Posted: 7/29/2009 7:18:43 AM EDT
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I was out with a group of kids doing an intro to handguns last week and one of the other adults brought 300rds of the Walmart Federal Champion 9mm 115gr. FMJ stuff. Now my Glock 17 and 34 were kinda dirty (have taken several groups of kids to the range lately to spread the faith, as it were), but the brass was barely clearing the slide in most cases. I was thinking maybe the kids were limp-wristing, but it was happening with my son and I as well. Brought the guns home and detail stripped and cleaned them. Dirty, but not overly-so. The Glocks are used, known to function well with other 9mm of 115gr, 124gr. and 147gr. ammo. Unfortunately we shot the Federal last so no chance to switch back to another brand. I had not shot any rounds that day previous to noticing the poor ejection with the kids. I'm thinking the ammo is a little on the weak side (underpowered ammo = lower slide velocity = poor ejection) So I went and bought a total of 12 boxes of it at 2 different Walmart stores, and I'm gonna hit the range and see what's up. Anyone else have issues with this stuff? I would buy the Blazer Brass or WWB 100rd box stuff, but they don't stock it anymore. |
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Normal. The WalMart Value packs are standard velocity USA ammo. 115 grain at maybe 1050fps in the real world.
The Glocks, 17 and 34, are made for up to and including NATO Ball. 124 grain at 1250fps or it doesn't get a (+) NATO stamp. The M17 was desiged for NATO ball. It is not your girlfriends favorite load. Everything else made in America is substandard weak ammo. The only thing I have ever seen not work in a Glock though, is WW 147 subsonic JHP military ammo meant for shooting sentries and such from silenced MP5s. Not enough power to reliably blow the slide back on a Glock unless held extremely firmly. Operates the MP5 just fine. Operates the Beretta Carbine just fine also. Shooting both a 17 and a 34, I have watched WW 115 grain WalMart ValuePack ammo just roll the cases over the ejection port. They land at your feet or maybe 3-4-5 feet to about 3 O'Clock. The Federal 115 is probably about the same ammo. I have never shot any of it personally nor seen it fired. The Glock's act the same, clean or dirty, oiled or dry. |
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In the WalMart computer system, the Federal 9mm and 40 ammo that is just arriving is entered as Blazer. Prints that way on the ticket, reads that way on the shelf tag. It's also a new box I've never seen from Federal before. My guess is this is the same thing you were shooting before, and ATK has decided to realign some of their branding.
Gun hadn't been cleaned after an unusually long time and you think the kids were limpwristing? Find a chrono. |
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I have used a few 100 rounds in my G19 & 34 w/ any trouble. It does kick less then the 124+p I was shooting @ the same time, but all was well. As far as the receipt, mine listed it as Federal Ammo not Blazer Ammo. My local WMs have been getting both Fed and Blazer 9mm and 40 in as of late.
FB |
| I went through about 75 rounds of this ammo qualifying for my CCP. I had one (and my first ever) stovepipe. I also noticed that the spent casings weren't going very far from the gun. Recoil was minimal in my G19c. I'm curious to see if this ammo isn't enough for Glocks. I certainly hope it is though. It's the cheapest I can find! |
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Finally shot 200 rounds of it the other day. We mixed mags of 2 Federal, then 2 WWB and 2 Blazer Brass, repeat Shot the plate racks, poppers and dueling trees as fast as possible No malfunctions, plates went down well enough but the Federal brass not ejecting nearly as far. I think it is on the low end. Anyone chrono any of this stuff? I think that I'll shoot up the rest of what I bought and stick to other stuff in the future, unless of course nothing else is available..... |
| I think the federal champion 9mm is pure crap. the brass isnt polished very well, it probably is on the weak side and it is the only ammo period that has made my Baby eagle have 2 ftf out of 150rds fired. The rounds were loaded crooked (bent?) from what it appeared.. I have used almost every other budget ammo in the gun with no issues. I have not yet tried the 40 in my glocks. But I doubt I will buy anymore of it period |
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Im pretty sure the Federal Champion is the same/replacement for blazer brass. The bullets look the exact same (they are both copper plated, not jacketed) and the cases look the exact same minus the head stamp (slight hour glass taper and the base is slightly concave).
They could have less or a different type of powder though. I cant notice a difference. For what its worth, the softest shooting budget ammo I've shot out of my glock 19 is the Remington UMC 250 round bulk pack stuff. I still have not had a fte or any other malfunction though with any ammo and ejection always seems positive. |
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Quoted:
Finally shot 200 rounds of it the other day. We mixed mags of 2 Federal, then 2 WWB and 2 Blazer Brass, repeat Shot the plate racks, poppers and dueling trees as fast as possible No malfunctions, plates went down well enough but the Federal brass not ejecting nearly as far. I think it is on the low end. Anyone chrono any of this stuff? I think that I'll shoot up the rest of what I bought and stick to other stuff in the future, unless of course nothing else is available..... I could find no listing for it on Federal’s site in 9mm Champion… The Champion line only listed .32 S&W Long. But their description of ‘Champion’ is that it is intended for target range use. – Here I would read into that, that it is going to be a lighter load than Defense or Hunting but not assembled with same Quality that the Gold Medal line offers. In other words, you picked the right ammo for the job you were doing 
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