So this Sunday we went to the range to check out that new brand that has been doing the rounds in the market Zol or ZOLOLOLOLOLO as it called.
We had a few boxes of their 9mm HPs Since the hollow point does not have the long lines that denote the ability of the hollow point to expend reliably. We were curious to how it will perform. Deathrow shot the round in a telephone directory. It did not flower open so much as deformed completely.
Which may be due to the fact that unlike other local projectiles, ZOL really does not have iron in its projectile at all. Now iron or steel cased projectiles can seriously erode the grooves of the barrel of your precious weapon easily enough. However, scrap iron is cheap and smelting the same into projectiles can get the job done easily enough.
This is why we always conduct the ‘magnet’ test first and foremost to see if the project sticks to it or not. Zol does not. Like zilch.. Zero. Even the range master at the Arabian Sea country club was astounded when he ran his own magnet on it and was quite astounded. Chinese Red box by contrast does stick a bit. As do most Russian ammo brands.
POF does not though.
We shot almost 200 rounds and there were two FTFires. I did not check the rounds in any other weapon to see if they would go bang or not.
The recoil was pretty much the same as your average POF. I could not detect the noxious cloud f thick black some that is the hallmark of local black power ammo reloads. Nor could I smell that malodorous odor characteristic of the usual local ammos.
I took apart the weapon and checked to see the fouling. Actually, Fellow member Kalimi took apart my weapon so he would be in a better position to explain what he saw.
After I did a detailed field strip at home, the white cotton I used did become black when I ran it inside the slide. But Since I had not cleaned the weapon for ages. I am not sure which ammo was responsible
I also did not check to see if it was corrosive, since I had no inclination of keeping it uncleaned. I kinda like my NP 42 a bit too much for such abuse.
Summery
If No POF is available or at 65 to 70+ rates then this is a good below 50 a pop option. But should POF be available in the market at the same rate. I would prefer that as range fodder.
P.S fellow member deathrow did take it apart to check the powder load visually. he would better explain his experience with it