Ammo Tests

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Liberty Ammunition's Civil Defense 9mm

Ammo Test: Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense 9mm and .45 ACP

Taking the idea of “light and fast” model to new levels, the Civil Defense projectiles weigh in at well under half that same caliber traditional bullets. For example, the 9mm projectile weighs just 50 grains. Compare that to 115 or 124 grains for common 9mm defense rounds. The .45 ACP bullets weigh in at 78 grains as compared to a more traditional weight range of 185 to 230 grains. The result is blistering speed.

Winchester Ammunition's PDX1 Defender Segmenting Slugs.

Ammo Test: Winchester PDX1 Defender Segmenting Slug

What do you do if you don’t feel that a 12-gauge slug doesn’t have enough stopping power? OK, so maybe if you ever feel under gunned with a shottie slug you’re fighting Godzilla, but, hey, it could happen. You could try to stuff a 40mm grenade in there, but that requires all sorts of complicated licensing. A more realistic option might be to use a fragmenting projectile design. That’s exactly what Winchester Ammunition has done with their PDX1 Defender Segmenting Slug.

Clay Discusses Cheap Ammo: Is It Worth It?

Clay Discusses Cheap Ammo: Is It Worth It?

We’ve all been there. We have spent a lot of money on a new, exciting gun, are still eyeing some extra magazines and a good optic, and are quickly running out of cash. So, where do you skimp? For most people, it is on ammo. Sure, we have all been there, looking for the cheapest rounds we can find so we can get out on the range for the least amount of money. And, we have also heard how this can be a mistake and not be good for our firearms. Is it true?

Remington's HTP .45 ACP 185-grain self-defense ammo comes in 50-round boxes.

Ammo Test: Remington’s Affordable HTP 185-grain Self-Defense .45 ACP Load

While most premium self-defense ammo will cost you over a buck per round, Remington’s HTP line appeals to the more budget conscious crowd. Packed in boxes of 50, it sells for about the same as most self-defense ammo packaged in boxes of 20. Doing the fancy math indicates that it’s a little less than half the cost of the most expensive stuff.

Sig Sauer's Elite Performance V-Crown .357 Sig 125-grain ammunition.

Ammo Test: Sig Sauer Elite Performance .357 Sig V-Crown

I’ve always been a big fan of .357 Sig caliber. Yeah, I know, it’s got more recoil and muzzle blast than 9mm. On the other hand, it comes darn close, and sometimes matches, the performance of the classic 125-grain .357 Magnum round. It’s hard to argue with the effectiveness of that cartridge.

The Hornady Concentricity Gauge tests alignment of the projectile with the case.

#Reloading: Straight Bullets = Accurate Ammo – Hornady Bullet Concentricity Gauge (Deal of the Week)

One big contributor to poor group consistency is bullet concentricity in the case. Think of it this way, if you stuff a bullet into a cartridge case exactly straight, then a line from the center of the tip through the exact center of the base would continue on through the mathematical center of the case and out the center of the primer.

Army Wins $15 Million Appeal in Liberty Ammunition Case

Army Wins $15 Million Appeal in Liberty Ammunition Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a ruling against the military that will spare the Army millions in damages and royalties.

Sig Sauer's 300 Blackout 125-grain Supersonic ammo.

Ammo Test: Sig Sauer 300 Blackout 125-grain Supersonic Match Grade

The Sig Sauer Elite Performance 125-grain supersonic 300 Blackout load is match grade and is tipped with a 125-grain Sierra Matchking projectile. Technically, like most Sierra Matchking rifle bullets, it’s a hollow point, or more accurately, Open Tip.

Federal's HST proved accurate and consistent from a variety of .45 ACP pistols.

Ammo Test: .45 ACP HST—Federal’s Flying Ashtray!

The HST line is the next generation of the Hydra-Shok basic design and delivers effective penetration and performance.

Smith & Wesson's Biggest Fail? The Ultra-Rare Model 320 Revolving Rifle

Smith & Wesson’s Biggest Fail? The Ultra-Rare Model 320 Revolving Rifle

Obviously, these are success stories the likes of which have changed firearms history. However, for every success story, there are dozens of ideas that didn’t make it. Even the vaunted Smith & Wesson was not immune from the pitfalls of 19th Century firearms design. Case in point: the Model 320 revolving rifle.