Ammo Comes in Different ‘Flavors’

For the novice gun owner, finding the right ammunition can be overwhelming. Store shelves and cases feature dozens of different types of ammo that beckon the shopper with promises of power and accuracy while using a nomenclature that is often foreign to the uninitiated.

As an online ammo store, free samples aren’t on the menu like they are in an ice cream shop.

If ammunition stores were like ice cream shops, free samples would be available. That’s not normally an option when it comes to ammo and its wide selection of “flavors.” Therefore, here’s the scoop for beginners. For a double-barreled shotgun, of course, it’ll be two scoops.

Although there are hundreds of types, ammunication can be placed into three main categories: shotgun, rifle and handgun. Shot shells are used with a shotgun, and a rifle and handgun employ cartridges or rounds.

Before going out for hunt with the wrong ammo, here are some basics on ammo to understand. Shot shells are divided into three main types: birdshot, buckshot and slugs. Birdshot and buckshot consist of metallic pellets, with the latter larger than the former. A slug, usually made of solid lead or copper, is a single, solid metal projectile.

Rifle and handgun ammo fall into two categories: rimfire and centerfire. The difference is where the primer strike occurs on the bullet case.

With rimfire ammo, the primer is around the rim or base of the cartridge. Guns using rimfire ammo have a firing pin that strikes the outside edge of the cartridge. Centerfire ammo, on the other hand, features a primer in the center of the cartridge, resulting in the firing pin striking the center of the cartridge.

Size does matter when it comes to ammunition. Caliber is the diameter of the barrel and ammunition. It’s typically measured in millimeters, hundredths of an inch or thousandths of an inch. The gun type determines the caliber of ammunition.

The categorizing continues when it comes to bullet types. Full metal jacket is popular for target shooting and competition. Both hollow point and soft point are commonly used for self defense.

There’s one final scoop when it comes to ammo. A bullet can have a flat base or tapered base known as a boat tail. The latter gets its name from the tapered design found on boats and used to reduce drag. The boat tail bullet provides more stability in flight and greater accuracy.