Author Topic: Which factory ammo ??? (Read 6558 times)

krod47nw · « **on:** June 03, 2009, 05:52:33 AM »

While checking the ammo rack at my local Walmart the other day I got to wondering. Why not compile a list of the factory ammo the seems to shoot best in most handis? I know all are different to an extent, but there are some factory rounds that seem to stand out. For example the Win white box 223s. Let me know what you guys have found shoots the best in most handis of a particular chambering. Let me know on any and all chamberings.

Kevin

Default · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2009, 06:05:17 AM »

I'll help ya on this one ,

223 22" 1 in 9 twist bull barrel loved the Hornady 75 gr TAP.

243 20" ultra light youth rifle likes the Federal cheapy blue grey box 100 gr and the Winchester power point 100 gr offerings.

44 mag 22" (marlin barrel) likes the Winchester whitebox 240gr jsp very well , but in all fairness i reload for it so the WWB is the only factory ammo i have tried in it.

357 mag 22" ejector seem to do pretty good with Rem. 158 and 140 , as well as Winchester 158 .. Got rid of it before i got the chance to try Hornadys LE ammo in it.

Default

krod47nw · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2009, 06:41:53 AM »

that's what I'm looking for. Please keep them coming.

Kevin

Sourdough · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:00:36 AM »

My .223 Ultra likes ULTRAMAX remanufactured ammo, with 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. That is the only factory ammo I buy. Everything else I reload for the Handi's.

myarmor · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:56:49 AM »

I will second the 223 WWB 45gr JHP, my 1-12 twist loves them.
The 100gr Federal Power Shocks shot well in most 243 Handi's I have had, and I have had a few over the years.
The 2 44Mags I have owned I haven't shot much factory stuff, but the Magtech 200gr SCHP's were awesome.
I have owned 2 30-06's and several 270 Handi's both loved Federal Fusions.
There is just a few of the Handi's I have owned the most of and factory ammo they loved.

-Aaron

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2009, 09:56:28 AM »

+3 on the WWB 45gr JHP in the .223.

100gr Federal Power-Shoks and 95gr Fusion in the .243

Federal 115gr Nosler Partition and 117gr Hornady BTSP both shoot well in the 25-06.

325gr Hornady LE ammo and 300gr Win silver box in the 45-70. The discontinued PMC Silver +P 350gr shoot well to if you can find it.

I'll add more if I can remember them, it's been a long time since I shot factory ammo.

Tim

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2009, 10:07:43 AM »

My 22 mag likes the Remington 33 grain Ballistic tip.
It will shoot all of the 30-35 grain stuff well but likes the Win best of all and does not like the 40-50 grain stuff as much.

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2009, 11:21:19 AM »

All my .45-70 Handis shoot the Remington 405 grain factory load really well.

jenkst · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2009, 02:03:20 PM »

I believe Quickdtoo gave me this one about last october for a 7mm08. Remington 140 gr. Expresss core-lokt psp. Shoots good in my handi.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2009, 06:06:23 AM »

On another site (Bolt action Rifle) I asked a question about why when I changed scopes did my rifle change the ammo it liked to shoot?
and the answer was that the weight of the scope effected the harmonics of the barrel.
Do the handi rifle have the same effect?
Has anyone had a rifle with open sights then added a scope, then changed the scope to something bigger and heavier? That has changed the bullet weight the rifle likes?

petemi · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2009, 06:41:59 AM »

Where to start. My .308 Ruger enjoys 168 gr. Winchester ballistic tips. My Handis happily devour Hornady LE .45-70s, MagTech .38 LRN, American Eagle .357 158 gr. SJSP, 357 Max, 180 gr. SJHP Precision Cartridge., .30-30 Winchester 150 & 170 gr. silvertips, Federal 180 gr. .30-06, 140 gr 7mm-08 Rem Cor-lokt There's more, but I can't remember all of em.

Pete

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2009, 08:29:28 AM »

I didn't even read your post just the topic and my answer is any factory ammo you can find

Kurt

spikehorn · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:41:49 PM »

my 44mag loves the winchester white box 240 gr. Have only put 30 rounds though the 7mm-08 so haven't found the magic factory load yet, but sounds like i should try the remington core lokts from the above posts. the superlight 223 i had bought for my son wouldn't shoot minute of broad side of barn with anything i put in it, that gun went away!

Westbound · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2009, 10:30:38 AM »

My Buffalo Classic liked the 405 gr Remingtons.

I havn't even put a round through the 270, but I'll let you know if it likes any factory ammo after the range trip this weekend.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2009, 11:27:29 AM »

So far I have been able to find factory ammo that all of my Handys seem to like.

17HMR likes Hornaday 17gr Varmint Express.

17 Mach2 likes Hornaday 17gr Varmint Express.

204s like Hornaday 32gr VMAX and Hornaday Custom 45gr SPs.

22 Mag likes CCi Maxi-Mag with Speer TNT HPs.

22 Hornet likes Win 46gr HPs in the silver box.

22-250 likes Rem UMC 45gr JHPs in the yellow 40 round box.

223s like the ULTRAMAX reman with 52gr Sierra BTHPs.

The 225 Win has only one factory load and do pretty good.
I will reload for this one.

243 likes the old 100gr WIN POWER POINT PLUS. (discontinued)

25-06 haven't worked with it yet.

270 likes the old 130gr WIN POWER POINT PLUS. (discontinued)

280s haven't worked with them yet.

7mm-08 likes Rem 140gr Core-Lokts.

7x64 Brenneke likes Federal 160gr Nosler Partitions.

7x57mm likes Rem 140gr Core-Lokts.

30-30 likes Win 150gr POWER POINTs and Win 125gr HPs.

30-06 haven't worked with it yet.

308 haven't worked with it yet.

35 Whelen likes Rem 200gr Core-Lokts but I don't, to many FTFs, will reload for this one.

38-55 haven't worked with it yet.

357 Max likes Rem 180gr SPs.

445 Supermag working on a reload.

444 Marlin likes Rem 265gr SPs.

45 Colt Hand Loads only, cast 255gr semi wad cutters

45-70s all like Win 300gr HPs.

450 Marlin test fired only.

500 S&W likes Magtech 350gr Jacketed SPs.

LONGTOM

blind ear · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2009, 11:49:16 AM »

WWB 45 gr HP just about made me quit reloading 223. eddie

krod47nw · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2009, 02:47:36 PM »

I see some patterns developing here:

the 7mm-08 140gr core-lokts seem to be coming up alot.

the WWB 45gr JHP and ultramax reman have both been mentioned for the 223. Does the 1 in 12 prefer the WWB, and the 1 in 9 like the ultramax?

the rem 405gr for the 45-70 followed by the Hornady LE.

100gr federal power-shoks in the 243

What else have you guys got?

I'm interested myself in hearing about the 280, 25-06 and hornet.

donia · « **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2009, 03:00:38 PM »

my 270 likes Hornady 140gr btsp - tried the light mag, but the frontiers are better in mine
my 444 is a hole cutter with Hornady LeverEvolutions

krod47nw · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2009, 03:25:43 PM »

What else you guys have?

Kevin

krod47nw · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2009, 01:46:48 PM »

Anybody have any experience with factory ammo in the 280, 25-06, or 22 hornet. It seems the 140gr rem core-lokt is working well in the 7mm-08, and 7x57. Anybody had similar success in the 280?

Buckman · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:27:43 AM »

My 30 06 loves loves the Winchester 180 pp's

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2009, 12:41:08 PM »

LongTom, ya have the same problem I have, to many toys, not enough time.

I reload for all my guns, did have good luck with any of the Fed. Fusions that I tried, 243, 7mm-08 and 280. My 280 also liked the Win Silvertip 140gr. Can't find any of the WW 223 rounds at the Wally-Worlds in this area, have 3 store in a 20 mile radius.

DP

briannmilewis · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2009, 02:31:50 AM »

22 Hornet - Winchester 46gr HP

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2009, 03:09:16 AM »

My 7mm-08 shot Winchester Super X Power Points better than the Core- Lokts.

My 45-70 liked Winchesters also in the Super X jacketed hollow point 300 grain.

223 liked the 52 grain Ultramax.

270 likes the 130 grain Winchester Super X power points.
Do we see a trend here?

Using my .357 Mag, I like to use the Hornady 140 grain leverlution, but it likes anything I put through it.

Just picked up a 12 ga. Tracker ll barrel and I've already got a couple of boxes of...You guessed it, Winchester Super X BRI sabot slugs to try out when it gets here!

jw1044 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2009, 10:42:21 AM »

My 280 shoots under 3/4" with Federal Fusion 140 grn.

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 17, 2009, 11:26:57 AM »

I had good luck with the Federal Fusion when I had my .243, and it was about the only brand that shot consistently good groups in my rifle.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 14, 2009, 11:01:19 AM »

In my Handi's..These shoot good..all capable of M.O.A. groups or better

Winchester Supreme line

Ballistic Silver Tips..
243 95grain
25-06 115grain
270 130grain
30-06 168grain

Winchester Supreme
Accubonds
25-06 110grain
270 140grain
30-06 180grain

Winchester Supreme
Partitions
45-70 300grain

Winchester Power Points
243 100grain
270 130-150 grain
308 150 grain

Federal

Federal Power Shok
243 100grain softpoint
Federal Vital Shok
243 100 grain Partition
Federal Fusion
243 95grain

Federal Power Shok
25-06 115grain Speer Hotcore
Federal Vital Shok
25-06 Nosler 115grain Partiton

Federal PowerShok
270 130grain Softpoint

Federal Vital Shok
270 130grain Partiton
270 130grain Accubond
270 130grain Trophy Bonded Tip
270 140grain Accubond

Federal Fusion
270 130grain
270 150grain

Federal Vital Shok
280 140grain Throphy Bonded Tip

Federal Gold Match
308 168grain

Federal Fusion
30-06 150grain

Speer Nitrex
270 130 Grand Slam
280 140grain Grand Slam

Hornady Interlock
25-06 117grain
270 100grain

Hornady SST
270 130grain
270 140grain

Remington

Core-locs
280 140grain

Sirroco

30-06 150grain

I've found that that any factory loading of Noslers Accubonds/Ballistic Tips/Partitons..shoot almost the same so most sight settings can remain constant between them..

I've also found that if you are going to use any of the coated Winchester Silver Ballistic Tips..that you must
1)..Shoot from a squeeky clean barrel to start and completely coat the bore with atleast 1 box before trying to measure accuracy..
2)..Never shoot anything else when shooting these..because accuracy will go out the window very quickly
3)..Be prepared to spend many hours of cleaning after shooting these if you want anything else to shoot properly..Just shooting 1 box of these is enough to coat your barrel and if you shoot any normal copper bullets on top of it it will be foulded exteamly bad..However...these loadings have been exceedling accurate and I have had great luck in the field with them..

Will add more when I can unbox the rest of my notes..

Mac

mrgd · « **Reply #27 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:41:13 PM »

This is a helpful thread for us non-reloaders. Thanks to all contributors and the thread starter.

beadlescomb · « **Reply #28 on:** December 14, 2009, 03:52:42 PM »

it may just be me but i expierenced a problem with my encore pro hunter with a fluted bull barrel in 7mm mag it shot patterns not groups with almost every factory round i tried federal fusion winchester ballistic silver tip hornady etc so i finally got desperate and bought a box of corelokts and low and behold 1inch groups at 100 yards so now when i buy a new rifle i start with the remington federal or winchester cheapest ammo with in reason i can get just to see what it will do

dave29 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:08:07 PM »

For factory ammo........

.22-250 likes the 45 gr JHP WWB varmint stuff that comes 40 to a box.

.44 mag likes the 240 grain JSP WWB and the 225 grain Hornady LeverEvolution.

.270 likes the Remington 130gr Core-Lokt

Everything else I just reload for.