Cheap Ammo versus Reasonably Priced Ammo

["DoubleAction"]

If you don't know the difference by now, we need to discuss this.

[Arclightstrike]

DA, I value your opinion and the opinions of any shooters out there...I generally DO know the difference, but sometimes that knowledge comes from experience, and sometimes that experience is not the smiling-in-the-sun, positive kind. I think that anyone who has had a negative experience with any kind in particular would do us all a "solid" by relating said experience, no matter how embarrassing it may be. So here goes one of mine:

I learned the hard way when Wolf started importing their stuff into the US. I refer to that of the murky-green cases and copper-washed steel-jacketed bullet, heavily lacquered all over. Oh, yes, that stuff came in "American" calibers, too, and the price looked real good. Come to find out that it makes a mess out of the innards of the gun by leaving this nasty burnt-lacquer crud all over it, and the copper-washed steel-jacketed bullets are not real good for bore life. It seems that with the welcome demise of the USSR come some unwelcome side-effects. Much of Wolf's exports to us were surplus Commie ammo that was heavily lacquered to keep it waterproof, keep the color a dull greenish (so it wouldn't twinkle brightly in the field), and keep the steel case from rusting. Their military, being armed with the low-maintenance Kalashnikov (AK) series of weapons, didn't much care what the steel-jacketed slugs did to the bores (slave labor was stamping out AKs 24/7), and the average grunt there didn't have to be big on maintenance, because the Kalashnikov was designed to work under all sorts of adverse conditions, in the hands of a "technopeasant". The calibers like .45ACP and 9x19mm, as well as 5.56x45mm (AR-15/M-16) were available so that Soviet troops could use captured NATO weapons as well. I have heard that Wolf is shipping a better product nowadays, but haven't had the urge to try it.

["DoubleAction"]

Thanks Arclight, For sharing your fact based opinions on the cheap russian crap.
I bought up a case of I.M.I in 230 gr. FMJ - 45 acp for $150. last year, and I find it to be very clean looking, and heard a good review on it, prior to buying it. When shooting it, I put it through my Combat Commander first, and found the slide hammering my frame excessively. Accuracy was not bad, but my groups should have been tighter. I then put it through my Wilson CQB, and noticed the same thing with the excessive pounding to the frame.
I knew the Wilson was perfectly tuned, so I loaded up some of my regular factory reloads, and found my shot groups to tightened, the pistol's recoil smoothed up, and my follow up shots increased with faster split times.
Will I buy anymore I.M.I Ammunition ? NO; I'm just glad I can get three and a half cents for each spent cartridge case. I have also compared this ammo with the Winchester, Federal, and PMC with the same results that I found when switching back and forth with my factory reloads.