Prvi Partizan Ammunition Reviews & Testing
Prvi Partizan (PPU) is a brand of ammo you may already have heard of but know nothing about. If so, it may surprise you to learn they’re one of the largest producers of ammunition on the planet.
Prvi Partizan has grown so much in recent years that they’re currently the third-largest foreign manufacturer in the U.S. ammo market. That’s a heck of an achievement given the immense competition out there.
Today, we will talk about all things Prvi Partizan; from their humble origins to their modern state-of-the-art production facility, and what you need to know if you’re thinking about buying a box or two (or twenty) of PPU-headstamped rounds.
Is Prvi Partizan Good Ammo?
Prvi Partizan is the primary ammo supplier to the Serbian military and police. They supply a huge number of other European and Asian militaries and police forces as well.
In our experience, Prvi Partizan is just as good as (if not better than) any other military-grade ammo out there. It is more than sufficient for plinking, target shooting, and hunting. The vast majority of ammo they make is loaded with FMJ bullets, and it’s good stuff.
PPU doesn’t make a ton of match-grade ammo for the U.S. market. But if you’re able to get your hands on it, you’ll find it’s plenty alright for competition. Shooters in Serbia certainly seem to enjoy it, so much so that PPU is the primary sponsor of the IPSC chapter there. 9mm, 223 Remington, and 308 Winchester/7.62 NATO are some of their biggest sellers, especially in NATO countries.
Prvi Partizan 223 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 55 Grain SP Ammunition
124 In stock now
Pros
- Noncorrosive ammo that meets or exceeds modern standards
- Extremely high output of NATO-standard and other common rounds (easy to find in stock)
- A variety of available projectile types
- Consistent velocity and reliable primers
- Typically very affordable
- One of the last producers of certain historic cartridges, e.g 8x56mmR, 7.92x33mm Kurz, 7.65x53mm Argentine, and 8mm Lebel
Cons
- Some match-grade (sub-MOA) and other specialty offerings are not imported to the U.S.
- No shotgun ammo
- No rimfire ammo
I’ve seen PPU’s jacketed hollow points outperform those of quite a few American manufacturers in ballistics gel tests. I won’t name names here, but suffice to say their defensive ammo meets American/FBI standards.
For plinking, target shooting, and training at close range (i.e., within 250 yards), PPU’s ammo is hard to beat for its price. Their self-defense, match-grade, and hunting ammo all perform well if you can get your hands on them.
The antlers of a small nine-point whitetail I harvested with some of their 303 British soft point ammo are hanging on the wall of my parents’ garage – undeniable proof that PPU ammo works as intended.
PPU is one of the only manufacturers producing certain historical and oddball cartridges, such as 8x56mmR, 7.92x33mm Kurz, 7.65x53mm Argentine, and 8mm Lebel. They currently roll out over 400 different cartridges. Odds are they have something for you.
Make no mistake: This isn’t military surplus-quality ammo. This is high-quality, brass-cased ammo that will compete with Remington, Winchester, and other major U.S. manufacturers’ best work. And if you like to save good brass for your own handloads, PPU will do right by you.
For an in-depth look at what’s available, check out our full selection of Prvi Partizan ammo at Ammo.com!
Quick Prvi Partizan 5.56 Ammo Review
In my experience, PPU 5.56 ammo is reliable and affordable. It’s great for training and target shooting because it isn’t high-priced, its brass is reloadable, and it’s reasonably accurate. I’ve rarely had a failure to fire when using PPU 5.56 ammo, which reliably feeds in my AR-15s. After my first trip to the range with it, it quickly became my favorite range day 5.56 ammo, especially when I know I’m going to burn through a few hundred (or more) rounds.
Quick Prvi Partizan 9mm Ammo Review
After seeing how well PPU’s 5.56 ammo performed, I wanted to test out their 9mm ammo. I had high expectations that were ultimately met. I found these rounds to be affordable, reliable, and accurate. PPU 9mm ammo reliably fed into my various pistols and pistol-caliber carbine from different mags. I consistently hit a 4-inch steel target from 15 to 25 yards with these rounds, and didn’t mind blowing through several mags with such inexpensive ammo.
Which Calibers Are Available?
Prvi Partizan 5.56x45 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 55 Grain FMJBT M193 Ammunition (Label Says 223; Ammo Is Confirmed 5.56 M193)
52 In stock now
Prvi Partizan manufactures over 400 different cartridges. Unfortunately, not all of this ammo is regularly available in the U.S. Here are some rounds you can consistently find in stock.
- .223 Remington
- .243 Winchester
- 25 ACP
- 25-06 Remington
- 270 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
- 30-30 Winchester
- 303 British
- 375 H&H Magnum
- 44 Remington Magnum
- 45 ACP
- 5.56x45mm NATO
- 6.5x52 Carcano
- 7.62x39
- 7.62x51 NATO
- 7.62x38mmR
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 9mm Luger
If you are looking to stock up on popular calibers such as 9mm Luger, 45 ACP, 223 Remington, and 7.62x39, we offer an excellent selection of bulk options. Check out our bulk 9mm ammo, bulk 45 ACP ammo, bulk 223 ammo, and bulk 7.62x39 ammo pages to secure great deals. Purchasing in bulk is a smart way to ensure you always have the right ammo on hand for any shooting need!
Prvi Partizan Ammo History and Important Information
Prvi Partizan began in 1928 as Fabrika Oružja i Municije Užice (“Weapons and Munitions Factory in Užice”).
During World War II, Resistance-run ammunition works operated by Tito’s Partisans helped supply ammunition to Allied forces and resistance groups fighting against German occupation. Prvi Partizan was one such ammunition works, which came to be known as Prvi Partizan fabrika (“First Partisan factory”) – a name it kept after the war. Prvi Partizan continued producing ammunition throughout the Cold War.
Since then, PPU has become one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the world, supplying over 400 types of ammo worldwide. They are a large NATO supplier and the third largest foreign supplier of ammunition to the U.S. as well.
Where Is PPU Ammo Made?
Prvi Partizan 9mm Ammo - 50 Rounds of 115 Grain FMJ Ammunition
3 In stock now
Prvi Partizan (PPU) manufactures ammo at their massive facility just outside of Užice, Serbia. They have one facility divided into three separate buildings that are staffed by over 1,000 people.
Frequently Asked Questions About PPU Ammo
Is PPU ammo good for hunting?
Yes, PPU ammo is very good for hunting. Prvi Partizan ammunition is used for hunting everything from small game to the African Big Five.
Is Prvi Partizan ammo corrosive?
Modern Prvi Partizan ammo is completely noncorrosive. Pre-1998 ammo may have corrosive primers (although this is not certain). Take extra care with surplus ammo older than 25 years, but don’t worry about modern ammunition. (As a general guideline, ammo packaged in military-grade containers with Cyrillic characters is suspect; ammo packaged in colorful boxes with English writing is safe.)
Final Thoughts on PPU
PPU is a name many people here in the U.S. may not be very familiar with, but it is a great manufacturer with an awesome history. Prvi Partizan is a highly respected manufacturer in the European market, and we’re happy that their U.S. presence continues to grow.
If you’d like to know more about this fine company, you can check out our customers’ PPU ammunition reviews and our full selection of PPU ammo. You can also read about some of our other favorite manufacturers, such as Hornady and Remington.
