Ammunition Buying Guide: The Basics

 

At first glance, the ammo itself seems pretty simple, like there isn’t too much to consider. However, with its basics like projectile, case, powder and primer, it’s enough to understand there’s more to it. Once you get to see the variety of options available in the market, that’s when things turn even more complex. This leads us to the important question most enthusiasts asks themselves. 

How to Pick the Right Ammunition?

With so many options of top-notch ammunition from some of the standout brands, like Hornady, CCI, Winchester and Federal, it’s easy to get lost in the selection. To keep things simple and straightforward with the shopping, there are a few key factors such as ammo caliber, size, weight, overall design, and intended use. 

The Key Factors 

Getting the right ammo online with the key factors chosen properly is crucial not only for safety and optimal performance but to protect the firearm from damages too. 

Caliber and Size

When it’s time to talk about the calibers, which is the term for bullet diameter, there are different types based on the different firearms:

• With handgun ammo: The 9mm type, the most popular caliber, is used by various people around the world, which includes civilians who rely on it for self-defense, as much as law enforcement, police officers and the military. Among this option, you have the FMJ, which is cheap and ideal for practice, followed by the JHP which expands on impact, the +P and +P+ that are high-pressure to improve terminal performance. Other handgun ammo calibers include the .380 ACP, great for compact carry pistols with the smaller, lighter recoil, followed by revolver staples like .38 Special with the low recoil and .357 Magnum with the exceptional power, .45 ACP with high stopping power and quiet operation, and .40 S&W with great ballistic performance, making it a top choice balancing performance and recoil between 9mm and .45. 
• With rimfire ammo: The .22 LR (Long Rifle) which is the most used and popular, known for the versatility and affordability. There’s the standard velocity .22 you can rely on for indoor range use and hunting small game, the high velocity for informal target shooting with the faster trajectory, the stinger for the hyper velocity, the HP great for pest control, and the plated lead or solid lead FMJ which comes in handy with bulk practice. Despite this, the .22 isn’t the only option with rimfire ammo. There’s .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) for the high-velocity round, the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) which is more powerful than the standard .22LR, and the smaller and older .22 Short. 
• With shotgun ammo: Here, there are options in gauges instead of calibers, with the exception being the .410-bore famous for the light recoil. Among the heavy-duty 10-gauge, the popular 12-gauge, the balancing 16-gauge as the perfect choice between 12-gauge and 20-gauge, the 20-gauge fit for smaller shooters, and the lightweight 28-gauge, it’s the 12-gauge that’s the most common for the versatility of use, which can include sporting, hunting and home defense. 
• With rifle ammo: There are several options here, starting with the lightweight, low recoil .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO, the 6.5 Creedmoor with its high accuracy, mild recoil fit for long-range target shooting and mid-to-large game hunting, and the .308 Winchester with the reliability and accuracy used in hunting and competition. There’s also the .300 Winchester Magnum with the extra energy great for big-game hunting, and .30-06 Springfield for a broad range of bullet weights. In case you need some big-diameter bullets, you have specialty options like .375 H&H and .458 Winchester Magnum. 

Design

In terms of bullet design, which is a factor that indicates how deep the projectile will penetrate, there are several options, such as:

• Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) - This is a bullet choice that has a hard metal shell with a soft core inside. 
• Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) - As the name indicates, this bullet design has a hollow cavity that expands upon impact. 
• Soft Point (SP) - While the lead or polymer tip expands, the jacket retains its mass. 
• Bonded bullets - With chemical or mechanical bonds, the core and the jacket don’t separate even upon impact. 
• Non-jacketed copper bullets - In case you can’t use lead, or there’s need for maximum weight retention and deep penetration, you can rely on the non-jacketed copper bullets.

The Intended Use

Choosing the right ammunition is a lot like choosing the right tool for the job - there are different options to accommodate the different needs. What is the intended use you need this for? Is it for training, self-defense, competition or hunting? The answer to this can help make your shopping less of a hassle. 

Target

When it comes to the target/plinking purpose, you need all the accuracy you can get which is where FMJ bullets prove to be efficient. Designed to feed reliably, suiting range-style firearms, you have the chance to pick from the lighter option that’s fit for flatter trajectories and higher velocities, and the heavier alternatives for better recoil. 

Self-defense

For self-defense and law enforcement situations, it’s the JHP bullets that are the preferred choice because of the ability to expand and stop a threat without over-penetration. Choose moderate to heavy bullets for reliable expansion. 

Hunting

Effective terminal performance and humane kill are both crucial in the case of hunting purposes, which is why preference goes to soft point and hollow points for controlled expansion, deep penetration and weight retention.