Just wondering if anyone has opinions about or experience using Ammo detailing products. The founder Larry Kosilla has tons of videos on YouTube, and seems to know what he's talking about, but wondering how good his products are.

 

I prefer to load my own but if I have to buy ammo I go with S&B or Magtech for bulk stuff and Gold Dot for JHP.

 

I personally use the Ammo NYC products mostly because Larry seems to know what he's doing and his products have been developed with paint longevity in mind. When I first started, I bought all three sets: paint, wheels, and interior, and I continue to use them today.

The paint set comes with the soap (Foam), a paint hydrator (Hydrate), a paint "shell" (Skin), and a spray wax (Spit). The soap foams up very nicely and does a great job at being soap. It's not too aggressive so it doesn't eat away at any coats of wax that you might have applied over time. Larry even recommends using dish soap once a year to "reset" all the wax that has been applied. Plus, it smells amazing. My garage always smells minty fresh for a few days after a wash.

Hydrate is what he uses to dry the car. Basically, spray a towel with it and it'll act as a lubricant between the towel and paint as the towels absorb the water. It makes me feel very confident in drying the car, because I know it'll leave fewer scratches than without it.

I barely use Skin because, by the time the car is clean and dry, I have already spent 2 hours washing the car, and don't want to keep going. The few times I have used it, it does give the car a bit more shine. My only concern is when you wipe it off afterward, make sure you don't miss a spot, otherwise the leftover streaks will collect dirt and look bad.

The spray wax is a spray wax, it works as advertised. I use it to clean the door jams and do any spot treatment if necessary. Despite aggressively cleaning the paint in the door jams, there don't seem to be any scratches, so the spray wax is helping prevent those scratches. Plus, it's basically a cleaner, so it helps lift up the dirt.

The wheel set includes the soap (Brute), a brake dust lifter (Plum), and tire shine (Mud). The soap also smells wonderful, and it's basically a stronger version of Foam made specifically to tackle the more nasty stuff you find on wheels. Always spray some Plum beforehand to lift up any brake dust. The best part about Plum is that it'll turn purple when it comes in contact with brake dust to let you know how much of a hoon you are. The purple shows up nicely on my white car, because there will always be some brake dust on the paint. I don't use the tire shine much for the same reason as I don't use Skin. It does make the tires look good, but only for a few days until they get dirty again.

The interior products are good too, but I would personally recommend skipping it unless you're a completionist. Lather, the cleaner, leaves streaks all over any metal or plastic surfaces. This is very annoying, so make sure to wipe it away before it dries. The other two products work like any others would, but Larry formulates them to only include what's needed and leaves out extra crap that might leave residue or break down the materials.

I also bought a couple sets of his towels and they are awesome, just make sure you're maintaining them like he recommends. I haven't tried any of his newer stuff, like Reflex (foundation coating), Gelee (wax), or Creme (wheel protectant). I might get Gelee because it's supposed to make brake dust less attracted to the wheels, but it's fairly pricey.

TL;DR

Being an amateur detailer, I love his products. They are very pricey, but I trust the them, so I am willing to pay extra. Get the paint and wheel set and all the proper tools and your car will look incredible.

 

Larry is amazing. Never used his products though but doesn't seem like a bad idea.

 

Larry recommends alternative products to his own when they are better.

Meaning, the products he does supply are top tier, equivalent to competition, if not better.

(he regularly does this with compounds and polishes)