Over the past few years, the firearms industry has experienced a tremendous growth. Although it is difficult to give an exact figure, data shows that at least five million gun owners have joined the firearms community. Many of these gun owners are completely new to the gun industry and have little or no prior knowledge. Understanding ammunition is just as important as understanding your gun.
Understanding the ammunition you feed your gun
Sometimes, even those of us who have been doing this since George Washington was a private forget to remind people that they may need some help. This is especially true for ammunition. The overwhelming array of ammunition available, with its often-cryptic nomenclature, can seem overwhelming to the uninitiated. Let’s now take a look at what ammo is all about.
Components
Let’s first look at the anatomy and function of a bullet. Here is where we make our first distinction. Although the bullet is sometimes called a bullet, it is actually a cartridge. The projectile that is fired down from the barrel is called the bullet, and it is only one component of the cartridge.
These are the components of a cartridge. The case is the metal container that holds everything together. They are typically made of brass, but can also be made of steel, nickel, or aluminum.
The propellant is found inside the case. Although it is commonly called gunpowder, there are many agents that can be used in this role. The propellant’s purpose is to ignite, create gas pressure, and launch the bullet through a barrel. The rim is located at the bottom of the case. This is something that even gun owners who have been around for a while don’t know.
Rimless Ammunition
Most semi-automatic handgun cartridges are considered rimless. They do have a rim, but it does not mean that they are not rimless. Instead, the rim is the same size as the case. For revolvers, guns have a more prominent rim to allow them to sit flush against the case.
Semi-rimmed cartridges include the.38 Super and the.38 ACP. They are not often part of a new shooter’s loadout.
You will find a small circular object embedded in the bottom of the case. This is the primer. It’s what ignites propellant when struck. The primer is a small charge that sparks when struck with a firing pin, hammer, or other device.
Our bullet is the final touch. There are many types of bullets, but the most popular is the ball. These bullets are made with a lead core and have a copper jacket.
What is a round?
Another term that is often interchangeable with “cartridge”, is “round.” This is especially true if you are discussing how many rounds may be required for a class or exercise. You will need “x” amount of rounds.
It is also fascinating to see how a round fires. A firing pin or hammer will strike a primer in the back of the bullet while it is securely seated in the gun’s chamber. This creates a spark that ignites the propellant. The propellant starts to burn and becomes gas. This super-fast expanding gas builds up and launches the bullet down the barrel. The bullet is forced into barrel by the enormous force.
It is important to remember that an unfired bullet won’t fit down a barrel. It will only enter the barrel by the force of being fired.
How to Choose the Right Ammunition
There are many bullets to choose, as I mentioned earlier. This variety is driven by application. If you’re looking for range ammunition that can be used for a short time, traditional ball ammunition will suffice.
For personal-protection rounds you should look into hollow-point bullets (JHP) or jacketed hollow point bullets (HPT). These rounds have a semi-hollow tip. This hollow space may contain a small piece or plastic in some cases. This allows the bullet to expand when it hits its target. This design allows for a wider wound channel and better chances of stopping a threat.
These rounds also have the secondary benefit of reducing overpenetration. There are good chances that these expanding rounds will remain within our target and not cause harm to others.
In this situation, it is crucial to choose the right ammo. JHPs are the best choice for personal protection and are used in law enforcement. Ball ammo can certainly penetrate a bad guy but you also run the risk of overpenetration.
Ballistic tip ammunition is very popular for hunting. The hollow point allows for expansion while the polymer tip assures accuracy.
Wadcutters are a round that is still available in small quantities. These are basically flat-faced lead bullets. These were the precursors to JHP ammo, and they are well-known for making a large hole. Although technology has surpassed this round for personal protection and some in competition circles still use them.
These bullets are not the only ones available. There are many other designs that companies have created. Federal’s Syntech bullet is an example of a polymer-coated round. It is known for its ability to shoot cleanly and prolong the life of your barrel.
Barrel Diameter
Next is caliber. This can be confusing as we often hear terms such as “9mm” or “.45” without having a reference. Caliber refers to the size designations for bullets as well as the inside diameters the gun barrels through the bullets are fired.
The majority of the world uses metric measurements, while the American commercial market uses standard U.S. measurements. It can be confusing, but it is easy to understand.
Ammo comes in a variety of sizes, from the small.22 LR rounds up to these powerful.50 BMG cartridges.
Metric measurements are almost always a ratio of “diameter to height”. A bullet in the caliber 9x19mm has a diameter of 9mm and a length of 19mm. Standard measurement ammunition is very similar. It measures the bullet’s diameter in relation to inches. For example, .45 ACP is .45 inches in diameter.
Shooters must take care when choosing the right ammunition for their guns. Although we may only ask for 9mm, there are many options. You can get 9×18 Makarov or 9×19 Para. or 9×21 Largo. The barrel of your firearm will be engraved with the caliber you require.
Termings that are sometimes followed by numbers, such as “.45 ACP”, refer to a design name. ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. Verify the ammunition that your firearm is capable of shooting. It can be very dangerous to fire the wrong ammunition.
Gauges
Shotgun shells are another ammo area that many people find difficult to believe. We can now move on to gauge, and we can forget about caliber discussions. Gauge is an old measurement system that is truly antiquated in today’s world. However, it is the standard by which shotguns can be measured.
Gauge is the number of lead balls equal to the bore’s diameter that it takes for one pound to be weighed. To weigh one pound, you would need 12 lead balls of the same diameter as a 12-gauge bore shotgun bore.
Common shotgun gauges include 10-gauge and 12-gauge as well as 16-gauge and 20-gauge. The shotgun bore is larger the smaller the gauge number.
Another difference is in the construction. A pistol cartridge’s brass case includes primer, powder, bullet, and a pistol cartridge. The shotgun’s shell is made up of a hull containing the powder, shot wad and a certain amount of shot.
The primer can still be found at the back of your shell. There are many options for shotgun ammunition. It is all about the application. Birdshot is a large quantity of small lead pellets that are good for bird hunting. Buckshot is a smaller amount of larger lead pellets originally made for hunting deer.
Buckshot is also a great personal protection round. We can also use slugs which are a heavy lead round. This is a large-sized lead bullet. Your shotgun will be marked, just like our other guns with the ammunition it needs.
Wrap up
The ammunition can be just as fascinating as the guns. There are many leaders in this industry as in any other. Federal Ammunition is one of these leaders. Federal Ammunition has been the king of hill for many decades. Federal is also a long-standing company and is about to celebrate its 100th year.
I encourage shooters to use the best ammunition they can. Federal is a high-end manufacturer that has strong quality control and produces consistent ammunition. You should be aware that the ammo in the zip lock bags you purchase at the gun show may be faulty from the beginning. You could not only face performance issues but it can also pose safety risks if it is not done correctly.
In the current economic climate, I urge people to purchase adequate ammunition for their guns every chance they get. These rounds can last years if kept in a dry, cool place.
This is a very brief overview of the ammunition industry. I hope you will take the time to learn more and become an expert. Share your knowledge with others.
This article was originally published by Personal Defense World in the October/November 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected].
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