Opinions on Factory Ammo

[walkersteelhead]

I was just curious what everyones opinions were on what brands were there Favorites on factory ammo.

I don't use it.

[ 11-19-2002, 01:57 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

[Gus Orviston]

definitely not that B/W, but I would rather make up a load than buy one. for a 30/30 it doesn't make much sense to load you don't have much of bullet selection and you can't beat the prices. for my 454 it is a break even and the load I like is already being made by Winchester. Although I would rather load this one even if I am saving .20 a round.

remington beat its accuracy with a handload while pumpiammo shoots great through my 25.06, and it has been a challenge to ng up the velocity.

[Fish4Fun]

Since I only shoot Weatherby's I stick to the factory ammo. It is pretty close to hand load quality from the factory. It will hold half inch groups at the range. I shoot either a .300 with 180 grain Noslers or .257 with 120 grain Noslers.

[fishuntr2]

My Model 70 30:06 likes greenbox remington. I have had good luck with this ammo. I shoot 150 grain for deer and elk. Majority of kills have been 1 shot. One box of ammo lasts for years as this rifle holds its point of aim really well. I have owned this rifle since 1971 and it fits me better than any of my shotguns....Go figure.
Bob

[KingFisher85]

For shooting out of my 300 win mag I really like Federal
Shooting my 308 win I like these 165 gr. hand loads but for factory ammo I like these Remington express Core-Lokt 150 gr.
Shooting my 243, Remington 100 gr.

Shooting my Winchester model 1300 with a 22 inch fully rifled barrel, I like Remington copper solid premier sabot.
Night time coyote hunting I like the Winchester double X magnum buckshot load in #4 buck
All my birdshot loads are federal only.

If I had the money, I would shoot more federal rifle ammo. I really like what it gives me.

[skein]

Usually when I'm buying factory ammo, it is with the idea that I will also be reloading for that rifle sometime in the future. So I don't just look for good ammo, I look for good brass as well. Most often they go hand-in-hand.

I have had good results with the Federal Premium, but have noticed the other manufacturers have jumped on that bandwagon as well. Winchester with its Supreme is one that comes to mind even though I haven't tried it yet.

Truth is, most of the factory ammo out there can shoot straighter than the shooter, especially in an out-in-the-field, hunting situation. It'll work in your gun, chamber easily (unless you're BOE), won't blow it up, and is usually available wherever you go to hunt. Those are important considerations.

My 2 cents.

Skein

[outdoor.spec.ops]

I have found that many of my rifles prefers to have loads towards the minimum or maximum of the loading charts, which I can't get from the factory loads. The factory bullets will still give good groups, but not the super tight groups I can get with the hand loads.

[Beer Waggin]

I have guns that can shoot the cheap stuff (Remington usually) through a quarter all day long and I have guns that have to shoot the expensive stuff (Federal Premium) to hit that quarter. All of my older rifles shoot the cheap stuff and all of my newer rifles need the expensive stuff. Think there's any correlation to that?

[Firedog]

Before I started handloading I always used Remington Core-lokt's in my .280. It always sot real good groups with them. Now I shoot nothing but handloads for hunting. Will end up buying some factory ammo for my new .300 weatherby. To get it sighted in before I start working up loads.

[ 11-19-2002, 04:31 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

[Tilla]

I have used Federal Premium (Nosler whenever possible) in my .243, .270 and 7mm Rem Mag. Almost 30 years and every animal went to the freezer.

[TheTexan]

I have always used the Hornady ammo, but have recently started using the Winchester Supreme Ballistic tips with very good luck. It seems to me that all of the factory stuff is good enough for an average joe.

[Killertraylor]

I used to be an avid handloader and shot every week of the year when I was a member of the Albany Pistol and Rifle club during college at OSU. I developed several good loads for each of my hunting rifles and still have plenty left over, but recently I've discovered that Remington 180 gr. Core Lokt shoots sub 1 inch 5 shot groups in my Ruger Mark II 300 Win. and I've killed 2 elk with those rounds. In my Weatherby's I can't get any more accuracy out of my handloads than the factory stuff - it all shoots about .75 inch for 5 shot groups, so I just shoot the factory stuff. I'm very comfortable these days with the quality and reliability of factory ammunition.

[bllelk]

The premium stuff shoots very nearly as well as handloads and some come with bullets that are typically used in handloads (Nosler for ex.) The major adavantage that I see in handloads is you can shoot different loads in the same rifle and not have to sight in each time you change. Don't have my notes in front of me now, but if you look in the handloading book, you will see loads that match up trajectory wise based on bullet weight and powder charge. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[nerta]

:grin: As a reloader I was questioning the new high quality ammo a few years ago. After trying some of the different brands I found sometimes it's hard to roll your own, thats any better, depending how much time you have to test and record the results. Winchester and Federal gave very good results in 30-06 and 243 for me. :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Megabites]

I shoot hand loads for the simple reason that I like to be able to adjust my loads for the rifle and for the type of hunt.

I haven't noticed a great differance in the deviation in velocity on factory loads vs. hand loads. However when I shoot factory I do buy the good stuff.

[Chukrchaser]

My 700 adl 25-06 -- Winchester Ballistic silvertips -- 115gr -- can't stay on a dinner plate with 3 rounds. Federal 117gr Noslers -- through a quarter --

A-bolt 300 win mag -- 150 gr anything -- a quater will do -- 180 gr -- better be the Big game ballistic tip.