Choosing The Right Ammunition For The Job
When choosing ammunition for your firearm, it is important to take into consideration exactly what that ammunition will be used for. The reason for this is that different types of ammunition will travel at different speeds, travel different distances, and react differently when coming into contact with their target.
Using the wrong type of ammunition for the job at hand can either result in a failure to get the job done or potentially cause a serious safety hazard. For instance, if you plan to do some target practice at an indoor range, you will need to select ammunition that is designed to fragment on impact. This ensures that the bullet is not able to penetrate the target and potentially ricochet and injure someone.
To help ensure you are choosing the right type of ammunition for the job, take a moment to review some of the common shooting scenarios outlined below.
Outdoor Target Practice
When shooting targets outdoors, you will want to select ammunition that will not penetrate the backstop that is used by your specific range. In most cases, this will mean avoiding the use of armor-piercing ammunition and tracer rounds. Many ranges will also prohibit the use of solid lead rounds for this same reason. Brass or copper jacketed bullets are typically the best options for this specific purpose. However, it is important to always double-check with the management at the range you intend to shoot at to ensure they do not have any additional restrictions regarding what type of ammunition can be used at their facility.
Home Defense
Home or self-defense situations pose a unique set of circumstances when it comes to choosing ammunition. You want to make sure that you are choosing a bullet that offers adequate stopping power so that it is effective in protecting you and your loved ones from an attacker. However, you also need to ensure that you are not choosing a bullet with too much penetration since this can lead to collateral damage when firing your weapon inside your home.
While there are a variety of bullets on the market that are designed specifically for home defense, many of the most effective self-defense ammo options are those that make use of a hollow tip and copper jacket. This allows for adequate penetration while also supporting expansion when the bullet comes into contact with the target. This expansion will slow the projectile and minimize the chances of collateral damage.
Hunting
When choosing ammunition for hunting, you will need to take into consideration how far your bullet will need to travel, how fast your intended prey moves, and how large of an animal you are looking to take down. All of these factors will have an impact on which type of ammunition will produce the best results. For instance, if you plan to hunt from a relatively far distance, you will want to choose ammunition with a slender design and high grain count to ensure the bullet is able to travel far enough and fast enough to reach your target. However, if you will be shooting from a shorter distance, you will need to use a less powerful round. This is especially important if you are hunting for the purpose of food.