Ammunition is fuel for your firearm; without it, one has a paperweight. For all the countless types of guns in circulation, there as just as many different kinds of ammunition. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we should lay out a list of essential terms related to ammunition. Important Terms

  • Ballistic Tip - Ballistic tip bullets resemble a hollow point with a pointed polymer insert in the tip. Ballistic tip bullets expand rapidly on impact since the polymer insert acts as a wedge. These bullets are ideal for hunting and self-defense.
  • Bullet - The bullet is the projectile that leaves the barrel after firing.
  • Caliber - Caliber equates to the diameter of a bullet. It may read as a decimal, such as .30 which is 30/100 of an inch. This caliber scheme is typical in America. Internationally and in militaries, a measurement in millimeters is used for bullet diameter. The caliber becomes the name of the round like .45 ACP
    or 7.62 NATO
    . Many European and military rounds also use a second number in their naming scheme. With 7.62x39, for instance, the second number denotes the case length in millimeters.
  • Cartridge - A cartridge is the combined package of the case, gunpowder, bullet, and primer. The term round is used interchangeably with cartridge.
  • Case - The case is the outer hull that holds ammunition together. Also known as a cartridge case, cases typically utilize brass or steel construction.
  • Centerfire - Centerfire rounds use centrally located primers in the base of the cartridge.
  • Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) - Full metal jacket bullets utilize a metal jacket that covers the projectile core. FMJ bullets do not expand. Because of this, FMJs tend to over-penetrate and are not ideal for self-defense or hunting. However, FMJs are cheaper to construct, making them more economical for training.
  • Gauge - Gauge is analogous to caliber but used to measure the diameter of shotgun rounds. Gauge number has an inverse relationship with the actual size of the shotgun round. For instance, 12 gauge
    is larger in diameter than 20 gauge
    . One exception is the smallest shotgun round, .410 which uses a decimal measurement.
  • Grain (GR) - Grain is the unit of measurement for bullet weight. Naturally, the larger the grain, the heavier the bullet.
  • Gunpowder - Gunpowder is the combustible component of ammunition that propels the bullet from the case. Gunpowder does not explode; instead, it burns, and the gas it creates pushes the bullet forward.
  • Hollow Point (HP) - A hollow point
    bullet features a concave opening in the bullet jacket that exposes the bullet core. Hollow points are meant to expand, which limits penetration and transfers maximum energy. These characteristics make hollow points ideal for self-defense.
  • Primer - The primer is the component of ammunition that ignites the gunpowder within the case. The firing pin or striker impacts the shock-sensitive primer, igniting the gunpowder within the case.
  • Rimfire - Rimfire cartridges use a circular primer contained in the outer protruding rim of the round.
  • Rimless - Rimless cartridges use a groove cut into the base of the cartridge base that does not protrude outside the case for extraction.
  • Rimmed - Rimmed cartridges use a protruding radial lip on the cartridge base for case extraction.
  • Soft Point (SP) - Soft point bullets are similar to hollow points with an exposed core. The main difference is that the bullet features a pointed tip to improve aerodynamics. Soft points are very popular for hunting.

Rifle Ammunition All ammunition intended for use in a rifle is known, believe it or not, as rifle ammunition. Typically rifle rounds use a bottlenecked case, meaning the larger diameter case decreases in diameter to accommodate the smaller diameter bullet. Rifle ammunition is ideal for long-range precision shooting as well as hunting. Most rifle ammunition is available in full metal jacket, hollow point, soft point, and ballistic tip bullet types. Common Rifle Calibers

  • .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO - Remington originally developed this rimless .22 caliber, centerfire round for the AR15. This cartridge is light recoiling and accurate out to several hundred yards. .223/ 5.56 is ideal for home defense, recreation, and some hunting when using proper expanding bullets. While .223 and 5.56 NATO are dimensionally similar, they are technically two different calibers. However, the military designated 5.56 NATO has a higher chamber pressure. For this reason, firing 5.56 NATO in firearms marked .223 is generally not advised. .223 is perfectly safe to shoot in firearms marked for 5.56 NATO. Take a look at my Why the AR-15 is the Ideal Firearm for Home Defense
    for more information on the 5.56 NATO round.



.223 Remington. This particular cartridge is steel-cased.

  • .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO - Winchester developed this powerful .30 caliber, rimless, centerfire round in the 1950s. It features high velocity and long-range performance along with moderate recoil. This round is a common chambering for AR10 type rifles and precision bolt action rifles. It is ideal for target shooting and large game hunting when using proper expanding bullets. While .308 and 7.62 NATO are dimensionally similar, the commercial .308 has the higher pressure than military designated 7.62 NATO.



.308 Winchester

  • 7.62x39- 7.62x39 is the ammunition that AKs run on. This round is an intermediate cartridge meaning it falls between a pistol round and a full-power rifle round like .308. Like the rounds mentioned above, 7.62x39 is also centerfire and rimless. Most of the 7.62x39 used in the US is steel cased and imported. However, domestic manufacturers also produce brassed cased 7.62x39 in a variety of loadings. 7.62x39 is ideal for medium game hunting when using proper expanding bullets and self-defense when over-penetration is not a concern.



7.62x39

Pistol Rounds Handguns, whether semiautomatic or revolvers, typically use pistol rounds. Pistol rounds usually feature straight walled cases, as opposed to bottlenecked ones, and possess lower chamber pressure than rifle rounds. Regardless of the caliber, pistol rounds typically have a much smaller case and gunpowder capacity than rifle cartridges. This lower capacity diminishes both power and range. The applications for full metal jacket and hollow-point bullets are similar in pistol rounds as rifle rounds outlined above. Common Pistol Rounds

  • 9mm Parabellum - This classic European caliber is now one of the most popular pistol rounds in the world. Larger caliber rounds take up more room in a magazine. On the other hand, smaller rounds give a larger capacity at the expense of ballistic power. 9mm offers an ideal combination of power and magazine capacity. Because of this combination, and advances in bullet construction, many US law enforcement agencies have shifted to 9mm after using .40 S&W for years. The advantage of 9mm easily translates to civilians for self-defense and recreational shooting.



9mm Parabellum

  • .45 ACP - .45 ACP is an iconic American caliber. Created to mimic the ballistics of the venerable .45 Long Colt revolver cartridge, this round is large, slow, and reliable. After winning two World Wars, it remains a favorite of many Americans, and some will carry nothing less.



.45 ACP

  • .38 Special and .357 Magnum - The .38 Special round is an old standby commonly used for decades when US law enforcement carried revolvers. Power is adequate, and recoil is minimal, especially in a heavy steel-framed revolver. For folks that need more oomph, .357 Magnum uses a lengthened .38 Special case. The longer case holds more powder which increases velocity making for a harder hitting round. The .38 Special cartridge safely functions in .357 Magnum revolvers and offers lower recoil and cost for training.



.38 Special Centerfire. 38 Special is an example of a rimmed cartridge.

Shotgun Rounds Also referred to as shells, shotgun rounds resemble oversized, rimmed pistol rounds. Typically shotgun shells consist of a crimped plastic front section and a brass rear section for the rim and primer. Shotgun rounds are among the most versatile types of ammunition because of their various loadings.

  • Bird/Buckshot - Birdshot uses small sized pellets for skeet shooting or bird hunting. Buckshot is an excellent choice on larger game since it features multiple lead balls up to .36 caliber in the 000 loading. 12 gauge is also an acceptable home defense option with the proper loading. However, both bird and buckshot have limited range since the projectiles spread and lose energy.
  • Slugs - If one needs longer-range performance, solid lead slugs are a great choice. Slugs resemble a large pistol bullet and are accurate at medium range since they spin to stabilize in flight.

Buckshot and slugs in 12 gauge are useful for big game hunting at medium to close range. Recoil is moderate to heavy in 12 gauge shotgun shells depending on loading. Typically, birdshot is the lightest recoiling and slugs are the heaviest. For individuals that are more recoil sensitive, 20 gauge delivers a diminished load with less kick.

12ga Mini Shell on the Left, 12ga Slug on Right

.22 Long Rifle (LR) and Other Rimfires The use of rimfire rounds considerably overlaps between rifles and handguns. Most rimfire ammunition is .22 caliber. Recoil is nearly nonexistent because of the small size and significantly reduced gunpowder charge, which also makes the report quieter than larger rounds. These traits make rimfire ammunition perfect for children and novice shooters. Rimfire ammunition is also quite economical because of the enormous scale of its production. For small game hunting, .22LR is ideal because its low ballistic power minimizes meat damage. If one needs more power and range, .22 Magnum is an excellent alternative for small game hunting. Magnum rimfire ammunition is still much cheaper than its centerfire counterparts.

.22 Long Rifle

Conclusion The rabbit hole of ammunition is deep and winding. However, it is an essential part of the shooting lifestyle. After digesting this information, one should have a much better understanding of the wild world of ammunition. Shop our wide ammunition
selection today!