Well I never thought I would see the day but here it is. The impressive and highly sought after Swiss P .223 Ball ammo has finally landed on our shores. I’m guessing it made sense to import it now that 5.56 / .223 ammo is in such high demand. The Swiss P stuff was never cheap. In fact they claim all Swiss P ammo achieves a 1 MOA accuracy at 100 yards. That’s a pretty impressive claim for a 63 grain Ball ammo issued to the Swiss and German defense forces. So it has always been pricey and roughly double what we were seeing for Federal XM855.

So, what makes Swiss P .223 special? For starters they manufacture it in Switzerland on some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment known to man. RUAG Ammotec has been making powerful small arms ammunition for over 140 years. The most advanced processes are applied at the enterprise’s operations in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden to produce high-grade products. This family of rifle cartridges has been developed especially for snipers. They are refined down to the last detail for use by absolute professionals. All cartridges (except Subsonic) provide the same point of impact over the operative range. No adjustment is required in case of a change of cartridge. This enables the rifleman to focus entirely on firing and to obtain the best first-shot effect in the target at all times.

The Swiss ammo company utilizes a high tech electro-annealing process that as you may guess, creates an electrical field that the brass cases are passed through to create the needed heat treatment. Typical rifle case annealing involves a propane flame by which the cases are passed through creating the discoloration we see on military brass rifle cases. Annealing is the process of heating the brass to about 650-700 degrees Fahrenheit, then letting it cool. This softens the metal just enough to keep it from splitting.

We picked up a few hundred rounds from the good people over at WeaponsWorld.com. They are the only people that carry the Swiss P line of ammunition here in the states and have supplied Swiss P in 338 Lapua, 300 Win Mag, and 308 Winchester to those who demand, and can afford, absolute precision.

The ammo arrived in good time and packed in generic looking white boxes with blue and black writing on the outside designating what we could expect to find within. As we opened the package we discovered that that ammo was loaded onto grey plastic charges. These are stripper clips but designed to work specifically in the STG series SIG 550 rifles issue to the Swiss military. To use these charges in a USGI guide would require an adapter. To be honest I have no desire to load from stripper clips. They are a pain and when you have a Mag Lula magazine loader handy there just is no point.

Easily some of the prettiest ammunition I have ever seen, the Swiss P .223 simply exudes quality. It features a unique Tombac jacketed lead core projectile. Tombac is a brass and copper alloy with a concentration of Zinc mixed in. This is done to extend the service life of the weapon as the Tombac jacket produces less wear that standard projectiles. The Tombac jacket also attracts a magnet. So keep that in mind if your local range applies this highly scientific approach to determining if your ammo is “steel core”. The ammo is NOT steel core. In fact the Tombac jacket is slightly softer than a traditional copper jacket.

The boxer primer is staked and sealed for water resistance and the brass is course fully re-loadable. In fact, this is easily some of the finest 223 brass we will ever get our hands on so if you reload this is a huge bonus.

Swiss P claims that we should see 1 MOA at 100 yards from their products and we intend to test that statement to the fullest degree. We have enlisted the help of a fine marksman, dare I say an EXPERT. To assist us in this endeavor. Stay tuned as we report back on our findings.

- AmmoExpert

ATK Wins Five-Year, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract for .40 Caliber Ammunition from DHS, ICE –Additional .40 Caliber Ammunition Contract with 450 Million Round Potential Demonstrates ATK’s Leadership in Ammunition Manufacturing

ANOKA, Minn., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — ATK ATK -0.01% announced that it is being awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) agreement from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS, ICE) for .40 caliber ammunition. This contract features a base of 12 months, includes four option years, and will have a maximum volume of 450 million rounds.

ATK was the incumbent and won the contract with its HST bullet, which has proven itself in the field. The special hollow point effectively passes through a variety of barriers and holds its jacket in the toughest conditions. HST is engineered for 100-percent weight retention, limits collateral damage, and avoids over-penetration.

“We are proud to extend our track record as the prime supplier of .40 caliber duty ammunition for DHS, ICE,” said Ron Johnson, President of ATK’s Security and Sporting group. “The HST is a proven design that will continue to serve those who keep our borders safe.”

ATK will produce the ammunition at the Federal Cartridge Company facility in Anoka, Minn. Deliveries are expected to begin in June.

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com .

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company’s competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; economic conditions; the supply, availability and costs of raw materials and components; or reliance on a key supplier. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

In the late 1980s, during ammunition testing, the FBI decided that they wanted a round with the characteristics and ballistic performance of the reduced velocity 10mm, but fitted to a smaller handgun frame. Smith & Wesson in collaboration with Winchester produced the first .40 caliber ammunition in the United States in 1990 specifically for the FBI and other law enforcement. The .40 caliber uses the same case head and bore diameter as the 10mm, but in a shorter format. The new .40 caliber rounds and their corresponding handguns were a big hit with law enforcement and is used for this purpose in the US, Australia and Canada.
Although the .40 caliber is very similar to the 10mm auto, the two are not interchangeable. The difference is that the .40 has no airspace and a small primer rather than the large one found in the 10mm. A revolver with single action that is .38 to .40 caliber can be converted to fire the .40 caliber or the 10mm, both of which require a different replacement cylinder. Many of the available .40 cal. handguns can be modified for 9mm cartridges by changing out the magazine and barrel. This allows less expensive ammunition to be used for target shooting.

The accuracy of the .40 caliber cartridge is pretty much the same as the 9mm Parabellum, as is the drift and drop. However, it does have the advantage in energy. .40 cal. hollow point rounds provide excellent penetration and expansion. Both the 9mm and the .40 caliber operate at 35,000 psi compared to the .45 ACP at 21,000. .40 caliber cartridges come in a range of weights from 135 gr to 200 gr.

The United States Coastguard currently uses .40 caliber handguns and ammunition as its standard issue. According to statistics, the Metropolitan Police Force in Nashville, Tennessee have racked up an impressive number of criminal stops with one shot from the .40 cal. using a high-tech version of the cartridge, the 165 grain Ranger. The .40 cal. has over the years been subject to quite a few failures of the cartridge casings. Most have been attributed to rounds that have been remanufactured or reloaded and therefore have weakened casings. There have been cases where the chamber top blew off or the barrel of the weapon failed. Gas venting pressures can destroy the pistol by blowing the casings out of the magazine well. It seems that even though the .40 caliber is not alone in this problem, there are viable reasons why it happens to this particular round. .40 S&W ammo is a very high pressure round as well as having a casing that is very wide for its short length. Some manufacturers have done some redesign work in order to strengthen the casings. In testing, there have also been some problems with the set back of the bullet into the casings too far, just by simple chambering or re-chambering of the cartridge. While no major personal injuries have been noted as a result of these failures, reloading .40 caliber S&W cartridges is not recommended.

Regardless of these potential problems, the .40 remains the preferred cartridge of many law enforcement agencies and the US Coast Guard. This is due to its accuracy and straight out stopping power. It is considered to be one of the best cartridges for law enforcement and personal defense applications.

** REVISED **  June 1, 2011  ** REVISED **

PRODUCT WARNING AND RECALL NOTICE

WINCHESTER®  RANGER®  LAW ENFORCEMENT
223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point®

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling twelve (12) lots of its RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® (PP) centerfire rifle ammunition (Symbol Number RA223R2).

Lot Numbers (last four characters): DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11, and DM21
Lot Numbers (last four characters): DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51

Through extensive evaluation Winchester has determined the above lots of RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition may contain incorrect propellant. Incorrect propellant in this ammunition may cause firearm damage, rendering the firearm inoperable, and subject the shooter or bystanders to a risk of serious personal injury when fired.

DO NOT USE WINCHESTER® RANGER® 223 REMINGTON 64 GRAIN POWER-POINT® AMMUNITION THAT HAS A LOT NUMBER ENDING IN DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 or DM21. The ammunition Lot Number is ink stamped inside the right tuck flap of the 20-round carton, as indicated here:

To determine if your ammunition is subject to this notice, review the Lot Number. If the last four characters of the Lot Number are DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 or DM21 immediately discontinue use and contact Winchester toll-free at 866-423-5224to arrange for replacement ammunition and free UPS pick-up of the recalled ammunition.

This notice applies only to RANGER® 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point® centerfire rifle ammunition with lot numbers ending in DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, DK51, DM70, DM80, DM90, DM01, DM11 and DM21. Other Symbol Numbers or Lot Numbers are not subject to this recall.

If you have any questions concerning this RANGER® Law Enforcement ammunition recall please call toll-free 866-423-5224, write to Winchester (600 Powder Mill Road, East Alton, IL 62024 Attn: RA223R2 Recall), or visit our website at www.winchester.com.

We apologize for this inconvenience.

The 9mm or 9×19 Parabellum was first made in Germany in 1902. Designed by Georg Luger for the 9mm Luger semi-automatic handgun, it was manufactured by Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken. This cartridge is not to be confused with the 9×18 Makarov or the 9mm Browning which is a .380 cartridge. The 9mm ammo found today one of the most commonly used cartridges for military applications world-wide. Newsweek reported that 60% of the police officers in the United States use 9mm cartridges.

Many consider the 9×19 to be the best ammunition for personal self-defense and for police applications. This has made the semi-automatic pistol far more widely used than revolvers. Another contributor to its popularity is the large amount of ammo manufactured in this caliber and its availability as cheap 9mm ammo. There are 3 bullet types to choose from in the 9×19 including, hollow point, full metal jacket and lead (unjacketed.) Another reason the 9mm is a preferred caliber weapon is that there are many compact handguns with large capacity magazines made for the 9mm round, making them easy to carry and easy to conceal.

The 9×19 cartridge has a moderate amount of recoil and travels in a flat trajectory. Although it can travel further, its design intention was lethal shots at 50 meters or less. Premium bullets in this caliber have excellent penetration and expansion capabilities. Of course, these cartridges are available in a range of weights that will affect all of these factors.

In the 1990s some improvements were made to the 9×19 cartridge that are referred to as the +P variant that gave a moderate amount of ballistic performance improvement. The jacketed hollow point bullet was also redesigned to be more effective by giving better expansion and less fragmentation than the previous hollow points available. It is considered to be superior ballistically to the .38 Special.

While the 9×19 parabellum is the most common 9mm ammunition and the one used by military and police, there are several different types. Rounds used by the military are designed to be armor piercing. Military applications include the semi-automatic pistol and submachine guns which both use the 9mm ammunition.

All 9mm cartridges are not the same caliber and do not fit all 9mm weapons, nor are they interchangeable. They come in 9×17, 9×18, 9×19, 9×21 and 9×23.The 9×17 is a short and is the one that is technically .380 auto. The 9×18 is the 9mm Makarov, the 9×21 is a 9mm IMI and the 9×23 is the 9mm Largo or Long. The 9×19 is the 9mm Luger or 9mm parabellum. If you are unsure which of the 9mm cartridges is the correct match for your weapon then it is best to consult a gunsmith, rather than take a chance on purchasing an inappropriate type of 9mm ammunition that does not fit your weapon.

If you have not previously used a 9mm weapon, the low cost of the ammo makes it a good choice these days. A quality 9mm has a legendary reputation for accuracy, making it great for target shooting and self-defense. Its moderate recoil property can be an advantage to smaller, lighter weight shooters. The compact versions are well-suited for those with a permit to carry a weapon and the larger magazine types available cut down on reloading frequency. The 9mm is just one of the best all-around choices, as evidenced by the fact that well over half of US police forces now prefer them over any other handgun or ammo type.

By: Dominic Petracelli

And here we are again on the precipice of another election year.  We all remember the dramatic rise of ammunition prices when it was clear Obama would be elected. Then we watched as ammo became harder and harder to find which only compounded the problem. Even re-loaders felt the bite as brass and primers became scarce and increased in price.

Now the ammunition industry is gearing up for another run on what is termed by some as “The gold of the future.” An analogy to the rising cost and importance of ammunition in the United States. Popular calibers like 9mm, 40 Cal and 45 ACP ammo from manufacturers like Federal Ammunition, Remington and Winchester all seem to be on the rise from most retailers.

Americans spent over $52 billion dollars Black Friday weekend. And of those sales figures the FBI reports that some 129,166 NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) inquiries were performed on potential gun buyers.

The internet has proven to be the best place to purchase your bulk ammunition at cheap prices. 9mm ammo seems to be the most popular caliber followed closely by 45 ACP ammo. Shopping trends don’t seem to limited by geography either. Buyers from all across the country are buying bulk quantities of ammunition in fear that the government may make good on their threat to ban or over tax ammo. in an effort to exercise elicit gun control.

Obama has stated that if he is re-elected the gloves will come off with regards to gun control. Im sure we can expect ammunition and firearms prices to skyrocket once again.