Factory ammo dirtier than handloaded?

[DWARREN123]

I went shooting today and used some Remington green/white box .40 cal. I had stored away. I have 2 handguns, Glocks, 23 and 27. I fired off 75 rounds thru each and when I got home I checked the guns out, both were quite a bit dirtier than what I am use to with my handloads, especially since I usually fire around 150 to 200 thru each.

There was not a whole lot but the chamber and feed ramp were grey colored and when I patched the bore it took twice as many to clean.

My handloads have spoiled me, I think, in the cleaniness and accuracy department.

My handloads are more accurate also.

Anyone else seen this?

Edited July 3, 2008 by DWARREN123

[I_Like_Pie]

If I am not using 2400 or Unique...yes they tend to be cleaner. HS-6 is a VERY clean .40 S&W powder.

[Guest Grout]

I have not shot any commercial .45 ACP,.38 SPL/.357 MAG,.44 MAG and .45 COLT in almost 20 yrs so I could not make a comparison there but I have my loads tailored for accuracy and minimal recoil.Reloading is the only way to go.

[John Wall]

Accurate Arms #7 is going to be hard to beat in any standard 165gr to 180 gr 40 caliber handload.

We reloaders buy MUCH better powder than the ammo factories. They cannot afford to use cannister powders. It is cheaper for them to by a rail car full of something, and use an in house ballistics lab to develop suitable loads.

Remington, in their shotshell loads, go so far as to vary the length of their hulls slightly to accomodate differing powders.

We, on the other hand, can continue to buy kegs of powder, and get the same results from them year after year.

[Guest sling]

Accurate Arms #7 is going to be hard to beat in any standard 165gr to 180 gr 40 caliber handload.

We reloaders buy MUCH better powder than the ammo factories. They cannot afford to use cannister powders. It is cheaper for them to by a rail car full of something, and use an in house ballistics lab to develop suitable loads.

Remington, in their shotshell loads, go so far as to vary the length of their hulls slightly to accomodate differing powders.

We, on the other hand, can continue to buy kegs of powder, and get the same results from them year after year.

Just like a fine wine, eh?

I have a tendency to agree that factory loads are pretty dirty. The last time i shot WWB (who knows how long ago) it was dirtier than my handloads with Unique!

[chipperi]

Im in the same boat I shot some of the rem green box I got cheap and it was pretty dirty stuff My gun is stainless so you could clearly see the soot down the sides of the front quarter of the slide.

[Will]

I have found reloads much dirtier than factory loads except for Blazer Aluminum

ammo. Most of my reloads come from National Bullet Co,I send them my empty

brass. Alabama Ammo just plain nasty.