New or used gun? Glock?

 

New Walther pdp pro

Relatively new cmmg banshee (around 500rds)

Old Walther ppq

 

Blazer is pretty inexpensive, but it is also pretty dirty in my opinion. Winchester white box is OK, but can be inconsistent. I don't have any experience with Sellier & Belot.

If it is a new gun, you might want to use 124grain for break-in. If it is a Glock, you can pretty much use any ammo.

 

... I don't have any experience with Sellier & Belot...

I bought 10k rounds of S&B 115 gr before the covid madness price increase and I've had 0 ammo related failures with it from any gun I've used it in. I've shot about 3k - 4k rounds of that stuff. Hard to find it at a good price currently though.

 

Personally I stuff everything and anything cheap in my Glock for practice...but I also understand other platforms may be finicky with some brands of ammo.
I suggest you buy a "few" boxes of "cheap" ammo to function test, then if it functions well, buy in bulk

 

I saw some Winchester, blazer, sellier& belot.

Also, 115 vs 124gr - which one would you recommend?

Winchester white box ranges from poor to junk in the various calibers. I would not buy any.

Blazer is generally okay, but they have different levels as well. Aluminum case, brass case, Lawman, etc. S&B is typically good, as is Aguila. Both might be a little dirtier than some others. AAC and Magtech are two other budget brands that are decent quality. Federal Syntech is another to consider if you can find it.

If I were you, I'd go to the LGS, ask what the best deal is on a case, then buy a box and shoot it. Weigh that against ordering a case on-line, with shipping and such.

 

While not the least expensive, I prefer Win NATO 124. I replicates self-defense ammo in terms of recoil. I never found any ammo my Glocks would not run - super cheap to super expensive.

Winchester 9mm NATO Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 124 Grain FMJ - Target and Training Case (W9NATOVP)| SGAmmo.comSGAmmo.com

Boost your shooting proficiency with 1000 rounds of Winchester 9mm NATO Ammo in a Target and Training case (W9NATOVP). This bulk ammunition ensures consistent performance, making it an excellent choice for target practice and training. Elevate your range experience with Winchester quality ammo!

www.sgammo.com

 

^^^^^^^^ This....

 

The only one I remember seeing issues with was bulk UMC ammo, but that could have been a couple of flukes. I haven’t bought 9mm ammo in a long time, though, since I roll my own. Given all that, if someone that shoots a lot of it says that UMC is good stuff, I would defer to their opinion.

 

Personally, I have had some issues with Winchester White Box as well as Remington UMC. Both have been inconsistent and have had a number of mis-fires with WWB--striker hits primer and makes a nice dent and no fire. In 9mm I have several Glocks, a Beretta 92 and a really old S&W Model 39. All eat pretty much whatever I feed them for range ammo. the 39 can be a little finicky with some HP ammo. If you are just putting holes in paper, I recommend to my students get whatever is the cheapest range ammo that functions in YOUR gun. I buy bulk 1-2 cases at a time as I am saving my components for the next dry spell and bulk 9mm is not back to pre-covid prices, but I am finding it online for $11-$12 a box plus tax delivered when buying by the case.

 

Winchester NATO 124gr or Sellier & Bellot SB9B 124gr. I only shoot and recommend 124gr.

 

Those are the two I like best. However, I will add that Winchester makes two NATO advertised rounds, one given as 1140 fps and the 1200 fps with my opinion the faster is much better because it closely resembles the premium JHP self-defense ammo I normally carry. The S&B velocity is given at 1180 fps, if I remember correctly.

 

Winchester white box ranges from poor to junk in the various calibers. I would not buy any.

Winchester White box is the bargain stuff.

While not the least expensive, I prefer Win NATO 124.

This is good ammo, and I'd agree, it would be a preferred load to use.

Just did not want to create confusion, so I figured I'd quote both and try to differentiate. Winchester, at one point, packaged their cheap, bulk ammo in White Boxes. That is not a "name", but the dominant background color of the packaging. Rimfire, pistol, rifle and shotgun, usually with red and or black writing, white boxes is what I was referring to. Their gray, red and black packaging was used for their quality ammo.

In the last several years, some White box ammo, such as the 9mm Nato, has been quality ammo, packaged in white boxes.

I can see how my post may have been confusing to a newer shooter.

All ammo makers have some sort of budget and premium branding. The bigger ones have 3 or more lines. Quality of components and consistency vary in those lines. Hope the explanation helped the OP.

 

Any of the bilk ammo manuf by a major manuf should be as good as the next. I just avoid remanuf stuff. Several of my students are buying LAX/Freedom with varying degrees of reliability. One yesterday had a missing primer?

 

I go out of my way to find S&B 124gr. range / practice ammo, great ammo!

 

I use S&B and Blazer Brass. They both work well.

I go out of my way to find S&B 124gr. range / practice ammo, great ammo!

 

Same here. Whichever has the best sales price. I'd buy Magtech or Norma, too, but it's usually the same or better price for Blazer brass or S&B.

I'll buy either 115 or 124, whichever is cheaper. If prices are the same, I'll get 124 to better approximate my carry ammo.

I also buy a case at a time to maximize discounts and get free shipping.

 

Newbie here.

Looking to buy bulk ammo for the shooting range - cheap but solid. Any recs? What's considered: avoid, solid, Gucci?

I saw some Winchester, blazer, sellier& belot.

Also, 115 vs 124gr - which one would you recommend?

As far as bullet weight. I think 124 grain is the optimum weight for 9mm self defense ammo and your range amm should be the same bullet weight as your carry ammo. And by solid, do you mean FMJ or copper? I would avoid solid copper because they are light for caliber and the copper bullets with the phillips' head screwdriver tips are probably better designed to make Impressive "Wound Channels" in ballistics gel but don't yet have as good of a record in actual street shootings as the best controlled expansion JHP's like the Gold Dot, the HST, Winchester Rangerr-t and others.

 

Your Walther will be better with the 124 gr instead of the 115 gr for break in period 3-500 rds. ammoseek DOT com is what you want to browse

 

Most of it is pretty good. Winchester 115gr white box has been the exception lately. The Winchester nato and ‘service grade’ ammo has been good.

 

The Win NATO stuff is good for replicating +p JHP loads.

 

Whatever comes cheaper, just avoid Turkish ammo!

 

The Turk stuff is just fine in my Glocks

 

I will use anything that is American made. I avoid most cheap imports and steel cases.

 

I’m also fine with some foreign stuff like pmc or fiocchi.

 

I like UMC Remington for range ammo and have been using it for years. Gold Dots for carry.

 

Winchester white box ranges from poor to junk in the various calibers. I would not buy any.

I agree. I've had some very inconsistent "flyers" from WWB. By now I am pretty decent at "calling my shots" and know when I pull one. But with WWB, I've had some impacts that I KNOW I didn't pull that way. So I'm never buying WWB again.

While not the least expensive, I prefer Win NATO 124. I replicates self-defense ammo in terms of recoil.

I don't believe I've tried Win NATO 124, but the WWB turned me off of Winchester. But I have been using a lot of CCI Blazer Brass 124-gr with very good results. Right now, running about 26 cents per round at online retailers.

 

I will use anything that is American made. I avoid most cheap imports and steel cases.

So all you can buy in the future is Winchester...

 

I don't believe I've tried Win NATO 124, but the WWB turned me off of Winchester.

I hear you, but the Win Nato 124 is some of the stoutest, non-premium, non-defense ammo on the market. Never had a problem with it. But then, I shoot mostly reloads.

And I still miss my old school 30 caliber 180 grain Winchester Silvertips. The "first" of the tipped bullets.

 

I use Lawman, Magtech and Blazer with a fair degree of success. I am not a fan of Winchester white box, (imo) it is not as consistent and really dirty.
I try to keep most of my purchases to bulk orders, but impulse buy per box on occassion.
I do shoot 115 gr to practice on occasion when I am working out something, but move to 124 as soon as I think I have mastered "it" (like a new trigger or sight for example) since that is what I carry.
I really try to avoid the cheapest (including reman) because if the poi is not consistent I may not be able to determine the reason - consistent ammo removes at least one variable when I am practicing or working on a change.
(I do not want to start a **** show but) if the end price of Lawman is $.28/round and something else is $.26/round we are talking $2/100 rounds...for cleaner more consistent shooting. I can go through a lot of rounds but if I go through 500 rounds of 9mm and the cost is $10 more (for cleaner/consistent), I feel like I am getting a good deal on ammo.

Blazer is usually the least expensive stuff I will buy and I I keep it to brass case only - again just for consistency.

I have had good luck with Norma as well, price is not too bad and very consistent.

 

I use Lawman, Magtech and Blazer with a fair degree of success. I am not a fan of Winchester white box, (imo) it is not as consistent and really dirty.
I try to keep most of my purchases to bulk orders, but impulse buy per box on occassion.
I do shoot 115 gr to practice on occasion when I am working out something, but move to 124 as soon as I think I have mastered "it" (like a new trigger or sight for example) since that is what I carry.
I really try to avoid the cheapest (including reman) because if the poi is not consistent I may not be able to determine the reason - consistent ammo removes at least one variable when I am practicing or working on a change.
(I do not want to start a **** show but) if the end price of Lawman is $.28/round and something else is $.26/round we are talking $2/100 rounds...for cleaner more consistent shooting. I can go through a lot of rounds but if I go through 500 rounds of 9mm and the cost is $10 more (for cleaner/consistent), I feel like I am getting a good deal on ammo.

Blazer is usually the least expensive stuff I will buy and I I keep it to brass case only - again just for consistency.

I have had good luck with Norma as well, price is not too bad and very consistent.

I use carry ammo to “ work things out “ and when I make changes. Bring a few of several practice rounds and see what is closest to carry ammo point of aim

 

I have tried literally everything in 9mm the past 25+ years. My top range choices based on reliability, consistency, availability, and price.

Winchester NATO
Sellier & Bellot 115 or 124
Speer Lawman 115 or 124
Browning 115 or 124
Blazer 115 or 124
Fiocchi 115 or 124

I like these options because the 115's are generally well above 1150 fps (some are 1200) and the 124's are 1180 to 1200, etc. They also run well in my Ruger PCC MLOK with formidable velocity increases. There is so much weak crap 115 and 124 FMJ on the market these days with really low velocities, both domestic and imported. I get it; let's not force people to deal with legitimate 9mm recoil and wonder why their handgun doesn't function 100%.

Back in the day I originally stocked up on Winchester 115 WWB and still trying to shoot through all of it. Today, even if it's a deal I will walk away from it.

 

I have used all of the following for more than a decade with no problems whatsoever - Winchester White Box, Federal American Eagle, Speer Lawman (all 147 grain).