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Ammunition

Buffalo Bore’s .45 Auto Rim

Buffalo Bore is now manufacturing the .45 Auto Rim in four loadings: two standard pressure and two “+P”.

buffalo_bore_autorimIn standard pressure, you can get a 200 gr JHP at a little over 1000 fps (444+ ft-lb) out of a 4″ S&W revolver.  The 255 gr hard cast FP is clocking almost 870 fps (410+ ft-lb) out of the same 4″ Smith.

With the “+P” designation, the 200 JHP is sizzling at almost 1200 fps (635 ft-lb) out of the 4″ S&W.  The hard cast 255 gr FP is moving at more than 1030 fps (570+ ft-lb).  These are amazing numbers.  It should be noted that there is not a SAAMI specification for “+P” in the .45 Auto Rim.  Consequently, use only a modern firearm with the +P ammunition.  Buffalo Bore does state that the +P loads are safe to use in all post-WWII revolvers chambered for the .45 ACP.

Categories
Ammunition Rifles

Remington 597 Rifles and .17 HMR Ammunition Recall

remington_logoRemington Arms Co. has announced a major rifle recall, and a serious warning on .17 HMR ammunition.  Remington is immediately recalling all of the Model 597 rifles chambered for the .17 HMR.  Remington is not offering any repairs, rather they are issuing coupons of $200-250 for a replacement Remington rifle and refunding the shipping costs of sending the rifle back.

Additionally, Remington announced that their .17 HMR ammunition is not to be used in semi-auto firearms.  Stating that the use of Remington .17 HMR ammunition in a semi-auto firearm “…could result in property damage or serious personal injury.”  People wanting to return the ammo will be issued $10 coupons for each box of 50 they return.

Categories
Ammunition

Ammo Prices Are Getting Crazy

327_federal_magnum_02It’s no secret that ammunition prices have been on the rise for some time now.  But ammo prices have skyrocketed since last November, when Americans started buying up everything in the supply chain.  Walk into your local WalMart and you are not likely to find any pistol or .223 ammunition.  Traditional hunting calibers, such as .270 and .30-06, are pretty scarce too.

With demand up and supply gone, some stores are starting to price ammunition at levels that I would have considered completely crazy just a year ago.

One major catalog retailer sent out a flyer recently.  All of the ammunition was very expensive (compared to what I am used to paying), but two things caught my eye as being really outrageous.

The first was the Wolf Military Classic 7.62×39 124 gr hp.  After seeing what was reported on this load in gellatin over at StoppingPower.net, I picked this cartridge to load into my own Eastern-Bloc surplus guns.  Less than a year ago, I was able to pick up 1,000 rounds of this ammo for $189.  If I recall correctly, that price even included shipping.  In the current catalog, try $499.97 per 1,000!

Categories
Ammunition

Hornady Dangerous Game Series Ammunition

Hornady's new 404 Jeffery loading.
Hornady’s new 404 Jeffery loading.

One of the things Hornady is known for is the manufacture of its Dangerous Game Series ammunition: serious cartridges for hunting the largest game on Earth.  These cartridges are loaded for the traditional big guns used to hunt elephant, hippopotamus and other large African game.

Expanding the line in 2009, Hornady has added four new calibers to the Dangerous Game lineup: 404 Jeffery, 416 Ruger, 470 Nitro Express, and the 500 Nitro Express.

All of the new offerings are loaded with both the DGS and DGX bullets.

Categories
Ammunition

The Ongoing Ammunition Shortage

399768_5485-01In the past year, I have run ammunition price updates every few months.  I can’t do that anymore.  None of the cartridges I had followed are in stock, or expected to be in stock, in the near future.  In fact, a lot of ammo of all types is sold out at most locations.

The WalMart stores near me seemingly have people lined up at the ammo counter every morning, waiting to buy ammunition that is on the daily truck delivery.  Online vendors can’t keep ammo in stock, either.

Unable to find any .223/5.56 ammunition locally for a head-to-head test of AR-15 magazines later this month, I contacted some of the ammunition manufacturers to ask for their assistance in procuring some.  The responses I received were almost exclusively apologetic, as very few manufacturers have any .223, and those that do are shipping them to fulfill backlogged contracts.

I traded e-mails with Ed Grasso, the majority owner of Sellier & Bellot, USA.  Sellier & Bellot, USA is the exclusive importer of Sellier & Bellot (S&B) ammunition.