PMC Ammunition

PMC (Precision Made Cartridges) comes from South Korea's Poongsan Corporation -- the same outfit that makes military ammo for the ROK forces. They've been selling reliable, affordable ammunition to American shooters since the 1980s, and they're a SAAMI member.

PMC is the ammunition that shows up at every range but nobody talks about. It goes bang every time, the brass reloads beautifully, and the price lets you shoot more. That military manufacturing discipline from Poongsan shows in the civilian product.

• •PMC's military-to-civilian manufacturing pipeline

Poongsan Corporation started in 1968 as South Korea's primary defense contractor. By the 1970s they were making military small arms ammunition, and in the 1980s they launched the PMC brand for American shooters.

PMC gained real traction during the ammo shortages of the late 80s and early 90s when shooters discovered this Korean import actually worked -- and worked well. The company expanded their product lines through the 2000s but kept the same focus: reliable ammunition at prices that don't hurt.

Today PMC ammunition gets manufactured in South Korea under military QC standards, then distributed nationwide in the U.S. You'll find it at most gun stores and online retailers.

PMC Bronze is their bread and butter -- basic FMJ ammunition that cycles reliably and leaves you with excellent reloading brass. PMC X-TAC has become the sleeper hit among AR-15 shooters who want military-spec performance without Lake City prices.

• •PMC product line positioning and target markets

The company covers most popular calibers:

• •Handgun calibers: 9mm, .380 ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP
• •Rifle calibers: .223 Rem, 5.56 NATO, .308 Win, 7.62x39, .30-06, .30 Carbine, .243, .270 Win
• •Rimfire: .22 LR

PMC Silver exists as their defensive line, but it's adequate at most. If you're buying ammunition for self-defense, Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot will serve you much better.

• •The bottom line: PMC delivers consistent performance across their entire product line. The ammunition functions reliably in everything from finicky 1911s to gas-operated rifles.

PMC delivers consistent performance across their entire product line. The ammunition functions reliably in everything from finicky 1911s to gas-operated rifles.

Their brass quality stands out -- reloaders specifically seek out PMC brass because it holds up to multiple loading cycles. Unlike some imported ammunition, all PMC uses Boxer primers, so you can actually reload the cases.

PMC X-TAC 5.56mm deserves special mention. AR-15 shooters have discovered this ammunition delivers consistent accuracy and reliable cycling at prices well below premium options. The military-spec brass runs clean for imported ammo, and it's excellent for reloading.

Here's how PMC stacks up against other range ammunition:

Common praise centers on:

• •Consistent performance across different firearms
• •Excellent brass quality for reloading
• •Decades of proven track record in American market

Common criticism:

• •PMC isn't exciting or premium
• •Defensive ammunition is adequate but not exceptional
• •Smaller caliber selection than major domestic manufacturers
• •Import supply chains can cause availability issues during shortages

• •For range practice: PMC Bronze in your caliber of choice. It's consistent, affordable, and leaves you with reloadable brass. The 9mm 115gr and .45 ACP 230gr are particularly solid choices.

• •For AR-15 training: PMC X-TAC 5.56 55gr delivers military-spec reliability at civilian prices. It cycles reliably in everything from budget carbines to precision rifles.

• •For budget competition: PMC Gold offers match tolerances without match prices. It won't compete with Lapua or Federal Gold Medal, but it'll tighten your groups significantly over ball ammunition.

• •For reloading brass: Buy any PMC in your caliber. Shoot the ammunition, keep the brass -- PMC cases are some of the most durable you'll reload.

• •For self-defense: Look elsewhere. Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, or Hornady Critical Defense offer proven terminal performance that PMC Silver can't match.

• •For hunting: Also look elsewhere. PMC doesn't compete in the hunting ammunition market, and you'll get better performance from dedicated hunting loads.

PMC is the Toyota Camry of ammunition -- nobody writes love letters about it, but it works every single time and the value is outstanding. For range practice, training, and competition prep, PMC Bronze and X-TAC deliver consistent performance at prices that let you shoot more instead of less.

PMC is the Toyota Camry of ammunition -- nobody writes love letters about it, but it works every single time and the value is outstanding.

The military manufacturing background shows. When Poongsan Corporation applies defense contractor QC standards to civilian ammunition, you get products that simply function. No drama, no surprises, just reliable ammunition that goes bang when you pull the trigger.

Don't buy PMC for self-defense or hunting -- they're not competitive in those markets. Do buy PMC for everything else, especially if you reload. PMC brass is genuinely excellent, and buying their ammunition is often the most economical way to get quality cases for reloading.

If you shoot regularly and want ammunition that won't break the bank or break your rhythm, PMC delivers exactly what you need.