I ordered 500 rounds of Geco 124gr 9mm FMJ as plinking ammo due to its reputation for reliability and accuracy. However, upon further reading, I learned that according to popular belief, their 124gr load is bi-metal jacketed. I just checked mine with a series of magnets and can confirm that at least the batch that I purchased does not contain any ferrous material in the bullet or case. It was purchased from Sportsmansguide about a month ago - Lot#: 0293839000000
I will be purchasing more based on this discovery and wanted to share my findings with those who may have considered Geco but passed due to concern of accelerated rifling wear.
The above two posts covered it. I’ve had a couple thousand of the Swiss 124 gr and one case of the Hungarian 124 gr. The Hungarian was noticeably weaker, but still just as accurate and clean from what I noticed. I didn’t do any formal tests for accuracy, but more or less they shot equally well.
Question for you guys: I thought only the Swiss-made boxes were marked and approved for IPSC matches - these are marked IPSC, but are non bi-metal. Do you know if the Hungarian-made Geco has been approved for IPSC use or could this be a case of the manufacturer running out of the correct boxes?
Well… I managed to test out some of my brother’s Geco 124gr that I bought for him about a year ago. They too are marked IPSC and the boxes appear identical to mine, however - his are magnetic. I forgot to write the lot # down. I purchased his from PSA. Every box of the Hungarian stuff that I’ve seen online is NOT marked IPSC. Anyone with some Geco 124gr 9mm to test for me? Thanks…
I’m sorry I was going to reply to your previous post a while ago, but I got sidetracked and it completely slipped my mind.
I have almost all of the boxes from both batches, Hungarian and Swiss Geco 124 gr at home. I’m almost positive that both batches had the same boxes; the only way I could tell them apart was from the white label on the large carton they shipped in with one reading “Made in Switzerland” vs Hungaria on the other. Then again this was just used as training ammo, so I did not pay too much attention to any IPSC markings.
I have 3 boxes, 150 rounds, left and I’m not sure if it’s Swiss or Hungarian. I won’t be home to check until about Sunday, so I’ll try to check for you by Monday.
As far as IPSC I’m not sure what ammo is required, but I do remember reading somewhere that the Swiss Geco had a copper jacket. This supposedly prevented the accelerated wear associated with bimetallic bullets (if that’s your concern). Apparently the Hungarian ammo was made as not bimetallic due to criticism of the Swiss ammo being bimetal.
Please do and let me know! Thanks! I’m wary of bi-metal bullets, regardless of supposed jacket thickness and really like the Hungarian (I’m guessing, there is no info about country of manufacture on the packaging) Geco that I’ve been shooting.
I’m sorry again for the late reply. I did check the three boxes that I had left; all three are marked “made in Switzerland” and they do have the IPSC markings on them as well.
I checked them with a magnet, and they were in fact magnetic.
I tried to look and see if I maybe had any of the Hungarian ammo left, but it looks like I used it all up last year.
I hope that helped confirm anything; I took a picture of the box as well, so I can email it to you if you would like. I would post it here, but for some reason it won’t let me from my phone and I’m away from any computer.
ETA: I just found a couple empty boxes of the Hungarian Gecco; the boxes are exactly the same as the Swiss. Except for “Made in EU” vs “Made in Switzerland”. The Hungarian box is also marked ISPC.
Interesting. I have some that was made in Switzerland and have been shooting it at a couple of local ranges for years without issue. In fact, I’ve gone through a couple of cases so far. I’ll check it out when I get home. Is there any other issue other than the possibility of accelerated barrel wear?
Update: Sure enough. My Geco 124gr sticks to a magnet.