9mm Match Ammo

Podmonkey

Podmonkey

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I made a quick range trip earlier this week when the weather was especially nice, didn't snap any pics as it was a quick 30 minute session before going to work. On this particular trip I decided to rotate out some carry ammo, I shot whatever I had loaded up in all my mags on carry detail totaling 64 rounds of Federal 124gr +P HSTs. I also shot a further 60 rounds of Speer Lawman 124gr FMJs. I am always struck by how much tighter my groups with the HSTs are, typically about half the size of basic FMJ range fodder stuff. While the Lawman is a perfectly fine load I find myself wondering if there are FMJ match loads out there that are yet less expensive than the very pricey HST. A quick search came up with Atlanta Arms Ammo:

atlantaarms.com

Classic Match | 9mm | 124GR FMJ

Our Classic Match 9mm 124gr FMJ ammo provides unmatched accuracy and reliability. 50-round boxes and bulk 1,000-round cases for sale.
atlantaarms.com atlantaarms.com

The price is reasonable enough, not too much more than basic ammo IF the Atlanta Arms product actually is any better than basic range stuff.
Does anyone here have any experience with this ammo? Any more suggestions for more match grade 9mm? A small price premium to occasionally print some pretty little groups is acceptable to me.
 
FP1201

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There is a subtle art to finding what really works well in 9mm, and honestly in every other caliber as well...
Higher priced does not necessarily make it better ammo, but the cheap stuff won't be "Match Grade" either.
Only way to find out how well it works is to buy a box, burn through it and tally the results before moving to the next candidate.
When someone would buy a new .22 and ask "what's the best (most accurate) ammunition for this?" I would select several various boxes and tell them to shoot each box and keep the target, then when you're done, lay them out and see....that ammunition test also made them a better shooter and more competent with the gun.
 
Depick

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You could always invest in some equipment and load your own ammo.

If I can do it anyone can.
 
FP1201

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Depick said:
You could always invest in some equipment and load your own ammo.

If I can do it anyone can.
Click to expand...
There's a lot of debate in defensive handgun about using "Factory" v. Handloads...I say use your own reloads for training/practice and Factory for Carry.
Bullet quality has vastly improved over the last few decades, but there's still a lot of mass produced bullets that are meh.
Bullet weight, especially in stubby cartridges like 9mm, .40S&W, etc. seem to be more sensitive in their respective Pistols...Friend of mine has a Jericho (Israeli CZ75) that won't shoot anything but 147gr. but it's brutally accurate with them, which to me seems a little odd since 115gr. is the NATO Standard.
 
pshift

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Amen to Factory for Carry. There are a lot of legal eagles who will notice that should you be involved in a self-defense situation and will want to know how you reload, to what pressures, powder used, etc. Less court room drama when you use the factory stuff to carry.
 
Podmonkey

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Well, I'm not talking about carry ammo. I have that sorted.
I'm talking about range ammo that shoots as well as my carry ammo but at a cheaper price.
I have heard a lot of good things about Atlanta Arms, when it comes tine fir an ammo purchase I will give their stuff a go.
 
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Podmonkey said:
Well, I'm not talking about carry ammo. I have that sorted.
I'm talking about range ammo that shoots as well as my carry ammo but at a cheaper price.
I have heard a lot of good things about Atlanta Arms, when it comes tine fir an ammo purchase I will give their stuff a go.
Click to expand...
Order a case and write an an after action report for us!
 
Podmonkey

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So I did just that and ordered a 400 round lot of the stuff and I shot 60 rounds of it today. I benchmark against my HST carry load:

20250817_123516.jpg 20250817_132857.jpg

Seems I achieved my goal of finding a lower cost FMJ load that equaled tge accuracy of my carry load.
This ammo wasn't all that expensive either at about .45 a round.
 
Podmonkey

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20250913_113550.jpg
This is what their .45 ACP can do. This is excellent ammo, very accurate. I highly recommend it for anyone that wants a little better than basic blaster ammo.
 
Z

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Under stress,or self protection events, due to many human factors, inaccurate ammo may be just as effective as match ammo, in 9mm...........when both perp and shooter are moving........

I rarely engage targets on the run 25- 40 yards away as I am attempting to catch my breath and stand solidly.................
 
Podmonkey

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This exercise was entirely about making the smallest groups for the best price possible. I have my defensive and training ammo locked down but I like to shoot guns just for fun too y'know.
 
FP1201

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Podmonkey said:
This exercise was entirely about making the smallest groups for the best price possible. I have my defensive and training ammo locked down but I like to shoot guns just for fun too y'know.
Click to expand...
Typically I load/reload most all my ammunition, but when there's a quality product at a good price, out comes the Card, and having a "Seller of Ammunition" Licenses from the State gets it to MY Door.
 
Podmonkey

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FP1201 said:
Typically I load/reload most all my ammunition, but when there's a quality product at a good price, out comes the Card, and having a "Seller of Ammunition" Licenses from the State gets it to MY Door.
Click to expand...
The Atlanta Arms seems like legitimately good stuff. The "select" line is thier bulk budget stuff but has done well for me.
The .45 especially, if I'm blowing the center bull out at 15yds how much more accuracy can you use?
 
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