Your Next Training Ammo Purchase

**Courtesy of Ian at Rune Nation**

In an industry where every brand or company claims to have the “best” product, what ammo brand can you trust? Right now, you can complete an online Google search that will turn up a handful of ammo manufacturers from which you can purchase bulk ammo at a competitive price. Yet, how many of those brands can you count on the round going “bang” every time you pull the trigger? How many of those “deals” that you find will cause a catastrophic failure in your gun or, worse, a significant injury?

I’ve been running HOP (House of Payne) Munitions for over six months now and have not had any QC or cycling issues with their rifle ammo or, more specifically, their proprietary polymer ammo, which I am a big fan of. Regarding their 9mm poly ammo, I’ve run every load of 9mm from 115 grain to 124 grain and, my personal favorite, their 147 grain. In general, in my training, I try to get as heavy of a load as possible for general enjoyment and to closely mimic what I’d be carrying as my personal defense load.

RELATED – Best Subsonic 9mm Defense Ammo: HOP Munitions’ 147-Grain Review

The question I often get traveling around the US putting on firearms training seminars is why pay the slight increase for polymer ammo? Other than its specific niche aesthetics of setting you apart on the range, I’ve found feeding of the rounds to be more consistent compared to metal on metal on the feed ramp. Additionally, some indoor ranges may specifically require you to shoot frangible ammunition. HOP Munitions poly ammo is significantly more cost-effective than frangible specific ammo and has no chance of spalling on the impact of a steel target or backstop. 

RELATED – Is Shooting Steel Targets With Poly Ammo Safe?

The next question commonly asked is from shooters interested in USPSA competition. Is HOP Munitions poly ammo ok to use? Recently, the governing body of USPSA has officially approved HOP Munitions’ 9mm poly ammunition. Previously, participants had to undergo a pre-event testing process for their ammo, risking disqualification and the frustration of wasted effort and resources for those traveling long distances. With HOP Munitions’ 9mm poly ammo now on the USPSA’s approved list, shooters gain immediate, hassle-free access to competitions, bypassing the uncertainty of ammo testing and trusting that they can run their stages confidently.

In an era of uncertainty where quality control is nonexistent, I can confidently say that I can trust HOP Munitions to represent my brand across the country and, more importantly, to recommend to students as a quality resource to purchase their next allotment of training ammo from. Throughout life, we are always told that “you get what you pay for.” If you don’t care whether your ammo will consistently cycle at the range, then feel free to get your bargain ammo. However, if you care about supporting a veteran-run small business that truly cares about its product, go and check out HOP Munitions Poly ammo. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

-Ian

All photos courtesy of Rune Nation