Frequently Asked Questions

These are questions that are most often asked by our customers and dealers. Please help add to this list if you are wondering about our products and process by submitting your question to us at sales@defenderammunition.com.

What is the difference between remanufactured ammunition and reloads?

There are two major fundamental differences between reloading and remanufacturing:

SIZING AND CASE PREPARATION:

Reloaders generally have a one-stop shop machine for their entire “process”. The de-priming, sizing, priming, powder dump and projectile placement/crimp are all done with the pull of a handle (or several pulls of a handle). Generally, the sizing die only sizes the top third or so of the case as it passes through the “sizing station”. While this process is somewhat effective, it completely misses some of the expansion that happens in the lower portion of the shell casing.

Remanufacturers have a much more stringent process for reconditioning the brass: we either roll the casing through a machine specifically designed to affect the entire casing, or we punch it completely through a resizing die. This way, every part of the casing is brought back to the original specs.

Each casing is pressure-checked prior to making it to the priming machine. The equipment verifies the integrity of the brass and rejects any casings at risk for failure.

POWDER CHECKING:

Our machines in the remanufacturing process check EVERY round after the powder is dropped into it. In fact, this equipment is so sensitive, that it stops completely if something is amiss.

This is profoundly different than a reloading process (which is not what we do). In reloading, powder grains are only measured when the operator decides to pull out a round and dump it on a scale, which leaves a lot of room for error.

Everything we load is within specifications published by S.A.A.M.I. For more information on what their recommendations are, visit their website: www.saami.org

What’s with the alphabet soup?

There are TONS of different abbreviations for the projectiles used in cartridges. Here are a few that we use:

RN- Round Nosed bullet. A round nose bullet offers more reliable feeding in finicky semi-auto firearms that may not function well with other types of bullets.

FN- Flat Nose bullet. This is sometimes referred to as Flat Point as well, but we use the language "Flat Nose" for consistency. A flat nose projectile is ideal for cutting a clean hole through a paper target to help you see the point of impact from greater distances from the target.

FMJ- Full Metal Jacket- the projectile is essentially pushed into the “jacket”, leaving exposed lead on the back.

TMJ- Total Metal Jacket, meaning the lead projectile is totally encompassed in the plating.

P- Plated. For us, a shorter way of saying TMJ. P will often precede the letters indicating the shape of the projectile.  Ex: PRN= Plated Round Nose

BT- Boat tail. Refers to the shape of the back of the bullet. Boat tails are widely known for having less drag.

SP- Soft point. Provides more penetration before expansion when compared to a hollow point.

HP- Hollow point. Provides a lot of expansion on impact. Mostly use for hunting/defense.

THP- Target Hollow Point. This projectile flies like a hollow point, but doesn’t expand the same way a modern defensive hollow point will.

HB- Hollow Base. The Hollow Base on some of our rounds allows the bullet to be longer and provides more contact area with the barrel and rifling which will stabilize the bullet and improve accuracy.  The bullet profile is longer but the weight of the bullet remains the same.  The hollow base bullet is a favorite among target and competitive shooters.

TMK- Tipped Match King. This is a projectile with polymer tip, ideal for precision rifle rounds.

SMK- Sierra Match King. Sierra Bulletsmiths are the manufacturers of these incredibly precise projectiles. This is an open-tipped match king. The hollow point on these is designed for less drag on the projectile rather than a defensive-style hollow point.

What does subsonic mean?

A subsonic projectile is one that travels less than the speed of sound. The super-sonic "crack" that is typical of a cartridge being fired is minimized; however, to experience maximum benefit from subsonic ammunition, a suppressor is recommended.

Does using remanufactured ammunition void the warranty on my firearm?

No. We’ve called several firearm manufacturers to try to understand how this rumor started. A firearm’s warranty is against defects in the firearm. If the ammunition caused the problem, the firearm’s warranty won’t cover it- it doesn’t matter who made it. That being said, we take full responsibility for what we produce. We are fully insured and our ammunition is guaranteed against defects in our assembly process.

How quick is the shipping time on orders? 

Most orders go out the same day we receive them. However, our UPS pickup is at 3pm Eastern Time. If we receive your order after that, it will not be processed until the following day. We do not currently have weekend pickups, so weekend orders are shipped first thing Monday morning. You will receive communication from us at each step that will enable you to track your order for the duration of time in transit. Additionally, we cover any markings on the outside of the box that indicate the contents to reduce the potential for theft.

What are shipping charges? 

Online orders ship UPS and we charge you exactly what they charge us. If you choose to add security (signature required), you'll be charged an additional fee for that service. For more information, read the shipping policy.

I received ammunition that is silver. Did you send me steel-cased or aluminum ammo?!?

No chance. We absolutely do not load anything in-house with steel or aluminum casings. We use only brass, but sometimes we're able to use nickel-plated brass. Nickel plating is silver and is more tarnish-resistant than brass, but don't worry, it's still brass. 

Do you ship to me?

If you are in the continental US, we can ship to you. Some states have special rules, requiring us to ship through an FFL (gun shop), but we can make it happen. Just follow the instructions in the portal and upload your required documents. 

Can I return my ammo?

There is a manufacturers warranty on ammunition if we find that there was an error in the manufacturing process. In order for this warranty to be used, we must have the proof of purchase, lot number and un-fired ammunition. Please know that all firearms do not perform optimally with all ammunition. Some firearms group better, run better, etc. with different bullet profiles than others. If you're not sure which your firearm likes best, we recommend you try a single box before purchasing in bulk. 

We do not accept returns or exchanges on ammunition. Please be certain that the caliber you are purchasing is the correct caliber for your firearm before completing your purchase. Our customer service staff is available to consult with you via chat, email or phone.

Promo codes: We regularly offer incentives, freebies and discounts for repeat customers. In most cases, these discounts are not able to be applied to already discounted products (factory blemishes and weekly deals). 

I live in an anti-gun state. How do I get ammo?

If you live in California or New York, we have to ship your ammo to an FFL on your behalf. To do this, you must acquire a copy of the receiving business's documents and upload them through the instructions at checkout. Please be aware that your FFL may charge a fee for receiving the package on your behalf. If you do not pick up your package from the FFL that you shipped it to and it is returned to us, you will be charged the return shipping fees.