As of late I've found several good deals on Gunbroker.com for large caliber premium ammo. I picked up 18 boxes of 416 Remington for less than $60 per box, including shipping, loaded with A-frames, TSX, Barnes solids, TB Bear Claws, etc.

If you are a factory ammo shooter, need ammo, and like a deal, it's worth a look.

Will, 18 boxes? That's ought to last a while, huh?

what's factory ammo??

I'd be a little skeptical since you don't know what is has been exposed to.....maybe great for practice but I wouldn't trust it when it counts.
Bob

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
what's factory ammo??

Federal and Remington's off the shelf product.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
what's factory ammo??

but I agree!

I assume that a buff knows the difference between Federal ammo and the cartridge so lovingly loaded by someone in his garage or cellar? I love this snobbery of the reloaders who mistake getting groupings on a target range piece of paper -as being just how the bullet will perform on real flesh of an animal souped up by adrenaline and anger. It's still bullet placement.bullet placement,bullet placement. Learn to shoot standing up and not from a rest. Your bullet will do its job better - and Federal knows better how to make cartridges, I'm sure than the people buying reloading components out of Cabelas. (The buff is not going to notice that your bullet hit closer by 1/16th of an inch)

Amen Gerrypeters375, amen.

No elitist attitude here. I"m just cheap. Been reloading so long a quality pack of factory ammo is like a present on Christmas morning.


Dutch

quote:

Originally posted by Gerrypeters375:
and Federal knows better how to make cartridges, I'm sure than the people buying reloading components out of Cabelas.

I would not bet on that!!

And next time you buy some factory ammo with premium bullets, guess who was reloading those premium bullets long before the factories...the reloader

And if as you say Federal knows more about making the ammo so good then why do reloads shoot better.

If you use factory ammo you are at the mercy of what Federal and others throw your way.

I just like to reload. I work hard at getting the most consistent velocity as well as barrel harmonics for better accuracy. whether I'm at the range or in the field. enjoying ones hobbies it not elites it's just enjoying what you do and sharing with others.
BUT as for federal knowing better I have had wide variances in not only velocity but also grouping problem with there product. you don't have any quality control issues with your own reloads.
just my opinion and thoughts= opinions vary

Also of note...anyone who has read these forums for some time will know there have been frequent reports of problems with 416 Remington and extraction issues......and of course with factory ammo.

Well, I guess I'm real lucky or just plain charmed. I've NEVER shot a reload in my life and I've killed seven buff, two leopards, and tons of other stuff on five continents all deader than fried chicken. I'll press my luck with the same in 2011 and 2012 when I attempt to round out my big four. If I get trampled or mauled, LionHunter and GerryPeters375 can have the 50 or so boxes of 416, 458, 375, and 338 that I've accumulated. Come to think of it, I'll even be backed up by a PH that shoots off the shelf ammo. I guess we're both screwed.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Well, I guess I'm real lucky or just plain charmed. I've NEVER shot a reload in my life and I've killed seven buff, two leopards, and tons of other stuff on five continents all deader than fried chicken. I'll press my luck with the same in 2011 and 2012 when I attempt to round out my big four. If I get trampled or mauled, LionHunter and GerryPeters375 can have the 50 or so boxes of 416, 458, 375, and 338 that I've accumulated. Come to think of it, I'll even be backed up by a PH that shoots off the shelf ammo. I guess we're both screwed.

I enjoyed your response!

To each his own is my opinion as I clean off Diet Coke off my keyboard.

Sounds like a good deal. I found a deal on Federal 375 H&H with Nosler partitians at Gander Mountain one time. Congratulations, they will serve you well, I bet.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
what's factory ammo??

Butch, its what you shoot out of your double deuce rimfire at crats.

When I started loading 30 years ago, what I made, custom tailored to my rifle, was unquestionably a superior product. You didn't get off the shelf stuff with your choice of premium bullets. Now there's less reason to do it, unless you like it. Or, unless you engage in high volume shooting, especially with DG cartridges.
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't shoot my 470 nearly as much as I do if I had to pay Federal's prices! Better with Hornady, but still....
Also, I cast lead bullets to make lower velocity stuff for higher volume practice, without beating up me and my rifle. Can't get that off the shelf.
I don't really save money, but I shoot a lot more, and know my rifles much better this way.

I have no time for reloading. All I shoot is factory ammo. If you keep your eyes open, you can find some really good deals. Like Will, I bought a case of 416 RM for about $55 a box. I got a case a few years back for $28 a box! Granted it was 350 grain. Shot fine for practice. The old stuff shoots just fine. I have tested it.

The moral of the story is keep you eyes open gentlemen, you might find a bargain.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
Also of note...anyone who has read these forums for some time will know there have been frequent reports of problems with 416 Remington and extraction issues......and of course with factory ammo.

Mike,

You need to read here more often. If you did so you would know that the .416Rem overpressure comments are pure FUD. They have been explained and refuted many times by me and others. Here are the facts:

Once upon a time in Zim there was a test for qualifying as a PH. ONE OF THE APPLICANTS HAD A MIXED LOT OF .416REM FOR HIS RIFLE, THE DATE OF MFG AND THE STORAGE OF WHICH WAS VERY QUESTIONABLE (think old and subject to widely varied temperature changes). DURING THE TEST HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WHICH WERE ATTRIBUTED TO THE AMMO.

One of the reviewers of the test, a well known African hand who posts here frequently, wrote an article about the test for that year. Included was a comment about overpressure in the .416Rem. Thus was started the "story". It was shortly after de-bugged and even the author now admits there were extenuating circumstances to the incident and that he has never seen similar in any .416Rem.

Bottom line is that there is not a single thing wrong with the .416Rem shooting factory loads, period.

So, please, stop spreading FUD. There are too many knowledgeable folks on AR to get away with it.

That maybe well correct but there have been penty of instances of over pressure factory.

The late Allen Day, who was a staunch defender of the 416 Remington and pressure stories, said he had some Remington 375 ammo with over pressure.

But the bottom line is the reloader who knows what he is doing can always have better ammo. He can also be far more consistent than different lots of factory ammo. If you like he is more in charge of the process and hence result.

Come on Mike, get off your soap box. Are you suggesting there has never been a case of over pressure from a hand loaded round? You know better and so does everyone on this thread.

If you like to reload, have at it. Just don't try to convince those of us who choose not to handload, but rather shoot premium factory loads, that yours is the only way to hunt. BTW, the majority of African PHs choose to shoot factory loads. Just ask 'em.

Have a Foster's, Mate, and cool down.

Mike

It was the factory ammo blokes that started this

There has been more than just over pressure with some reloads.

But one of the other posters on the thread is like many factory ammo only users in having an opinion that reloaded ammo is inferior.

quote:

I've NEVER shot a reload in my life

The difference is the keen guns and ammo reloader has shot factory ammo an in a greater variety than the factory ammo only user.

But no one is suggesting you can't have great success with factor ammo. You can also have great success with an "out of the box Model 70" but that does make it the equal of a D'Arcy Echols done Model 70.

On a big hunt, I would like to say that I handload rather than reload. I like to start with all new components including brass. I realize that is not always easy with old vintage cartridges. If brass is inexpensive I would just as soon start from scratch. The factory fodder is very good these days. I just have 100% confidence in my own work and enjoy the extra effort that is put into it.
Just part of my hunting preparation.

EZ

larryshores: +1 ! By the way, just because it's cheap and you got a damn good deal doesn't mean that there's something inherently wrong with it. I recall buying a couple of thousand dollars worth of ammo from Sportsman's warehouse when they were closing their two stores here in Las Vegas a couple of years ago because it was rock bottom cheap.

Just my view, there are some of us that cannot due to legislation get our hands on anything but factory loads.

accurate ammo with good quality performance bullets are almost too expensive for my taste now...sigh

you guys in the states are darn lucky you can buy ammo and rifles everywhere over the counter.

I got three boxes of 375 h&h: TSXs,DSS and interbonds for 100$ shipped. The TSXs would cost me 83$ plus gas by themselves. There can be very good deals on these websites.

some people have more money than brains.
not that theres anything wrong with that.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
BTW, the majority of African PHs choose to shoot factory loads. Just ask 'em.

Perhaps we should go to I only shoot factory ammo.com to do so?

Not about to put words in butchloc's mouth, but Saeed started this site 12 years ago and decided to name it ACCURATE RELOADING.COM. Folks who handload their own ammo come here in droves. Those like you, Mr. lionhunter, are the exception rather than the rule.

Personally, I follow the lead of Saeed, and craft my own 'cheap ammo - worth mentioning.' Although I do not yet have the capability to manufacture my own mono-metal bullets like he does.

some time I really like the banter on here other times I just read it and think to myself. There are two things in this world you can not fix one is a closed mind the other is stupid.

I started reloading 30 years agoe to counter some poor performance I found in factory ammo and to save money. Recently I've been swamped with work and don't choose to spend my limited spare time reloading since factory ammo is better now. Why either position would be a subject for controversy is a mystery to me.

Mikelravy
++++

To recap, this thread was about getting a good deal on some premium ammo.

Thanks I'm enough of a Scot to appreciate a bargain.

safari-lawyer: +1 Seems that went right over their heads!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
safari-lawyer: +1 Seems that went right over their heads!

But factory ammo user changed it

quote:

I assume that a buff knows the difference between Federal ammo and the cartridge so lovingly loaded by someone in his garage or cellar? I love this snobbery of the reloaders who mistake getting groupings on a target range piece of paper -as being just how the bullet will perform on real flesh of an animal souped up by adrenaline and anger. It's still bullet placement.bullet placement,bullet placement. Learn to shoot standing up and not from a rest. Your bullet will do its job better - and Federal knows better how to make cartridges, I'm sure than the people buying reloading components out of Cabelas. (The buff is not going to notice that your bullet hit closer by 1/16th of an inch)

Followed by

quote:

Amen Gerrypeters375, amen.

Will J. Parks, III

At least real premium ammo is available today.

1960-1980; We had Winchester silvertip and power point offerings; Remington PSP, corelokt and bronze point.
Weatherby offered some of their ammo with NPT's
Not sure when Federal came on the scene but initially they were a bargain offering.
None shot to the advertise specifications with regard to velocity; typically 100-200 FPS less than advertised.
In those days, good luck finding the vintage offerings we have today.
The good ole' days is the reason I began handloading back in the late 60's.

EZ

Geez, safari-lawyer ( now aka "factory ammo user"), you ought to know better than that! LOL! Yep, it still went over most of their heads! Oh, and by the way, some people have money AND brains! And that's got to be the perfect combination! LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by Gerrypeters375:
I assume that a buff knows the difference between Federal ammo and the cartridge so lovingly loaded by someone in his garage or cellar? I love this snobbery of the reloaders who mistake getting groupings on a target range piece of paper -as being just how the bullet will perform on real flesh of an animal souped up by adrenaline and anger. It's still bullet placement.bullet placement,bullet placement. Learn to shoot standing up and not from a rest. Your bullet will do its job better - and Federal knows better how to make cartridges, I'm sure than the people buying reloading components out of Cabelas. (The buff is not going to notice that your bullet hit closer by 1/16th of an inch)

Maybe not!! But my wallet notices the difference especially for .416 Rigby up here when you can find it.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerrypeters375:
I assume that a buff knows the difference between Federal ammo and the cartridge so lovingly loaded by someone in his garage or cellar? I love this snobbery of the reloaders who mistake getting groupings on a target range piece of paper -as being just how the bullet will perform on real flesh of an animal souped up by adrenaline and anger. It's still bullet placement.bullet placement,bullet placement. Learn to shoot standing up and not from a rest. Your bullet will do its job better - and Federal knows better how to make cartridges, I'm sure than the people buying reloading components out of Cabelas. (The buff is not going to notice that your bullet hit closer by 1/16th of an inch)

I was not trying to be a snob, the reason I found it so funny is the fact that factory on sale, even at a large discount is still several times more expensive than handloaded ammo.
I do shoot my own handloads and feel they are every bit as good or better than factory loaded ammo. However the big attraction is cost. I can usually shoot 3 to 5 times more for the same $ by loading my own.