:30 PM	#12
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	I seldom buy factory loaded ammunition. Both Winchester and Federal have given me the best service for the brass, each giving me the most reloads out of one lot of brass. However, Winchester seems to meet the needs I have for loaded ammunition. The two brands are very close. As to components, the old Remington .44 caliber bullet, a 240 gr. semi-jacketed hollow point, was a superb JHP for loading in the .44 Magnum as well as in the .44 Special. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

May 27, 2018, 06:07 PM	#13
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	Speer and Federal for me. I can find Gold Dots in 50rd boxes. Everyone else seems to offer their ammo in 20rd packaging. __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf.

May 27, 2018, 06:26 PM	#14
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Ammo seems pretty much like gasoline for the car. I buy the least expensive per round. You either blow it out the exhaust or blow it out the barrel. Yea, for certain of the guns I have my preferences. .02. David

May 27, 2018, 09:00 PM	#15
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	I choose none of the above. I don't shoot factory ammo in anything. Therefore, I did not vote as my choice is not on the list.

May 27, 2018, 11:13 PM	#16
Water-Man Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,126	Federal & Hornady.

May 27, 2018, 11:33 PM	#17
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	I voted Federal, but Hornady is a very close second and Blazer makes a solid third. See, Federal has the best priced most consistent 9mm I've ever experienced with their 115gr 9mm fmj. Hornady gets my vote for quality and covering the less popular calibers. I buy the Hornady lever evolution in 35 Remington and the Hornady vintage match 8mm Mauser. CCI Blazer has taken my 22rimfire spotlight with solid groups and above average reliability and solid uniformity. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

May 27, 2018, 11:42 PM	#18
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	If I could afford to, I guess I would reach for Hornady for everything. My vote of Federal still stands though. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

May 28, 2018, 10:34 AM	#19
Maverick36 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2015 Location: Colorado Posts: 105	Mostly Freedom Ammo ( new, not reman). Speer Lawman 124gr Nothing steel or aluminum cased. Brass cased at .20 cent or lower per round.

May 28, 2018, 12:36 PM	#20
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	I've found Winchester and Remington to be a bit dirtier than others and stay away from them. Have had no issues with aluminum cased ammo and will shoot it if I get good prices.

May 28, 2018, 01:48 PM	#21
Pops1085 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Posts: 369	Winchester. I just have the most experience shooting handguns with old Olin Winchester ammo and feel the most comfortable with it. It's not that I've never had a bad round or had a jam in my life... But it happens so rarely and using one type of ammo allows me to more easily diagnose when issues occur. I've had jams with literally every common brand of ammo out there, they all fowl the gun eventually, some will be more accurate than others, but Winchester is my middle of the road, low cost solution for general plinking. Plus the brass is decent also.

May 28, 2018, 07:02 PM	#22
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I haven't purchased factory ammo in years - I cast my own and reload. When I was having to buy ammo years ago - it was pretty much based on price. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

May 28, 2018, 09:22 PM	#23
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Don't leave out Black Hills.

May 29, 2018, 11:56 AM	#24
Remington74 Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2012 Location: Carthage, NY Posts: 231	Federal. Available locally and feeds without issues in my LCP.

May 29, 2018, 02:10 PM	#25
mr bolo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2012 Posts: 432	Im satisfied with WINCHESTER ammunition I have never had a problem like what I read about on the forums? it seems like some people like to blame the ammo? when it could just be their gun doesnt function reliably with certain brands? a good gun should take any factory ammo you fire out of it. if it doesnt, your gun is probably not that good or finicky.