A few days ago, Tman and I found some Blazer 9mm ammo cheap at Academy.  We shot it, but felt that it might not be as accurate as we thought other ammo was.  But, instead of depending on "feelings" (), we decided to conduct a test.

We brought our handloads and three cheap brands of 9mm ammo to the range.

Here is the set-up:



We shot my Glock 34, off of bags, at around 35-40 feet.  Why not further?  Because these 56 and 63 year old eyes can't do their best work at longer ranges.

Here's Tman shooting his groups.



I caught a round of Wolf in the air.

We shot several groups with the following:

Handloads, 115 grain Remington JHP, 5.0 gr. WW 231.

Winchester White Box 9mm.

Wolf 9mm.

And Blazer 9mm.

Here's some representative groups:



As you can see, the groups indicate that this ammo was plenty accurate enough for practice ammo.

Lessons Learned:

1.  Our general opinion as to accuracy is that they were good.  Wolf was best,  next Winchester White Box, and then Blazer.  But all were accurate.

2.  All ammo functioned 100%.  I had carried this Glock 34 to Thunder Ranch three times, and it has never failed.

3.  We have over 80+ years of handloading and make some good handloads.  We use a Dillon press.  But the factory stuff was slightly better accuracy-wise than our stuff.  The difference in price is very small.

Bottom Line:  You can't justify handloading at the present low prices of this cheap 9mm ammo.

And even though it is relatively cheap, it is plenty accurate.

Cool report... I wish .45 wasn't so expensive...

Makes me want 9mm...

Shawn

Excellent post, as all ways.

Thanks O_P!!

Scott

O_P: Did you shoot more than one group with each type of ammo? if so, did you measure group sizes? If you did, I would like to see the numbers.

P.S. You forgot: Shooting stuff (even paper) is fun.

Is that the stuff that I keep hearing about for less than $4 for 50? I wish there was an academy here....


Meantime, wolf .45 ball groups better in my SA lightweight than any quality hollowpoint does.....go figure.


(but blazer .40 shot PATTERNS in my .40 hi-power, which is otherwise a very accurate pistol)


I suppose that just verifies that you shouldn't make assumptions....

Quoted: O_P: Did you shoot more than one group with each type of ammo? if so, did you measure group sizes? If you did, I would like to see the numbers. P.S. You forgot: Shooting stuff (even paper) is fun.

No, we didn't measure group sizes.  We shot a lot of groups.  The ones pictured are representative.

This was just an informal test.  We weren't trying to draw concrete conclusions as to measured group size.  We just wanted to see if there were big differences in accuracy.

There weren't.

Quoted: Quoted: O_P: Did you shoot more than one group with each type of ammo? if so, did you measure group sizes? If you did, I would like to see the numbers. P.S. You forgot: Shooting stuff (even paper) is fun. No, we didn't measure group sizes.  We shot a lot of groups.  The ones pictured are representative. This was just an informal test.  We weren't trying to draw concrete conclusions as to measured group size.  We just wanted to see if there were big differences in accuracy. There weren't.

Thanks O_P. Now if only Wolf did not stank so bad...

I really like Blaser for my G34 – I’ve never had a problem with it – probably been through a dozen cases of the stuff.  Natchez loves me.

I just got through burning up the last case of Wolf pistol ammunition I’ll ever buy.  For some reason it was a bitch to load in magazines, and while I only experienced one light primer strike in the whole case, when working the slide to load off a loaded magazine – sometimes the stuff just didn’t want to sit all the way in the chamber.  That’s a great way to start off an IPSC or IDPA stage – having to hit the back of the slide with your hand.

Never had any issues with the Winchester White box either – I just prefer the Blaser because through my 34 – it’s the most accurate.

Quoted: Never had any issues with the Winchester White box either – I just prefer the Blaser because through my 34 – it’s the most accurate.

Good point.

I would buy which ever of the three was cheaper when I needed some.

It seems to all be good stuff and reasonably accurate.

And dont forget-

Shooting stuff is still fun!

ETA:  Man, I wish I was retired...

Why didn't you post a pic of the group resulting from the handloaded Rem 115 grainers?

I had a wierd experience with Blazer ammo, I used to buy it a lot and get excellent results with it in my HK USP tactical.

Well I went through several boxes with great results. Then a few months later I picked up another box. Oddly enough (I was shooting balloons), I could not hit anything. Funny cause at the time I was trying to show a guy how great and accurate my tactical was.

I was beginning to think something was wrong with the gun.  Luckily I had some extra winchester ammo and I tried that.  I had no problems with it, was popping 8 inch balloons at 50yds every time.


Must have just been a bad batch, but I shy away from Blazer now (It made me look bad )

Quoted: Why didn't you post a pic of the group resulting from the handloaded Rem 115 grainers?

Because you can't go out and buy a box of our handloads.

Quoted: And dont forget- Shooting stuff is still fun! ETA:  Man, I wish I was retired...

It's even better than you can dream.

Quoted: Quoted: Why didn't you post a pic of the group resulting from the handloaded Rem 115 grainers? Because you can't go out and buy a box of our handloads.

That may be true, O-P.  (Although you could share your recipe.)
Look, the reason I ask is because the premise of your test seems to be, "Is economical factory ammo as accurate as our handloads?".  But you never actually answered that question for the rest of us.

I'm not trying to dog you, I'm just asking the question.

P.S.  I enjoy your "Box-O-Truth" posts.

Another great post, thanks O_P!

better than sex?  

  He has no test bed to base an answer to that question on ...

BK

EDIT: But he does have a cool TV with the Military channel and no nagging ...

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why didn't you post a pic of the group resulting from the handloaded Rem 115 grainers? Because you can't go out and buy a box of our handloads. That may be true, O-P.  (Although you could share your recipe.) Look, the reason I ask is because the premise of your test seems to be, "Is economical factory ammo as accurate as our handloads?".  But you never actually answered that question for the rest of us. I'm not trying to dog you, I'm just asking the question. P.S.  I enjoy your "Box-O-Truth" posts.

Sorry, I didn't realize that I had failed to supply the information in my original post.

I didn't keep any of our handload targets, but they were just about like the others.  The factory ammo may have had a slightly better average accuracy than our handloads, but it would not be statistically significant.

Surely no reason to handload for a 9mm rather than buy cheap factory stuff.

Edited to add:

I thought I had said this.  You were making me think I am going nuts.

3. We have over 80+ years of handloading and make some good handloads. We use a Dillon press. But the factory stuff was slightly better accuracy-wise than our stuff. The difference in price is very small.

Quoted:   He has no test bed to base an answer to that question on ... BK EDIT: But he does have a cool TV with the Military channel and no nagging ...

You little fart.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why didn't you post a pic of the group resulting from the handloaded Rem 115 grainers? Because you can't go out and buy a box of our handloads. That may be true, O-P.  (Although you could share your recipe.) Look, the reason I ask is because the premise of your test seems to be, "Is economical factory ammo as accurate as our handloads?".  But you never actually answered that question for the rest of us. I'm not trying to dog you, I'm just asking the question. P.S.  I enjoy your "Box-O-Truth" posts. Sorry, I didn't realize that I had failed to supply the information in my original post. I didn't keep any of our handload targets, but they were just about like the others.  The factory ammo may have had a slightly better average accuracy than our handloads, but it would not be statistically significant. Surely no reason to handload for a 9mm rather than buy cheap factory stuff. Edited to add: I thought I had said this.  You were making me think I am going nuts. 3. We have over 80+ years of handloading and make some good handloads. We use a Dillon press. But the factory stuff was slightly better accuracy-wise than our stuff. The difference in price is very small.

Thanks O-P!
That answers my question.
You see, I'm a handloader.  I enjoy reloading purely as entertainment.  In truth, I have almost no interest in inexpensive factory ammo, so the original question you asked was more intriguing to me than perhaps to other people who have already decided that the various inexpensive brands of ammo are the answer for their needs.  For me, the real issue was, "If you're a handloader, is there any practical reason to reload 9mm ammo".  I guess the answer has to be, "No."
For sure, that's not going to stop me from rolling my own.  As I already said, it's entertainment as far as I'm concerned.
Good thread!

Quoted: Thanks O-P! That answers my question. You see, I'm a handloader.  I enjoy reloading purely as entertainment.  In truth, I have almost no interest in inexpensive factory ammo, so the original question you asked was more intriguing to me than perhaps to other people who have already decided that the various inexpensive brands of ammo are the answer for their needs.  For me, the real issue was, "If you're a handloader, is there any practical reason to reload 9mm ammo".  I guess the answer has to be, "No." For sure, that's not going to stop me from rolling my own.  As I already said, it's entertainment as far as I'm concerned. Good thread!

Like you, I am a confirmed handloader.

I will still roll my own as far as unusual rifle and pistol rounds go.  I doubt that .44 Specials will ever be as cheap as I can load them.

And, as far as accuracy goes, I can handload .223 ammo that cannot be matched by a factory.

But for general plinking, especially shooting as much as I do, there just isn't any economical justification for me to handload 9mm when I can buy it for $80-$90 a thousand.

Quoted: i bought a case yesterday out the door for 86.74 for 1000 rounds.

"How you gonna beat it?"  

and the Wolfe was closer to point of aim, interesting!

Great Post O_P!

Quoted: and the Wolfe was closer to point of aim, interesting!

An interesting point.

The pistol has adjustable sights.  It was sighted-in with the Wolf, as that's what I took to Thunder Ranch.

But it is interesting that different brands of ammo will shoot to slightly different points of impact.  Of course, this could easily be adjusted for with the adjustable sights, so it really is not a negative problem.

But it is interesting.

I too shoot blazer from Academy. I recently bought a lot of 124 grain usgi issue federal from ammoman. It shoots well and is hotter, but you can't beat that 3.86 price for 50 blazers.

Quoted: I too shoot blazer from Academy. I recently bought a lot of 124 grain usgi issue federal from ammoman. It shoots well and is hotter, but you can't beat that 3.86 price for 50 blazers.

Yep, Blazer is not as "hot" as some others.

But it is $3.86 a box.