To say 9mm ammo is the most popular handgun caliber on the planet is probably an understatement. From compact to full-size, it’s just a great size of bullet. It has the speed to make it powerful and the ability to penetrate. Hollow-point ammunition also makes it a worthy stopping round for self-defense. Typically, FMJ ammo is used for target practice and HP (hollow point) ammo is reserved for defense ammo. This is because of the price of ammo and the purpose of each design.
So, what is training ammunition, and how is it different than other types of ammo? There are some differences we will discuss as we talk about CCI White Box Training Ammo.
Is CCI 9mm Luger training ammunition a good price?
Talking about cheap ammo is subjective and depends on your definition of cheap and what you are comparing it to. In the past 10-15 years, the price of ammo has nearly tripled. In 2005, a box of Blazer brass ammo sold for $5.99 per box of 50. Today, it sells for $15.99 per box. When you see the phrase “training ammunition” you assume it is the cheapest, lowest quality stuff out there. That is not always the case. CCI does cut some of the cost down by using white boxes instead of a full-colored box. They also use a cheaper ammo crate inside the box to hold the ammo. The ammunition itself, however, is still good quality brass ammo, and that is not cheap.
The people who grew up when gas prices were under $1 per gallon think gas is expensive, regardless of the price today. This is because the lowest prices found in the past five years are still much higher than $1 a gallon. The younger generations throw a party when gas is under $3 per gallon because “it’s so cheap.” Ammo works about the same for us. Some are fine with the price of ammo today, but I think it should be gold-plated if it costs that much. But the fact is, everything has gone up and the prices are never going back down to what they were.
So back to the original question: is CCI training ammo a good price? I say yes if you want quality training ammo. You can find it cheaper, but you will also notice a difference in quality.
Shoot it or save it?
I have talked about this before, but I can’t talk about ammo without talking about both shooting and storing. I like to save ammo for that rainy day. I also think anyone who owns a gun should store some ammo for it. When you earn a paycheck, you buy food and pay bills, but you also try to save just a little (at least that’s the idea). With firearms, training is essential. Carrying a weapon for self-defense is dangerous and irresponsible if you have not done some type of training or practice on the range. You don’t have to train to be a Navy Seal, but you do need to be familiar with shooting your weapon(s).
The amount of ammo you shoot compared to how much you save is up to you. There is no perfect formula that everyone must follow. I like to use the method of “shoot a box, save a box,” because that works for me. I like to target practice, run drills, or just do some plinking with friends. But I also like to save some for those times when ammo is hard to find. CCI ammo is made with non-corrosive primers which they say guarantees attested ignition. I recently shot some CCI ammo that had been in an ammo can for about nine years. It fired just like the ammo from the new boxes. This gave me even more confidence in storing their ammo for the long term.
CCI White Box 9mm Luger 115 Grain FMJ
CCI’s white box training ammo is made for—guess what—training. That means the quality is built to be consistent and accurate. Shooting the cheapest stuff is fine when shooting for fun or running some types of drills. But if you are training for accuracy, you want quality ammo.
The new brass casing CCI uses is also great for reloading, which can save money. I have used their training ammo in handguns and PCCs and get great results. I will note: if you shoot this stuff all day, it will leave your gun dirty so be prepared to clean it.
Another thing I like about CCI ammunition is that they make it right here in the United States. I once decided I would not buy any products the US didn’t make. If it said “made in China,” I was not going to buy it. Only American-made for me. That lasted two days. I couldn’t find anything that didn’t have China, Taiwan, or Mexico stamped on the back of it. I am not against international trade. Some of the best guns come from other countries. But if it’s made in America, it gets extra points from me.
Summary
Shooting is fun, but ammo is costly. CCI Training Ammunition helps you find that middle ground. It’s not the cheapest or the most expensive, but it works great for training on the range and has the quality needed to store it for the long term. The company has the history and reputation to back up its product so you know what you get when you buy it. If you are going to invest in a good quality gun, shoot some good quality ammo that is budget-friendly, long-lasting, and made in the USA.
