Federal Ammunition champion Aluminum 9mm luger

[melsauto]

Hello everybody i own a CZ 75B Omega i shot 50 rounds of Federal Ammunition champion Aluminum 9mm luger $10 per box of 50 with no hitch.I bought five more boxes for firing in the coming week for range use. Why do i read a lot of controversial statements about aluminum cartridges. I would like to know if any one had bad experience with this type of ammo.

[1SOW]

mel, 
Along with mine, "just SOME" guns may have a problem extracting the aluminum cases.  A long time back, My 75B had the problem--1 per mag or more would jam do to failure to extract--.  I put in an extra power extractor spring and the problem was fixed for another 100 (?) rds or so,  but I never bought aluminum cased ammo again for insurance.  I also started reloading my own, so I only use brass cases as aluminum isn't good for reloading.

I found the radius of the groove at the case base (where the extractor claw rides) had a slightly shallower radius than brass.  Aluminum is a little less malleable than brass, and doesn't like tight bends.   This is "what I supposed" caused my problem with MY 75B.  Others had zero problems with it,  and it shot well.

If it runs,  shoot it and smile.

[eastman]

The 9mm has been harder to find around here, so I now have 3 boxes and need to try it out soon.

On the other hand, the .45 ACP is plentiful at $15/box of 50. I have fired 5 or 6 boxes of it through my .45s and they love it.

[Wobbly]

Welcome aboard !!

^^ What he said. ^^ If it shoots good in your gun, then have at it. However, a goodly number of CZ owners love shooting their gun so much that they turn toward reloading as a way to enable their hobby. The first step toward the possibility of reloading is to collect the spent brass cases. This ammo precludes this possibility.

 

[melsauto]

Welcome aboard !!

^^ What he said. ^^ If it shoots good in your gun, then have at it. However, a goodly number of CZ owners love shooting their gun so much that they turn toward reloading as a way to enable their hobby. The first step toward the possibility of reloading is to collect the spent brass cases. This ammo precludes this possibility.

 

Thanks all i want to do is target practice and not reloading, this answers my question thanks.

[melsauto]

The 9mm has been harder to find around here, so I now have 3 boxes and need to try it out soon.

On the other hand, the .45 ACP is plentiful at $15/box of 50. I have fired 5 or 6 boxes of it through my .45s and they love it.

Thanks for your input just trying to pay less and shoot more.

[Wobbly]

Thanks all i want to do is target practice and not reloading, this answers my question thanks.

You're certainly welcome.

Thanks for your input just trying to pay less and shoot more.

And how do you think each of us got into reloading?  Your "pay less and shoot more" is exactly how !!

The difference is that you're banging away with a different brand of ammo each week (some good, some not so good) at $10 per box, while most of the people on the Ammo board are banging away with ammo that's been accuracy optimized for their gun at a cost of $5-$6.50 per box.

Just saying. 

[gdawgs56]

Thanks all i want to do is target practice and not reloading, this answers my question thanks.

You're certainly welcome.

Thanks for your input just trying to pay less and shoot more.

And how do you think each of us got into reloading?  Your "pay less and shoot more" is exactly how !!

The difference is that you're banging away with a different brand of ammo each week (some good, some not so good) at $10 per box, while most of the people on the Ammo board are banging away with ammo that's been accuracy optimized for their gun at a cost of $5-$6.50 per box.

Just saying. 

I agree entirely

[melsauto]

115 gr FMJ bullets (500): $60
Bullseye Powder (1 lb): $21
Small Pistol Primers (1,000): $31

With a 4.6 gr. load of Bullseye, this comes up to a per 50 cost of $8.24. Throw in either shipping from Midway or tax locally, and suddenly I'm above $9.00 per box. Which doesn't even factor in the cost of dies.

If I did reload 9mm, it would be simply to save money. But I can find brass cased 115 gr FMJ at a cost of $9.95/50. So I'm still wondering how this is economically a cost savings without buying components more in bulk (which I'm not interested in doing right now).

[gdawgs56]

I reload with polymer coated lead 124gr bullets which are $260/3600 bullets and with Federal primers and SR7625 (3.8gr) and it's just over 10c per shot.

This load is more accurate than any factory ammo I could find (other than some hollow points which were over a dollar per shot!) in my CZ's.

I've already payed off the grand that I spent on the reloading stuff by the savings in ammo.

[1SOW]

115 gr FMJ bullets (500): $60
Bullseye Powder (1 lb): $21
Small Pistol Primers (1,000): $31

With a 4.6 gr. load of Bullseye, this comes up to a per 50 cost of $8.24. Throw in either shipping from Midway or tax locally, and suddenly I'm above $9.00 per box. Which doesn't even factor in the cost of dies.

If I did reload 9mm, it would be simply to save money. But I can find brass cased 115 gr FMJ at a cost of $9.95/50. So I'm still wondering how this is economically a cost savings without buying components more in bulk (which I'm not interested in doing right now).

I'm not criticizing your ammo preferences,  just commenting on your component cost statements..

Midway is NOT normally a place to buy components.
Bullets:
115 gr FMJ high quality  bullets can be found easily at 9-10 cents each or less than $100/thousand "SHIPPED" to your door--also includes JHP.    The more you order generally lowers that price.
124gr bullets from the same approximate cost to a penny or two more each.
Primers can be purchased with some 'shopping for less than $30/thousand.
Powder prices don't necessarily reflect the "PER Cartridge" Costs.  Some very good powders can load a great range or competition load at 4.0-4.2 grains of powder.  1 pound is 7000 grs = 1700 - 1666 cartridges.

High quality 115gr  plated bullets can be ordered for a penny-three cents cheaper also shipped free to your door in lots of 2 thousand and even cheaper for larger quantities.  +No travel cost or tax for you.  As said above lead and coated lead bullets will lower these  costs quite a lot.
 
Keeping your brass and picking up what you can at many ranges can be totally free.  I've never bought a piece of 9mm  brass.

Like bullets,  ordering a larger quantity of HAZ-Mat  powders and primers incurs NO additional shipping charges + you likely will avoid paying any "State" taxes on these supplies.

Even at 9 cents each bullet,  the cost is $9.00/100 rds --say of 124gr JHP target bullets with loads tuned for top performance in your pistol (s).

Will you save money?   Not likely.  You will shoot twice as much with much better ammo for the same costs.

The price of the equipment needed to reload is based on how much you want to shoot.  With equipment appropriate for your shooting needs,  payback/break even point is always less than a year of shooting,  sometimes much less.

There is nothing wrong with your preferences  as long as decent cartridges are always available to buy.   MANY times lately and in the past,  that's just NOT the case.
Just saying. 
 

[melsauto]

I reload with polymer coated lead 124gr bullets which are $260/3600 bullets and with Federal primers and SR7625 (3.8gr) and it's just over 10c per shot.

This load is more accurate than any factory ammo I could find (other than some hollow points which were over a dollar per shot!) in my CZ's.

I've already payed off the grand that I spent on the reloading stuff by the savings in ammo.

Which reloading eqipment are you using and here doyoubuy the casings etc.

[melsauto]

115 gr FMJ bullets (500): $60
Bullseye Powder (1 lb): $21
Small Pistol Primers (1,000): $31

With a 4.6 gr. load of Bullseye, this comes up to a per 50 cost of $8.24. Throw in either shipping from Midway or tax locally, and suddenly I'm above $9.00 per box. Which doesn't even factor in the cost of dies.

If I did reload 9mm, it would be simply to save money. But I can find brass cased 115 gr FMJ at a cost of $9.95/50. So I'm still wondering how this is economically a cost savings without buying components more in bulk (which I'm not interested in doing right now).

I'm not criticizing your ammo preferences,  just commenting on your component cost statements..

Midway is NOT normally a place to buy components.
Bullets:
115 gr FMJ high quality  bullets can be found easily at 9-10 cents each or less than $100/thousand "SHIPPED" to your door--also includes JHP.    The more you order generally lowers that price.
124gr bullets from the same approximate cost to a penny or two more each.
Primers can be purchased with some 'shopping for less than $30/thousand.
Powder prices don't necessarily reflect the "PER Cartridge" Costs.  Some very good powders can load a great range or competition load at 4.0-4.2 grains of powder.  1 pound is 7000 grs = 1700 - 1666 cartridges.

High quality 115gr  plated bullets can be ordered for a penny-three cents cheaper also shipped free to your door in lots of 2 thousand and even cheaper for larger quantities.  +No travel cost or tax for you.  As said above lead and coated lead bullets will lower these  costs quite a lot.
 
Keeping your brass and picking up what you can at many ranges can be totally free.  I've never bought a piece of 9mm  brass.

Like bullets,  ordering a larger quantity of HAZ-Mat  powders and primers incurs NO additional shipping charges + you likely will avoid paying any "State" taxes on these supplies.

Even at 9 cents each bullet,  the cost is $9.00/100 rds --say of 124gr JHP target bullets with loads tuned for top performance in your pistol (s).

Will you save money?   Not likely.  You will shoot twice as much with much better ammo for the same costs.

The price of the equipment needed to reload is based on how much you want to shoot.  With equipment appropriate for your shooting needs,  payback/break even point is always less than a year of shooting,  sometimes much less.

There is nothing wrong with your preferences  as long as decent cartridges are always available to buy.   MANY times lately and in the past,  that's just NOT the case.
Just saying.

I appreciate your time and information i am 61 years old and like positive criticism, i work six days a week leave home at 7.15 am and return home at 7.15 pm, my only day off is sunday. I may do it in the future first i have to cut down my working hours .Can you give me an idea of what equipment i should buy mostly 9mm 124 grain , i would rather spend more and buy good equipment than buy cheap. I have my own business auto repair shop in Orlando Florida.

[gdawgs56]

I reload with polymer coated lead 124gr bullets which are $260/3600 bullets and with Federal primers and SR7625 (3.8gr) and it's just over 10c per shot.

This load is more accurate than any factory ammo I could find (other than some hollow points which were over a dollar per shot!) in my CZ's.

I've already payed off the grand that I spent on the reloading stuff by the savings in ammo.

Which reloading eqipment are you using and here doyoubuy the casings etc.

I used for a long time brass that I had shot before and picked up at the range or brass that was given to me. I've only ever purchased 2000 cases that were once fired for less than $60 shipped. I'll be able to reload these 10-15 times so at the minimum 20,000 rounds will come out of the $60 in brass. (less than half a cent per case)

I use a Dillon RL550B with Lee dies. A Dillon powder scale, cheapo digital calipers, Frankford arsenal tumbler, frank ars. bullet puller.

[IDescribe]

I just bought 4 boxes of this to shoot on someone's property where I was concerned about digging through tall grass for my brass.  My 75 Shadowline had one failure to extract about every other mag.  My HK VP-9 failed to extract every other shot.