Favorite/worst 9x18 ammo

[juniustaylor]

Lots of folks comment on the weird smell of the Brown Bear ammo in other forums. I think someone said it was like "fried electronics". Ha-ha.

[rtroha]

Several people have mentioned "Wolf" without saying which type. There is Wolf Performance (black box) made at the Tula Cartridge Works and Wolf Military Classic (camo box) made at Ulyanovsk.

I've never had a problem with Wolf Military Classic.

[normsutton]

rtroha

I do not recommend shooting any type of wolf steel ammo ,the gold is alright its loaded by Prvi Partizan , but their steel ammo has destroyed a lot of guns , and there are no parts for the P-64


juniustaylor

if doesn't smell right don't shoot it, Russians are famous for use floor swiping's then resift it , the only problem is their powder manufactures also manufacture flarer powder and get into the swiping's and that get mix with the powder and not sifted out ,it well pit your chrome plated chambers and bores , if it was in a brass case it would melt holes in the case

NORM

[piaggior]

Man, this is making me think it may not be such a great idea to shoot any of the Russian steel cased ammo.

[nlvoldy40]

For good prices on ammo, I've been buying from Cheaper Than Dirt. There Brown Bear 9x18 is $9.09 per box.

[mattwestm]

I ordered a box of Brown Bear and a box of Silver Bear HPs from cheaperthandirt on Tuesday and my order status still says "Credit Card Approved." First time ordering from cheaperthandirt. How long does shipping usually take and do they send tracking numbers? I was a bit disappointed in their shipping charges, seemed a bit high compared to Sportsmansguide.

Edit: I just called them and they said my order was shipped on the same day I ordered.

[mikeh1]

And in the very unlikely event that 2 steel core bullets strike they could spark. Ever seen burning tires before? This is just what I was told be a indoor range guy... But who knows.

I personally find the spark thing a bit far fetched. That's like the POL (petroleum oil lubrication) guys at work getting nervous around JP-8 jet fuel. (I'm a hydraulics specialist on the KC-135 R/T Stratotanker - Air Force). I guess diesel fuel and tires aren't really the same thing. I just figured it was because the steel core just tears up stuff. However, it is illegal to even have steel core handgun ammo. It is either A, B, or Both.
A.-They don't like the steel cases because they can't be reloaded or
B.-Brown Bear uses a bi-metal jacketing that contains a nano amount of steel along with the copper and it's because of this nano amount that they get their panties wadded up in a bunch over.

a few years back we had steel core rounds from a AK cause a brushfire, so the tire thing is not that far-fetched

[mattwestm]

I've been buying Brown Bear FMJ for target and Silver Bear HP for carrying. I want to try Hornady HP but it seems everywhere online is sold out or doesn't sell it at all. Does anyone know of a place that sells it?

[rottenrick]

Matt West,

Most of the stores are sold out as well as are the internet sources. As long as the bullet causes a massive loss of hydraulic fluid and pressure, causing the pump to cavitate. It doesn't matter if it's JHP, or FMJ. As long as it 'Hole Punch's the perp.

[gunneyrabbit]

You fellows who are having such a hard time finding ammunition need to think seriously about reloading, buy a Lee reloading kit and have at it. For what you have been paying for ammo, you will recapture your investment in a matter of weeks. I reload two hundrad rounds of .38/.357 for less than $16.00, two hundrad 9mm or 9x18 are about $13.50 to $14.00 and less if you use or make lead bulletts. NORMSUTTON taught us to cut down our 9mm casing to 9x18"s, yes it works and works well and here is a tip another from NORM that I can verify, when you invest in a case trimmer buy one that you can use with an electric drill, 9mm to 9x18 takes less than four seconds from start to finish including finishing the case mouth. The savings are super and you get a new hobby out of it. Reloading information is every where on the net from all of the powder manufacturers.
Give it a thought, if it sounds like fun to you give it a try, all you can lose is the absurd expense of buying over priced boxed range ammunition.
G.R.

[juniustaylor]

+1 gunneyrabbit, I second that. You can get good results from those simple Lee Classic Loaders... the little hand ones that you whack with a hammer/mallet. I'm getting one to do .410 shotshells, hopefully it'll work out well.

[normsutton]

GR

I do suggest reloading , but I would never suggest a LEE loading press, yes LEE dies and LEE moulds but never ever a LEE press or their kits

NORM

[juniustaylor]

I don't see why not? I know folks that have had Lee presses for years, decades even with no problems. I currently use a Lee Hand Press with good results only because I'm pressed for space, otherwise I'd get a full size O-press from Lee. Oh well, to each their own. Some folks are on a budget and a $200 press is out of the question and Mr. Lee has got their needs in mind. If you're going to be loading target loads and loads meant for extreme accuracy, in the case of long distance, then you may want a nicer press. For the vast majority of plinkers and self defense reloaders, about anything will work better than nothing.

[normsutton]

juniustaylor
sorry I can't indorse a product that I don't believe in,

this is not my press and it was the second time it broke



I also know a guy that used a LEE press and was loading in his garage and the thing broke on him sending a piece of medal out from the press putting a hole in his classic corvette , the only thing good thing about it, it didn't hit him , and he was a defender of lee press's not any more, buy a good press you will get your money back out of it,


NORM

[juniustaylor]

This is my final reply on this subject so it doesn't get too far away from the original top of fav/worst ammo. The same stuff happens to virtually any press on the market. The new RCBS presses don't have much to show for, you can read about them breaking... would you know they're made in China. Reading reviews, the Lee Classic Cast has 69 reviews. Only 1 of them experienced something break. On the Lee Challenger press, there are 28 reviews, no one wrote about anything breaking. Now, we get to RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme has 42 reviews with 2 having something that broke, numerous others complained about quality control issues, it being made in China, and that the primer catcher sucks. For the RCBS Partner has 20 reviews, 2 people report something that broke, one guy recommended buying the Lee Classic Cast press. And there are numerous other brands out there with their faults. The fact of the matter is that like any other equipment they will eventually break down and maybe even fall apart. Knocking them just because someone used one and it put a hole in his classic car or that one broke twice doesn't mean that they suck. Anyway, I'm not a Lee promoter, I'm just trying to speak sensibly that not everyone can throw down $120+ on a China-made RCBS press that may have just as many issues as a $55 Lee Challenger or $80 Lee Classic Cast press made in the USA. I know that product reviews aren't the best source of proof that something is good or bad, but I do believe folks typically will write a negative review before a positive review.