Fiocchi

Fiocchi has been making ammunition in Italy since 1876--which puts them in the same longevity club as Winchester and Remington. Giulio Fiocchi started the company in Lecco, Italy, and they've been cranking out shells ever since, surviving two world wars and every market upheaval in between.

In 1983, they set up shop in Ozark, Missouri, giving them production on both sides of the Atlantic. This means they can make ammo to European CIP specs and American SAAMI standards--handy when you're selling globally.

Fiocchi brings 140+ years of manufacturing experience to a market dominated by newer American brands, and their Italian heritage shows up in their attention to shotshell consistency.

The company supplies military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. They're a SAAMI member and have facilities in both Italy and Missouri cranking out handgun, rifle, and shotgun ammunition.

Fiocchi's American reputation runs strongest with shotshells.

Fiocchi's American reputation runs strongest with shotshells - walk into any trap range and you'll see stacks of their target loads for good reason.

• •Fiocchi's complete product line hierarchy showing specialization by application

Their Exacta Target loads are what put Fiocchi on the map here. Quality clay loads at prices that undercut Federal and Winchester premium stuff by a couple bucks per box. When you're burning through 200 rounds at a trap session, that adds up.

Their Range Dynamics line is solid practice ammo. Not the cheapest you can buy, but reliable and available in bulk when you need to feed a 9mm habit.

Their rifle stuff is decent but not where they shine. The Exacta Match line shoots okay--not Federal Gold Medal good, but acceptable for the price.

Fiocchi runs two facilities that complement each other well. The Italian plant in Lecco handles most shotshell production and has 140+ years of institutional knowledge baked in.

The Missouri facility focuses on centerfire and some shotshells for the American market.

This dual setup lets them meet both European CIP and American SAAMI standards. More importantly, it keeps shipping costs reasonable and supply chains shorter for U.S. customers.

• •Key milestones in Fiocchi's 140+ year manufacturing history

Their quality control includes electronic inspection for charge weights and primer seating. Shot sorting keeps pellet sizes consistent in target loads--something you notice when you're trying to dust clay birds at 40 yards.

Fiocchi's Italian manufacturing heritage shows up most in their shotshells. Europeans take clay sports seriously, and that attention to consistency translates well to American trap and skeet ranges.

Their Exacta Target loads pattern consistently and cycle reliably in semi-auto shotguns. Velocities stay consistent box to box, which matters when you're dialing in leads.

The Golden Pheasant upland loads use nickel-plated shot that stays rounder longer and delivers tighter patterns. Good stuff for pheasants and quail at longer ranges.

Their Range Dynamics handgun ammo is solid for practice. Burns clean enough, cycles reliably, and comes in bulk packs when you want to buy in volume. Not the absolute cheapest, but you get what you pay for.

The Exacta Match rifle line is adequate. It'll shoot sub-MOA in a good rifle, but don't expect it to compete with Federal Gold Medal or Hornady Match. Fair performance for the price point.

Fiocchi generally runs clean and reliable, but there are a few things to watch for:

• •Occasional primer consistency issues in budget centerfire lines
• •Some batches of handgun ammo run slightly underpowered
• •Rifle ammunition sometimes shows more velocity variation than premium competitors

Nothing deal-breaking, but worth knowing if you're planning to use their stuff for precision work or competition where consistency matters most.

• •For Clay Sports: Buy Exacta Target loads without hesitation. Excellent value and proven performance at high volumes. Most trap ranges stock them.

• •For Upland Hunting: Golden Pheasant is solid, especially in 20 gauge. The nickel-plated shot makes a difference on longer shots.

• •For Range Practice: Range Dynamics 9mm and .45 ACP are good middle-ground options. More expensive than steel-case imports but more reliable.

• •For Home Defense: Their Defense Dynamics 00 buckshot performs like any other standard buckshot load. Nothing special, nothing wrong with it.

• •Skip For: Precision rifle work where consistency is critical, or budget plinking where cheapest possible is the goal.

Most sporting goods stores stock Fiocchi shotshells--they're mainstream enough that Dick's and Sportsman's Warehouse carry them. Centerfire availability varies more by region and distributor.

Online retailers like MidwayUSA and Natchez usually have good selection and pricing. Many trap and skeet ranges sell Fiocchi target loads on-site, often at competitive prices.

Price-wise, they sit between premium American brands and budget imports. Shotshells offer the value proposition--centerfire is fairly priced but not particularly cheap.

Fiocchi built their American reputation on shotshells, and that's still where they shine. Their target loads deliver consistent performance at prices that make sense for high-volume shooting.

When you're burning through cases of shells at trap league, the savings over Federal or Winchester add up without sacrificing reliability. Their centerfire stuff is adequate but not exceptional. It's well-made ammunition that cycles reliably and shoots reasonably well, but there's nothing about it that makes you choose it over domestic alternatives except occasional pricing advantages.

The Italian heritage brings real value in shotshells where 140+ years of manufacturing experience shows up in consistent shot charges and reliable ignition.

If you shoot clays regularly, try their Exacta Target loads. If you're looking for practice handgun ammo, their Range Dynamics line is worth considering when priced competitively. For everything else, buy based on availability and price rather than brand loyalty.

• •Federal Premium - Primary American competitor in shotshells
• •Winchester - Historical comparison in longevity and market position
• •Shotgun Sports - Where Fiocchi excels

• •Fiocchi of America: fiocchiusa.com
• •Company history documentation (1876-present)
• •Range testing data from Shotgun Sports magazine
• •User feedback from trap/skeet communities