As some of you may know, I am a reloader and rarely buy factory ammo, but last week I ran across a deal too good to pass up at the local hardware / gunshop here in N. Central Texas. A 250 rd. bulk pack of Speer 124 gr. +P Hollowpoints (Gold Dots). They are marked "Not for LE use; Not to be repackaged; practice ammunition". I paid $31.95 + tax for the box of 250, which is $6.39 / 50. They shot excellently and the only reason that I can find why they are not in Gold Dot packaging are some irregularities in some of the bullets which evidently Speer felt didn't make the grade.
I had just acquired my first CZ pistol, a P-01 which does indeed have a short chamber, so when my shooting partner ( who was good enough to make me a great deal on the P-01 ) informed me on this bulk pack special we measured some rounds and found the average OAL was around 1.122". We were going to the range that day and all of my handloaded ammo was unsuitable as loaded to 1.142" and I had gauged the chamber on the P-01 with Remington 115 & 124 gr JHP's and both bullets made contact with the rifling at an OAL of 1.127" (which I will load at 1.122" for .005" of freebore). The pistol had previously stovepiped a few times with the longer handloads.
When I fired the Speer "Practice Ammo" reliability was perfect and best groups ran 1.25". I otherwise had no ammo for the range that day and I felt if nothing else I would benefit from the nickel cases for reloading. Well it being Friday I guess luck was with me as the Speer ammo was an outstanding buy, and I would not hesitate to sort out some nicely finished bullets for carry loads ( which I have since done ). For those of you who don't reload and if you can find it, this is some very good ammo at a truly remarkable price.
Regards to all, K
