Black Hills red box vs. blue box?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Black Hills red box vs. blue box?

Posted: 1/31/2006 8:36:02 PM EDT

I shoot Black Hills .223 68gr BTHP. The new red box stuff is $7 more per 50 rounds than the blue box remanufactured stuff. The only diff. I can see is that the red box uses new brass instead of once fired, and has some sort of sealer on the primers? I would like to stock up on ammo, and may store it for many years. Do I need to shell out the extra cash for the red box (sealed primer) stuff for long term storage? or will the blue box stuff age just as well?

Posted: 1/31/2006 10:00:50 PM EDT

[#1]

I would feel fine stashing the blue box. The primer sealer is more for waterproofing, so as long as you aren't storing it in a lake, you should be fine. It should last for decades in properly sealed ammo cans.

Posted: 2/1/2006 5:41:14 AM EDT

[#2]

I keep a good supply of the blue box 55gr. FMJ around because it is really accurate in my rifles, and it is cheap and easy to find. I do not think there is a real need for the sealed primers unless you plan on getting your ammo real wet.

Posted: 2/1/2006 6:03:44 AM EDT

[#3]

Blue box is great ammo. In fact I only have one or two boxes of red box.

I keep my ammo in those waterproof ammo cans anyway so the sealer isn't a big selling point for me.

Posted: 2/1/2006 7:21:38 AM EDT

[#4]

Is it possible to reliably seal the primers yourself? Or would it not make a difference if the bullets are not also sealed?

Posted: 2/1/2006 1:19:56 PM EDT

[#5]

I found Blue Box to me more accurate in my guns. I wouldnt sweat it unless you plan on storing it in a bad environment.

Posted: 2/1/2006 2:23:29 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I keep a good supply of the blue box 55gr. FMJ around because it is really accurate in my rifles, and it is cheap and easy to find. I do not think there is a real need for the sealed primers unless you plan on getting your ammo real wet.

Cheap???
Huh, I just checked and their prices have gone up $40, $50, $60 a case. WTF? Almost $300 for a 1000 rounds for BHBB.

Posted: 2/1/2006 2:27:13 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Is it possible to reliably seal the primers yourself? Or would it not make a difference if the bullets are not also sealed?

It is absolutely NOT possible to RELIABLY seal primers on assembled ammo. Military ammo is sealed INSIDE the Primer pocket and INSIDE the Case neck.

There are people who will use nail polish and other nonsense to try to seal ammo. They are wasting their time.

Posted: 2/1/2006 2:48:34 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I keep a good supply of the blue box 55gr. FMJ around because it is really accurate in my rifles, and it is cheap and easy to find. I do not think there is a real need for the sealed primers unless you plan on getting your ammo real wet.

Cheap???
Huh, I just checked and their prices have gone up $40, $50, $60 a case. WTF? Almost $300 for a 1000 rounds for BHBB.

Odd. I can get it locally here for less than $210/case.

Posted: 2/1/2006 2:48:43 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Cheap???
Huh, I just checked and their prices have gone up $40, $50, $60 a case. WTF? Almost $300 for a 1000 rounds for BHBB.

I was not aware there was a price increase, I just picked up a case of 55gr. FMJ locally this past weekend for about $220.

Posted: 2/1/2006 5:24:06 PM EDT

[#10]

Cabela's $279.96 $19.75 $299.71 OUT OF STOCK
Cabela'sFulton Armory 234.95 00.00 234.95
Fulton ArmoryMidway USA 264.99 15.75 280.74
Midway USANorthwest Loading 239.98 26.65 266.63

look at the ammo price list, it says up, up, and up

Posted: 2/1/2006 9:13:35 PM EDT

[#11]

I just buy mine at the local Sportman's Warehouse. $10.99/box of 50 + 5% discount in case lots.

Posted: 2/3/2006 5:15:40 PM EDT

[#12]

Stoped by Sportsmans last weekend, absolutely none (zip) of the BHBB 55 grain, and the little $10.99
signs were down as well, Ended up buying AE for $3.99 Box/20

Posted: 2/3/2006 5:37:24 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I just buy mine at the local Sportman's Warehouse. $10.99/box of 50 + 5% discount in case lots.

Sweet! I knew it was $10.99 at the SW here, but not about the case discount.

ETA - $222.80 out the door today

Posted: 2/4/2006 6:09:40 PM EDT

[#14]

I finally made my first trip to SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE today. I picked up one box of the Black Hills BLUE box 55 gr FMJ.

Apparently Black hill does not trim the cases back to spec.

I don't know much about black hills, but I would guess that they are using once fired brass from the military. Obviously they remove the crimp and polish the cases unmercifully. But Almost every case in my box was longer than spec. (which is why I don't reload Military Brass)

It's hard to say what kind of crimp is on the ammo.

Not really "factory", but definitely not a clean "taper" crimp.

Anyone chrono blue box? Since it's labeled .223 I'm guessing it won't be too hot.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Black Hills red box vs. blue box?

AR-15 » Ammunition

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