How to Choose the Right Ammo?

As a gun owner, it is inevitable that you go through the process of choosing ammunition. There is a vast selection on the market and each with their own purpose, which makes it difficult to choose the right ammo. Well, if you are going through this challenge, then you’re at the right place. 

In this guide by Peakfirearms, we will provide you with the necessary information you need to know in order for you to choose the right ammo for your firearm. It might be intimidating at first, but once you have a better understanding, then choosing the right ammo will be a walk in the park.

Types of Calibers

To be able to choose the right ammo, you should be familiar with some of the common types of calibers first. Bear in mind, the calibers mentioned below are just the common ones and there are many other calibers on the market, but we’ll leave that for you to explore more. Anyways, here are the common calibers that you will encounter. 

.22LR

The .22LR is a small round that can be found in pistols and long rifles. This type of ammunition has almost no recoil at all which is why many experienced shooters will recommend beginners to use guns chambered for the .22LR as starters. 

This caliber is also offered at a fairly low price so you can keep practicing with it. As for its power, it is not very powerful, which is only good for small animals and might need a few shots to take down an attacker. 

9mm

Many people are familiar with the 9mm because it is one of the most well-known calibers in the industry. The 9mm is similar to the .22LR in terms of being a good round to take to the range and for beginners to start with. 

However, the 9mm does have an edge over the .22LR because it has more power and is much more capable of taking down an attacker with very little recoil. 

.38 Special

The .38 Special caliber is larger and has more power than the 9mm. As a result, the recoil that you will experience is also harsher. You will really feel the power and recoil of a .38 Special especially when you use it in a small gun like a revolver. The .38 Special is similar to the .357 Magnum, except the .357 Magnum is just a little longer. 

.223 and .308

The .223 and .308 are essentially rifle ammo and are commonly used at the range. Additionally, they can also be utilized for defensive purposes because they are powerful enough. You should note that the .223 is the same as the 5.56x45mm rounds but .223 rounds can be fired in a 5.56 rifle, while 5.56 rounds cannot be fired in a .223 rifle because the 5.56 has higher pressures. 

As for the .308 calibers, they are the exact same as the 7.62x51mm round so you don’t need to worry about firing a .308 round in a 7.62 rifle or vice versa.

Types of Ammunition

Now that you are aware of the common types of calibers, let’s have a look at the different types of ammunition and which is the right ammo for the intended purpose of your firearm. 

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) – Target Practice

If you are only using your gun for target shooting or practice purposes, then there is no need for powerful ammunition. What you should want instead, is something cheap and easy to acquire because you are only using the ammunition for fun. Whether it is for rifles or pistols, the best type of ammunition for practicing would be FMJ cartridges and bullets. 

This type of ammunition is incredibly easy to produce and as a result, they are usually offered at a cheap price. FMJ rounds are just soft lead in the center encased with a metal shell, usually copper. You should only use this type of ammunition for practicing and not hunting or defense uses because the stopping power isn’t good enough. 

Hollow Points – Home/Self Defense

For a firearm that is meant for defensive purposes, you will want a round that is reliable and is powerful enough to stop an attacker. The best type of ammunition for this purpose will be hollow points. This type of ammunition is made to expand when it comes in contact with something, creating a large hole which means a larger wound.

The damage dealt with hollow points is extremely severe and is the reason why they are a good choice for home or self defense. It is highly unlikely that the attacker will continue attacking after being shot with a hollow point bullet because he/she will be in excruciating pain. The stopping power of hollow points also make them the go-to choice for law enforcement personnel. 

Slugs – Hunting

As for hunting purposes, the idea should be similar to defensive uses because you want to take down the target as quickly as possible. When hunting animals, it would be much more humane to kill them quickly so using slugs will be ideal. Slugs are just a single projectile with about an ounce of solid metal, ensuring that it kills the target quickly. 

Bear in mind, you should never use FMJ cartridges and bullets when hunting because it is highly unlikely that you will kill the animal in one shot. Hollow points have good stopping power but are not great for hunting because they don’t have the penetration capability of slugs, which is very much needed when hunting large animals. 

Conclusion

After you’re done reading this guide, you should be able to select the right ammo for your firearm. Keep in mind that different ammo has a different function, some are good for practicing while some are good for hunting and the right ammo will be the one that is meant for the intended purpose of your firearm. 

You should also take into consideration the amount of money you want to spend and look for the types of ammo that are within your budget.