CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Review

If you’ve ever shopped for range ammo, you’ve likely come across CCI Blazer Brass 9mm.

There is a wide selection of range ammo on the market, but not all of it is made equal. Today we’re taking a closer look at the Blazer Brass 9mm round to see how it performs and if it is worth buying.

Keep reading to see what we found in our CCI Blazer Brass 9mm review.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Review: Quick Takeaways

Up top, here are some quick takeaways from my review of the CCI Blazer Brass 9mm:

Blazer Brass 9mm comes in four different loads, but the most popular are the Blazer Brass 9mm 115 grain FMJ and Blazer Brass 9mm 124 grain FMJ
The round uses reloadable brass cases and a copper-plated FMJ bullet
Blazer Brass should not be used in guns with ported barrels because the copper-plating on the bullet can shear off into the barrel porting
CCI loads Blazer Brass right here in America
Blazer Brass is a reliable round great for fun on the range but should not be used as a self defense round

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Review: The Basics

Founded	Cascade Cartridges Inc. (CCI) in 1951; Blazer brand introduced in 1981
Founder	Richard "Dick" Speer
Operations	Lewiston, Idaho
Calibers Produced	.22LR, .25 Auto, .32 Auto, .380 Auto, 9mm, .38Sp, .38Sp +P, .357 Mag, .40 S&W, 10mm, .44Sp, .44Mag, .45 ACP, .45 Colt
Lines Produced	Brass, Aluminum, Clean-Fire

The Blazer brand from CCI is the company’s economical line of ammo that comes in several different calibers and loadings. CCI first introduced the Blazer line in 1981 using aluminum cases. Due to the round’s popularity, CCI eventually began loading it with brass cases as well. CCI now loads Blazer Brass with reloadable brass cases, noncorrosive boxer primers, and copper-plated FMJ bullets.

CCI offers Blazer Brass 9mm in four different loads:

The most popular of these, and what we will be focusing on today, is the Blazer Brass 9mm 115 grain and Blazer Brass 9mm 124 grain loads.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Review: Pros & Cons

Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of the round.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Pros

When I go to the range to practice or for fun, I want to shoot a round that is both reliable and affordable. In my opinion, that’s where CCI Blazer Brass 9mm shines.

I’ve used Blazer Brass 9mm for training classes, matches, and just fun at the range. In my experience, most 9mm pistols like the round and feed it well with no major hiccups.

While it is not the cheapest range round out there, it tends to be on the cheaper side of brass-cased range ammo.

Some of the reasons I like the Blazer Brass 9mm:

It uses reloadable brass cases
Made in America
Easy to find in stock
Its copper-plated bullet is better for indoor range use
It is accurate and reliable
Affordability

Reloadable Brass Cases

The Blazer Brass’s quality brass cases make the round a good choice for shooters who reload their own ammo. If you’re not reloading ammo and looking for a slightly more affordable option, the Blazer Aluminum 9mm line is worth looking into. The Aluminum line features a non-reloadable aluminum case and has a thinner copper coating than the Blazer Brass line.

Made in America

Another upside of the Blazer line is that it is made right here in the USA. CCI’s ammo plant is located in Lewiston, Idaho where the company produces Blazer Brass along with several other lines of ammo. By purchasing Blazer Brass, you’re supporting an American company that employs around 650 workers.

Easy to Find

There are some types of ammo that can be hard to find, especially during times of increased ammo demand. Luckily, Blazer Brass 9mm is usually pretty easy to find in stock. Here at Target Barn, we keep our warehouse stocked with 9mm Blazer Brass.

Good for Indoor Ranges

The Blazer Brass’ full metal jacket bullet is not a standard FMJ. It actually uses a less expensive copper-plated bullet. This bullet does not have an exposed lead base, making it better for indoor ranges. That’s because you’re more prone to airborne lead particle exposure in indoor ranges. However,

Accuracy & Reliability

At the range, I’ve found that the Blazer Brass works well in several different guns of various sizes with no malfunctions or failures. Some guns may be picky with their ammo, but in general, the Blazer Brass round will run reliably in common guns.

I tested the accuracy of the 115 grain and 124 grain 9mm Blazer Brass using a Sig Sauer P365XL at 10 and 15 yards and found no issues. I would not hesitate to use either round in a match like USPSA or IDPA where I need to make accurate shots.

Affordability

I don’t know about you, but I like getting the most bang for my buck. If I’m going to the range to shoot for fun, I don’t want to use up my expensive ammo.

There’s a big selection of brass-cased FMJ range ammo available on the market, and as of early 2024, range ammo prices ranged from 24¢ per round to 54¢ per round. Blazer Brass tends to be on the lower end of this price range, making it a choice your wallet will appreciate.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Cons

Now, let’s take a look at the downsides of the Blazer Brass 9mm round.

Unsafe for Ported Barrels

Because of the Blazer Brass 9mm’s copper-plated bullet, the round should not be used in guns with ported barrels. That’s because the ports in the barrel can shear off the bullet’s copper plating. If enough material builds up, it can block the port, and eventually lead to that material flying out of the gun. While this material probably wouldn’t cause any major damage if it hit your body, it would certainly damage your eyes if not wearing eye protection.

There are some shooters who have ignored this recommendation and had no issues. However, out of caution, it’s best to not shoot Blazer Brass through guns with ported barrels.

CCI recommends their Speer Lawman line for ported barrels. The company offers 9mm Speer Lawman 115gr. TMJ, 9mm Speer Lawman 124gr. TMJ, and 9mm Speer Lawman 147gr. TMJ.

Not a Self Defense Round

The CCI Blazer Brass 9mm is not a self defense round. Of course, it’s not meant to be, so technically this isn’t a downside to the round.

However, it is worth noting that you shouldn’t use Blazer Brass ammo for self defense. Check out our post on the best 9mm ammo for our self defense ammo recommendations.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Velocity

I decided to head to the range with a chronograph to measure the muzzle velocities of the 115gr. and 124gr. Blazer Brass. I used three different guns with three different barrel lengths to measure velocity:

Sig Sauer P365xl – 3.7”
Glock 19x – 4.02”
Smith & Wesson M&P Pro – 5”

We use different guns because barrel length has an effect on velocity: longer barrels will result in faster velocities because the extra length allows the bullet to gain more speed before exiting the barrel.

We’ve previously covered the differences between 115gr. vs. 124gr. bullet weights. Essentially, the 115gr. is a lighter bullet traveling faster, while the 124gr. Is a heavier bullet traveling slower.

Here is the muzzle velocity data I collected.

Blazer Brass 9mm 115gr. Velocity

Gun	Barrel Length	10-Shot Average Muzzle Velocity (fps)	10-Shot Average Muzzle Energy (ft/lbs)
Sig Sauer P365XL	3.7"	1100	309
Glock 19X	4.02"	1114	317
Smith & Wesson M&P Pro 9	5"	1135	329

CCI advertises that the 115 grain Blazer Brass has a muzzle velocity of 1145 fps out of a 4″ barrel. Our testing found an average muzzle velocity of 1114 fps out of a 4.02″ barrel.

Blazer Brass 9mm 124gr. Velocity

Gun	Barrel Length	10-Shot Average Muzzle Velocity (fps)	10-Shot Average Muzzle Energy (ft/lbs)
Sig Sauer P365XL	3.7"	1080	321
Glock 19X	4.02"	1084	324
Smith & Wesson M&P Pro 9	5"	1122	347

CCI advertises the 124 grain Blazer Brass muzzle velocity as 1090 fps out of a 4″ barrel. Our testing found an average muzzle velocity of 1084 fps out of a 4.02″ barrel.

CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Review: Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an economical and reliable round to shoot for fun, the CCI Blazer Brass 9mm is an excellent choice. If you’re shooting a gun with a ported barrel, opt for a non-plated FMJ bullet like Speer Lawman 9mm 115gr. instead.

Whatever ammo you choose for range day, you can trust that our team here at Target Barn will keep you stocked with the best rounds. Stay safe out there!