Commercial Service Pistol Ammo

I'm looking for some commercially-available 9x19mm service pistol ammo for CMP EIC Service Pistol matches this season. I'm a relatively new shooter, and while I'm accumulating reloading components, I'm not ready to start loading my own this year due to primer prices and lack of space. I have a reasonable stock of 115gr Blazer Brass FMJ ammo, but should I be looking for anything different for competition?

I realize that ammo tends to be firearm-specific in terms of accuracy, but are there any "go-to" accurate commercial loads I should look for and test out? I've heard that Atlanta Arms Elite 124gr is considered very good and is used by the AMU, but they're sold out. Any other recommendations?

Hello only_8_ring,

Check out ASYM's match 9mm ammunition.   It's a little snappy but very accurate.

Jim

Which gun and barrel twist are you using?

Eley makes a Minor 9mm in 115, 124 and 147 gr (it is made in the USA)
I have a couple of boxes but have not shot it yet.
It's about 100 fps less than most standard 9mm.

competition 9mm minor power factor rounds

It is available from Killough Shooting in Texas, currently $20.00 /50 and in stock. 
Shipping is $15.00 up to $500.

ELEY Minor 9mm 115gr Competition Pistol | Killough Shooting Sports

Sig Sauer also has a "Match" 9mm ammo in 115 and 147 gr.  bullet weights.
147 gr was in stock yesterday.
It is  $53.95 /50

9MM, 147GR, MATCH ELITE COMPETITION JHP

Probably any good manufacturer will be sold out, call them and see if you can place a back order.  Atlanta Arms would be my first choice.  I would also try Zero loaded ammunition, their 45 and 38 loads shot pretty well in my guns.

only_8_ring wrote:I'm looking for some commercially-available 9x19mm service pistol ammo for CMP EIC Service Pistol matches this season. I'm a relatively new shooter, and while I'm accumulating reloading components, I'm not ready to start loading my own this year due to primer prices and lack of space. I have a reasonable stock of 115gr Blazer Brass FMJ ammo, but should I be looking for anything different for competition?

I realize that ammo tends to be firearm-specific in terms of accuracy, but are there any "go-to" accurate commercial loads I should look for and test out? I've heard that Atlanta Arms Elite 124gr is considered very good and is used by the AMU, but they're sold out. Any other recommendations?

Try Natchez, Midway, MidSouth others for 9mm factory ammo. Federal American Eagle is decent ammo. It has settled in the $.32 per round area lately. Get brass, brass not aluminum if you can. Save or sell the brass. It should be more than adequate starting out.

I’ve had good luck with Fiocchi 115 FMJ.

Thanks, all. So what I'm hearing is that it doesn't really matter so much, and that most any new, brass-cased match-legal ammo is okay. I'll keep practicing with my 115gr Blazer, and maybe I'll see some of you at Perry.

Only_8_ring

You are not hearing well. Optimisation of ammo simply depends on the barrel's rifling twist and, to a much lesser extent, the type of gun.

Some 9mm guns, notably the SIG P210, work better with heavier (147gr) bullets at lower velocity.

The proof will be group size at 50 yards. Preferably off a bench rest or sandbags. Try it.

RoyDean wrote:Only_8_ring

You are not hearing well. Optimisation of ammo simply depends on the barrel's rifling twist and, to a much lesser extent, the type of gun.

Agreed. Accuracy depends on what the gun likes and you only know that through testing.  Even a good gun might not like the Blazer 115.

The article below shows a gun with a Kart 9mm Match barrel that shot the Blazer 115 the worst (50 shots in 5.92") of all ammo tried at 25 yards.  It shot the Browning 147 FMJ the best (50 shots in 1.91").

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2019/1/18/38-different-9mm-loads

That same gun liked the Sig Sauer 147 gr Match Elite ammo with an average 10 shot group at 25 yards of 1.70"

Shooting Sports USA | SIG Sauer’s New Match Elite 9mm Ammunition (ssusa.org)

Interesting because in the first article the Sig Sauer 147 gr FMJ ammo had a 50 shot group of 4.05"
The test firearm did have a noticeable preference for flat nose or hollow point bullets.

I guess that's the difference between using 10-shot groups versus a 50-shot group.  That author also wrote this article on the limitations of small round counts per group.

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2019/9/25/accuracy-testing-shortcomings-of-the-five-shot-group/

A shooting Times article by the same writer testing 9mm "match" ammo- 3 - 10 shot groups at 25 yards


How Accurate is 9mm Luger Match Ammo?

You might try Sellier & Bellot  115gr  or their 150 gr sub-sonic.  I've found them to be accurate shot from my Walther PPQ Q5 Match SF.

Like said you will just need to try some out and go with what shoots best in your pistol.
Try Fed Amer Eagle 147 fmj and S&B 124 fmj they shoot well in my P210 and 9mm Range Officer.