Shooters Forum banner

Ultramax 38spcl JUNK!!

3K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  crossfire 
#1 ·
So....I bought a Ruger SP101 and took it to the range yesterday. I had a box of Remington 38spcl that I got a couple of months ago because a friend of mine agreed to let me try out his 38 spcl. I only fired ten rounds out of it, so I had 40 rounds left. I purchased a box of Ultramax is 38 and a box of Magtech 357, and off to the range I went. I fired all 40 of the Remington rounds with no problems whatsoever. I then fired 5 of the Magtech to see how a 357 feels (un, yeah, 5 was plenty! hehee). I then started firing the Ultramax ammo, and that's when the problems started.

For starters, this stuff is the stinkenest ammo I've ever fired. Even one of the other shooters commented on how badly it was stinking the range up. Before I could get through the whole box, the gun started getting very sticky. The cylinder got harder and harder to turn until I finally couldn't get it to turn at all, even by hand! My SP101 was coated in filth! This ammo literally put out a cloud of smoke so thick I had to wait in between shots to see the target. It took me a good hour to get the thing cleaned and back to functioning properly. Junk ammo. PURE JUNK! :mad:

Needless to say, I will never buy Ultramax ammo again. I'm wondering if any of y'all have had similar issues with this brand of ammo. Also, I would like some recommendations on a good brand just for target practice. I'm happy with the Magtech for now, but I'd like to find a reasonably priced ammo for target shooting with my SP101 until I get the equipment and learn how to reload my own. Thanks.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Sorry to hear about your disappointment. As far as decent practice ammo, it doesn't get a Heck of a lot less expensive than Magtech.

What bullet were you shooting in the Magtech stuff??
 
#3 ·
The Magtech is 357 SJHP. I was a little surprised at how much punch a 357 actually has. After those 5 shots, my hand and middle finger were hurting. lol I looked at my daughter and said, "That's about all of that I want for today!" I'll keep it in the gun for a HD round, but dat's about it. I'm still a relative newbie, at only 6 months experience, and I hadn't heard anything about Magtech. You say they make a good product? I will see if the local gun shops have it in 38 spcl.
 
#4 ·
They will and I'd suggest the FMJ for practice. Unless $$ is not a problem, most people practice with the much cheaper stuff, saving the good (typically) JHP for SD carry or HD.

A box of 50 of the JHP can last a while once you're comfy with your gun.
 
#5 ·
"i'd say you boys had enough beans"

Sure that smell was the ammo? :D Coincidently I just made a HUGE batch of chili yesterday with 4 lbs of dried pinto beans. We woke up this am & I saw ice on my leaf barrel for the first time in a few years. I had to break out my Filson wool vest, (my winter coat), still shorts though. Off now to see if I still own pants for a wedding next sat. A NICE letter or e-mail usually gets me something for free. If something was wrong with that batch/lot #, they should know about it.
 
#8 ·
Some problems with locally reloaded ammo came from defective Chinese powder. One outfit laid off an entire shift, but later had to admit that it was the company's suppliers' fault, that things were going South. I think that the Chinese powder was packed in counterfeit packaging, one way or another.

The one brand which is still problematical, is American Cowboy's 45 Cowboy Specials. I called them out on it, but they only claimed that it will kill a steel gong in a Cowboy Action Competition Match, at seven yards. So if half the bullets hit into the ground before getting out to 100 yards, it's no problem for them.

I pulled some of their 180 gr. lead bullets, and the powder was gunky, and balled up, inside those shorty cases. So I ordered 250 pieces of virgin brass, and just worked around their CAS comp. loads. Note! Without these loaded seven yard wonders, there wouldn't be any of the brass available, so I just bit my tongue, and sent them a USPS money order equaling a Benjamin.
 
#10 ·
It's lead bullets. Maybe this box had that Chinese powder. I did a Google search, and I found several people complaining about this company's quality. I think I am going to write them a letter explaining the problems I had. Maybe they will fess up and admit that a screwed batch went out. They claim to supply law enforcement, but if this is how their ammo works I can't see how they'd get very many orders.
 
#11 ·
Magtech 158g LRN goes for quite a bit less $$ than Remington UMC in my part of the world, and seems to shoot just as well, if not better. The cheapest bang for your $$ is going to be the 130g FMJ loads(Winchester is what I've tried and I can't fault it, other than it's a 130g FMJ and reputedly a miserable HD load.)
Factory reloads are another kettle of fish which I'm not sure I want experience.
I suppose some brands may be OK but until I meet an unbiased shooter who enthusiastically recommends a specific brand----no thanks!
Fair warning---I'm certainly no expert---I've only had my .38 for about a month.
 
#12 ·
You are always going to get some smoke from bullet lube. How much, depends on the lube. Some have a little and some have a lot....

Mostly I don't notice odor from powder, except for some commie surplus 7.62x54R and 8x57. Some of it smelled really, really strange. But it didn't smoke.
 
#17 ·
Learning how to reload is the plan for later on this year. Until then, I need to buy my ammo. I shoot four calibers I can reload, and I plan to start with the 38 spcl. So, look for me in the Reloading section of the site when I get ready to buy equipment, supplies, etc. I'm probably gonna screw things up at first and will need all the help I can git! :)
 
#15 ·
I bought some from Sportsman's Guide several years ago when I first got a 45-70 (one of many since). I didn't have dies and wanted to shoot the gun so I ordered several boxes.....really, really cheap. Surprisingly, it shot pretty well at 100yds but it was smokey and dirty as all get out. As soon as I got the dies and used up the UltraMax I never ordered it again. It was pretty mild stuff if I remember correctly. I like mild-mod 45-70 loads, but this stuff was really mild. Probably worth it for someone who wants to shoot one or two boxes of ammo a year and doesn't care about the results. It goes BANG.
 
#21 ·
1600fps from 158gr Jacketed is a 357 Magnum top end load. The 10" barrel added some velocity, no doubt, that your revolver can't get with the same load.

38 Special +P loads can be found in reloading data, there is also +P factory ammo out there. Definitely hotter than 38 Special loads, but no where near 357 magnum loads.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top