SS198LF vs. SS197SR ammo for storage

[Firemountain]

Hey guys,

I just started buying ammo for the 5.7 and will obtain the gun in the near future. I talked to a local LEO who owns the 5.7 and advised me to stay away from the 198LF. He said the 198LF gets his gun dirtier than the 197SR and is concerned about the long term storage of the 198 due to the lead free primers. Is there any truth to this??

I basically have unlimited access to the 198LF being an active LEO, and would much rather shoot/train with the 198 ammo for home defense, knowing its a faster round, and could punch through barriers easier than the 197...if need be.

The downside....I just found out that if I want to carry the 5.7 off duty, it requires qualifying with it day/nighttime every three months. Either way, I will probably stockpile both the 197 and 198.

Just looking for for some input on both rounds, what is preferred, and if there is any truth that the 198 is not as clean burning as the 197?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Dom

[NLVMike]

So far, I have yet to hear anyone report an actual failure of a lead free primer, and they have been around for quite a while. The 197SR also has lead free primers now.

The point of impact differs with the potency of the ammo. You will likely want to qualify with what you are accustomed to shooting. If the price were about the same, I would not hesitate to shoot 198 exclusively. As to the dirty aspect of the 198, I cannot speak. I find the FsN so easy to clean that I would not worry, but that is just my $.02.

[panzermk2]

The first generation of white box 195 had some primer issues. I have not heard anything lately though.

[Bryan5432]

I have a bunch of ss195LF blue box that's a little over 5 years old and haven't had any issues.

[ShockedNKansas]

All I have ever fired was SS195 for practice, and cleaning my gun after firing 150rds or so seems almost pointless as it is always very clean. Store your SS195 in an ammo box with plenty of desiccant packs and you should be good to go for at least 10 years, but probably much, much longer. I have never had one round of SS195 fail to fire, eject, or feed since I have owned my gun. I would say I have fired several thousand rounds of SS195. That's what is so disappointing about hearing how the new AE rounds have had reliability problems. One of the most redeeming values of the FsN is its reputation as one of the most reliable guns you can own and fire.