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Best Ammo Manufacturers: Who’s Got The Juice?
Aside from the firearm itself, ammo is the most critical part of using a firearm.
With all the ammo companies out there marketing their rounds as the next best thing or the next best “budget” thing, it’s important to know who actually has the good stuff. That way, you can always get the most out of your firearm.
This is especially important when sighting in your optics or using your firearms for defensive purposes. After all, you don’t want to send trash ammo through your firearm and be left hoping that it gets the job done.
There is nothing like restocking ammo cans, but you’ll want them full of quality ammo. Source
Here are six of the best ammo manufacturers on the market to help you avoid the “bad apples” and to keep your firearm(s) running smoothly.
But first, there’s something you should know.
What’s The Difference Between Good and Bad Ammo?
If I were to take two different brands of ammo, let’s say one with a white box that shall not be named and another, like Black Hills, the difference in how your rifle will perform and the shot groupings (tightness) you can expect would be in two different realms.
Of course, Black Hills ammunition is premium, and the price tag per round reflects that.
Quality ammo is consistent and clean-burning (not gassy or leaving too much carbon behind), with adequately seated rounds, and is well polished. You can tell a lot about a round just by looking at it. If it’s clean, odds are the manufacturer took its time to give you the best.
If the casing looks dirty, discolored, or corroded, it will probably not perform as well.
Both types of ammo have their place. Not everyone can afford a dollar and fifty cents per round. The trick is to find a good middle ground. Don’t worry; we made sure to include a few in here.
An example of bad quality control from the White Box. Source
Best Ammo Manufacturers
Hornady
Hornady is one of the finest ammo manufacturers, and it has been for a very long time. Its ammo burns clean and makes clean-up a breeze once you’re done shooting.
All of Hornady’s ammo is made in-house. There is no outsourcing, which makes quality control far easier. Over the years, Hornady has tested different bullet designs, powders, casings, you name it, all in the name of research and development to deliver some of the best ammo.
Now, they are known as one of the best hunting ammo manufacturers in the world and offer quality rounds for many other roles, such as self-defense, competition, and long-range target shooting.
Black Hills
Black Hills has been producing top-quality match-grade ammo since 1981. It’s so good that they produce all of the match ammo for the U.S. Military’s Rifle Team, which should tell you a lot about the quality of its ammo.
The quality control team thoroughly cleans and inspects each casing before it leaves the factory, making most other quality control operations seem obsolete.
Black Hills uses bullets from companies like Hornady, Barnes, and Sierra, as well as its own in-house bullets, to maximize the performance of the intended use of its various rounds.
And when it comes to shooting tight groupings and consistently, it’s hard to beat Black Hills.
However, the premium quality does lead to a premium price.
Black Hills 75gr is extremely consistent, especially out of shorter barrels. Source
Federal
Federal is one of the oldest ammo manufacturers in the United States, opening its doors in 1922. There was a lot of uncertainty during those days, and to survive, Federal had to consistently improve to beat the competition.
Here we are 102 years later, and Federal makes some of the best ammo for the price. And that’s even before you get to its Premium line, which uses the best primers, powder, and bullets.
Federal also produces a plethora of ammo for law enforcement and the U.S. Military. Its defensive offerings are among the most popular in the industry. I’ve spent quite a lot of money on Federal ammo, and for the price, nothing beats it.
Magtech
Federal does have some competition regarding the best ammo for the price. Magtech is, after all, what most ranges use for their rental guns. Why? Because Magtech knows what it’s doing.
I can’t tell you how many rounds of Magtech 9mm I’ve spent. Not only from shooting my firearms, but I’ve had gun companies ask that I only use Magtech when I have a firearm on loan.
When it comes to primers (behind the bullet where the firing pin strikes), everyone is using Magtech. Many companies strive to buy from the best of the best and make their ammo with Magtech primers.
The ammo is affordable, reliable enough that I’ve never had an issue with it, and can be found almost anywhere.
Magtech’s beautiful ammo in all its glory. Source
Speer
Now, when it comes to defensive rounds, very few come close to spending the amount of time that Speer has developing its ammo. Since it’s the largest ammo supplier for law enforcement, you can expect that a ton of research, testing, and development has been conducted.
Speer defensive loads spread extremely reliably and are designed to stop an attacker with as few rounds as possible. That’s why many shooters carry Speer Gold Dot as their load of choice.
These rounds can be pricey, but they are well worth the money for protecting yourself.
PMC
PMC is one of the only non-American ammo manufacturers on this list, but you would never guess that from using its clean and consistent ammo.
Over the last several years, I’ve used a lot of PMC 5.56×45 and 7.62×51, and I’ve never had to worry about ammo issues. If there was a malfunction, it was typically related to the magazine or firearm.
This has been my experience with both the match and range ammo, mind you.
For the price, PMC makes some fine ammo.
PMC’s green tip ammo has become extremely popular. Source
Conclusion
While I’ve had the most success with these ammo manufacturers, others, like Fiocchi, weren’t mentioned but still make some solid ammunition.
So, if you didn’t see your favorite here, don’t worry. If it works for you and your rifle, then you are just fine.
Be good and take care.
