The Best Range Ammo Quest: Part 4
Five more loads have been added including AMMO, Inc., Freedom Munitions, New Republic, TulAmmo, and Winchester USA Ready to our test looking for the best bang for your buck in 115gr 9mm range ammunition. This last batch of loads brings us to a total of 11 tested so far and also provided some upsets to the leader board. There are also some close-seconds which, when combined with other factors, may make for a best overall depending on your needs.
Not all 115gr 9mm range ammunition is created equally. We've seen muzzle energy range from 297 to 374 foot pounds and standard deviations range by almost a factor of five. Considering the range of lowest price found is only seven cents, it's likely worth the money to get better ammunition for your needs.
If there's a load you'd like included please let us know as a comment.
The Raw Data (listed in no particular order):
What Is the best bang for your buck depends largely on your goals. As you see the chart below keep the following in mind:
More muzzle energy will have more felt recoil, but also be able to slog through a dirty gun or possibly help compensate for poor form (limp wristing).
Less muzzle energy will have less felt recoil, but going too light may not cycle your gun depending on it's basic design, your shooting form, and any added weight (red dots, etc).
Consistency (lower extreme spread and standard deviation numbers) is key if you seek the maximum in accuracy.
Forget having a favorite vendor. As you'll see below the best price for any particular load varies from shop to shop with some loads having up to a $0.27 per-round range in pricing!
Winners So Far:
Lowest Price Per Round: Blazer Aluminum
Softest Shooting: Sterling Brass
Most Consistent: Freedom Munitions RN
Most Energy: TulAmmo
Prices (as of date researched), and Sources:
AMMO, Inc. TMC
$0.29/round at True Shot Gun Club
$0.30/round at Palmetto State Armory
$0.30/round at Sportsman's Guide
AMMO, Inc. Range Video
Freedom Munitions RN: Most Consistent
$0.24/round from Freedom Munitions
Freedom Munitions Range Video
New Republic
$0.24/round from Target Sports USA
New Republic Range Video
Winchester USA Ready
$0.22-0.24/round at Brownell's
$0.38/round at Global Ordnance
$0.38-0.58/round at Optics Planet
$0.43/round at Palmetto State Armory
Winchester USA Ready Range Video
TulAmmo: Most Muzzle Energy
$0.29/round at True Shot Gun Club
$0.31/round at Target Sports USA
TulAmmo Range Video
Blazer Brass
$0.25/round at Target Sports USA
$0.26/round at True Shot Gun Club
$0.26-0.44/round at Brownell's
$0.27-0.35/round at Sportman's Guide
$0.27-0.38/round at Palmetto State Armory
$0.41/round at Global Ordnance
As low as $0.22/round elsewhere on the web
Blazer Brass Ammunition Test Video
Blazer Aluminun: Lowest Cost Per Round
Blazer Aluminum has at least two different packaging setups. As far as we can tell they are the same product.
$0.22-0.24/round at Target Sports USA
$0.23/round at Global Ordnance
$0.23/round at True Shot Gun Club
As low as $0.24/round elsewhere on the web
$0.30/round at Sportsman's Guide
$0.33-0.35/round at Optics Planet
Blazer Aluminum Test Video
Winchester White Box:
$0.27/round at True Shot Gun Club
As low as $0.26/round elsewhere on the web
$0.30/round at Palmetto State Armory
$0.33/round at Sportsman's Guide
$0.34-0.78/round at Brownell's
$0.34/round at Global Ordnance
Sterling Brass: Softest Shooting
$0.27+/round at Global Ordnance
Sterling Ammunition Test Video
Fiocchi "9AP"
$0.26-0.38/round at Brownell's
$0.28/round at Sportsman's Guide
$0.29/round at Target Sports USA
$0.30/round at Palmetto State Armory
$0.37/round at Global Ordnance
Fiocchi "9AP" Test Video
PMC Bronze
$0.28/round at Palmetto State Armory
$0.28/round at Target Sports USA
$0.28-0.46/round at Sportsman's Guide
$0.29-0.50/round at Brownell's
$0.42/round at Global Ordnance
PMC Bronze Test Video
Disclaimers:
Prices vary wildly with time. Prices posted are as of the date this article was written. Check multiple site for shipping rates, sometimes an extra cent or two per round at another vendor saves you a lot in shipping.
Our testing is based on a small sample size. Ammunition is produced in mass quantities and quality can vary from lot to lot.
Testing was conducted using a Grand Power K100. Grand power pistols have exceptional barrel quality, and the K100's 4.25" barrel produces higher velocities than a shorter barrel will. Results will vary from pistol to pistol.