Question for you, Premium Ammunition...

I load almost all my ammo except some for my carry handguns. I load what I consider to be "premium" ammo for specific purposes with specific components suitable for the applications. The main consideration is the bullets. I have loads for 223, 243, 7/08, 308, 30/06, and 338 WM that use bullets designed for killing animals quickly. I do not use these loads for general shooting at the range because of the cost of the bullets. I take greater care assembling these rounds so that I am very confident they will perform as desired. If I had to use factory ammo, the type of bullet would be the deciding factor in my purchase.

I have shared a campfire several times with an elk guide in Colorado who has seen thousands of elk killed during his career. He had very definite ideas about which bullets killed well and which were not as good. Some of the real whizbang super bullets did not rank very high in his opinion. High price did not guarantee a bullet that would perform well on elk. I do not remember all the details but do remember that he was not displeased that I was shooting Barnes out of my 338 WM.
 
One must remember that factory ammo must be assembled and made safe for all modern firearms. Barrels have different actions, twists, lengths just to nave a few of the variables. Factory ammo has to function in all of these rifles.

Handloaders can assemble ammo that can outperform the best factory ammo there is. Barrels have different harmonics from barrel to barrel. The handloader can, with time and money, find the bullet powder case and primer combination that works best in that particular gun.

I myself stumbled on a favorite load for a AR15 that I have. Out of a 5 shot group I can cover 4 of the shots with a postage stamp. The group was shot on a 100 yard range.
 
I load all my own centerfire rifle annd pistol ammo. I load pistol ammo where I get the best grouping, most reliable performance in the firearms., and some specialized such as the quietest 300aac that will still cycle all my actions or 45lc that is gentle enough for my kid to shoot but still accurate. To me, these all qualify as “premium “ cartridges for these reason. With that said, I don’t reload rimfire so I do purchase ammo for those. I shoot groups at 50,100, and 200 yards and whatever is the most consistent in accuracy is what I choose. The results are often surprising. 22mag gave me the best performance from Hornady polymer tip and it’s far from the most expensive at $16 a box. This one round will fill all my roles for 22 mag. In 22LR I chose 3 different ones. SK was best overall but pricey so I use that for competing. Winchester Surpressed black box is next and it’s super cheap for “premium “ at $12 a box of 100. The third was for hunting/expanding on tissue (as first 2 are just target ammo) so its distance performance wasn’t as important. The new CCI uppercut will likely fill this 3rd position when I can get enough of it to stock but for now Winchester Subsonic red box is what I have.
 
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Premium: Boutique commercial self defense loads, hunting rifle and shotgun ammo
Standard: Commercial practice ammo, blazer brass, S&B, Remington, Federal
Budget: Wolf, Tula, Blazer aluminum ect.
 
I think of premium ammunition differently depending on the application.

In handgun ammo, I'm expecting a higher quality slug, plus extra care with the rest of the cartridge to ideally make it less likely to be a dud.

For target shooting, I'm expecting an extra degree of concentricity and exactitude. I assume that the powder charges are much more similar to one another than in standard ammo, for example.

In hunting ammunition, I assume that there is a bullet of some special construction that is more expensive than a standard cup and core projectile.
 
Premium is high end self defense. For me that's Underwood with Lehigh bullets. For rifle, pretty much match grade. I only buy that to stack, don't shoot it except when I'm starting a new load that uses that same bullet so I can get a baseline. As everyone else has said, I load my own and either load for precision, all out power, or training/plinking. For plinking, I just load with range pickup brass, cheap bullets, and a middle of the road powder charge. Power speaks for itself. Precision is a quality primer, a top tier powder like Varget and a match bullet like Hornady ELD-M or Sierra S/TMK.
 
Thanks and I love the feedback.

Let me open the discussion a bit..

How does shotgun ammunition fit this topic? Is flight control premium?
 
JBoyette said:
Thanks and I love the feedback.

Let me open the discussion a bit..

How does shotgun ammunition fit this topic? Is flight control premium?
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I've got a bunch of flight control (federal le) stuff set back, but I've never actually shot it. I bought it because internet lore said it was the thing to have. I consider it premium based on marketing only as I have zero experience with it.

To the other question...I've got premium defensive ammo for pistol (gold dot, RA9T Winchester, HST Federal and Lehigh). I've got Gold Medal Match, Black Hills, and Gold Dot rifle ammo. .22 has Eley ammo that costs a fortune and is more consistent.
 
JBoyette said:
Thanks and I love the feedback.

Let me open the discussion a bit..

How does shotgun ammunition fit this topic? Is flight control premium?
Click to expand...
Shotguns are different animals altogether. The concern is not about accuracy but rather about patterns. I do not use shotguns much these days but have used them extensively for waterfowl, upland birds, and deer. A nonpremium load that patterns well is better than a premium load that does not. High velocity may be a blessing or a curse when it comes to pattern uniformity. My experience has been that buckshot is particularly finicky. Getting the best ammo to shoot out of the best choke can be a chore when you consider all the different chokes, gauges, pellet sizes, shell lengths, and a few other things. The best performer may not be one of the premium loads.

I have less experience with turkey loads but suspect that the premium ammo may be worth the extra cost. I suppose I need to do some patterning to find if this is true. I do know there are some interesting pellet shapes being used that may be quite worthwhile.
 
JBoyette said:
What elements construct "a premium"?
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Depends on the consumer…

If you’re asking me, I’ll define “premium” based on performance, reliability and consistency, but I will guarantee you there are consumers who will think “premium”, based solely on how the ammuntion is presented/packaged…here’s an example and I will add although it’s hypothetical, I also believe it to be true:

You can manufacture ammunition using the best components/equipment available, have strict QC, put it in plain cardboard packaging and price it at say, $30.

You can manufacture ammunition using ordinary components not considered “top tier”, put it in a clear, plastic box and/or use specific graphics on the packaging, price it the same as the ammo with the best components and folks will pick it over the top shelf ammo based on visual appeal alone…if it “looks” like premium ammo, they’ll assume it’s premium ammo.
 
JBoyette said:
Thanks and I love the feedback.

Let me open the discussion a bit..

How does shotgun ammunition fit this topic? Is flight control premium?
Click to expand...

I’d rank Federal FC as “premium” shotgun ammo, but without getting off into the weeds too much, I’d prefer to use something else for HD.

I’ve shot a good bit of the FC-2 3/4-00 buck. It is reliable, consistent and there’s no doubt it performs well. My issue is it performs too well, with regard to patterning….shoots a bit too tight for my liking. I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it’s been my experience that at the distances I’ve tested it (based upon the internal measurements inside my home), it patterns so tight, I may as well just use slugs. We’ve all heard the mythical “hallway width” spread, “aint gotta aim” or other BS. I’m not expecting a huge pattern nor would I want it, but I do prefer to have a bit more spread in the pattern than I have obtained using FC loads.

I tried some Estate 2 3/4 - 00 and the typical spread I’ve gotten with it is right about what I’m looking for:

Estate 2 3/4” 00. 12 gauge Mossberg 500, 18.5”, Cyl bore. 40 feet. 2 rounds. Target has a diameter of 5.5”.

IMG_5143.jpeg


Now, for the most part, Estate isn’t considered “premium”, especially when compared with FC, but for my criteria…performance, reliability and consistency, it checks all the boxes and does so at a much lower price point than the offering from Federal.
 
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I've happened across three factory loads marketed as premium or match that I would consider truthful advertising. The three were in three different calibers, all shot through bolt actions. Two of the three were touted for terminal performance on game, one was represented as Match.

In my opinion, the performance on target (and game for two of the three) was stellar because the rifle just happened to shoot extremely accurately with that particular load. All three were for rifles that I reloaded for. In one caliber I was able to find a handload recipe that was equally accurate, but not better. The other two I could get close but never quite as accurate.

I honestly think that for most center fire, bolt action rifles, with unlimited time and infinite combinations of components and other variables, the most accurate ammo available will be one developed by the shooter in that gun. If it does happen to come off the factory production line, it is 50% the tolerances held to in production and 50% pure chance that any particular rifle shoots extremely well with that load.

For what it's worth, two of the three were Federal offerings, the third was Hornady. Sadly, neither of the Federal products are available any longer and the Hornady offering has been changed, putting me right back to square one.
 
Flight control is for sure premium. Also Remington STS for clays. I personally include high brass as it can be good for reloads.
 
Dale Gribble said:
I’d rank Federal FC as “premium” shotgun ammo, but without getting off into the weeds too much, I’d prefer to use something else for HD.

I’ve shot a good bit of the FC-2 3/4-00 buck. It is reliable, consistent and there’s no doubt it performs well. My issue is it performs too well, with regard to patterning….shoots a bit too tight for my liking. I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it’s been my experience that at the distances I’ve tested it (based upon the internal measurements inside my home), it patterns so tight, I may as well just use slugs. We’ve all heard the mythical “hallway width” spread, “aint gotta aim” or other BS. I’m not expecting a huge pattern nor would I want it, but I do prefer to have a bit more spread in the pattern than I have obtained using FC loads.

I tried some Estate 2 3/4 - 00 and the typical spread I’ve gotten with it is right about what I’m looking for:

Estate 2 3/4” 00. 12 gauge Mossberg 500, 18.5”, Cyl bore. 40 feet. 2 rounds. Target has a diameter of 5.5”.

View attachment 733210


Now, for the most part, Estate isn’t considered “premium”, especially when compared with FC, but for my criteria…performance, reliability and consistency, it checks all the boxes and does so at a much lower price point than the offering from Federal.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the be feedback and I love the target.

The Sport Ridge Reactive targets was a fun product to bring to market
 
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