For instance, I have here a box of. A quick online search shows me that the standard military M80 ball cartridge uses a grain FMJ bullet. Mystery solved. For instance, most 9mm loads are either , , or grain, but occasionally you might see a 95 grain, grain, or some other oddball load.
If you have an idea of the typical range of bullet weights for the caliber, then you can tell whether any given load falls more toward the heavy end or lighter end of the spectrum. Usually, lighter bullets will have higher velocities than heavier bullets of the same caliber. Intended application and personal preference will dictate whether you need a fast light bullet, a slow heavy bullet, or something in between.
In lieu of a magic box, here are a few very rough guidelines for choosing the right bullet weight. Just buy whatever ammo is cheapest and functions well in your gun. Shooting for Maximum Accuracy : Bullet weight can play a huge role in accuracy for a couple of reasons. The precise reasons are not always easily explained, but with some experimentation, you might find, for example, that your particular Glock 22 is always a little more accurate with grain.
You might be able to pick up some hints about good loads from other people who have a lot of trigger time with the same gun, but sometimes trial and error might be the only way to figure it out. For long range rifle shooting, the tie between bullet weight and accuracy is less mysterious, but still potentially confusing.
Heavier bullets are less susceptible to being blown off course by the wind, but if the bullet is too heavy, it might not have enough velocity to remain stable at the desired distances. Self-Defense and Hunting : This is a tricky one. Expansion and penetration characteristics are more important than the mere numbers representing bullet weight, velocity, or caliber.
These rounds travel slower than the speed of sound, and create minimal noise when fired through a good suppressor. The lightest bullet grain is 17 grains, i. Not most of your standard bullets won't be seen in this range of grains, i. Below you will find the advantages and a few disadvantages of using both a heavier grain and a lighter grain.
Both have their pros and cons, but we will leave that up to you to decide. Pros to Using Lighter Grains 1 - With most lighter bullets, you will have more speed. With more overall speed comes a straighter trajectory. This makes a lighter round great for long range shooting. For example when taking a long shot while hunting for smaller game. A gust of wind can cause these bullets to be blown off course very easily. Info for New Shooters. Contrary to popular belief, shooting sports or regulated activities are some of the safest recreational activities you can participate in.
Power factor is a measurement of the momentum of the bullet and is used primarily in competition settings to determine perceived recoil. It is calculated by multiplying the bullet weight by the velocity, then dividing by 1, Two different rounds could have different bullet weights and different velocities, but equal the same power factor. To learn more about power factor, check out this post.
Lighter bullets must travel faster than heavier bullets to reach the same power factor and therefore require more gunpowder. This means that the lighter bullet will spend less time in the barrel than the slower moving heavy bullet, causing a difference in perceived recoil.
Accuracy- In general, you may find that your gun performs with better accuracy with a certain bullet w eight. This can differ from gun to gun and experimenting with different rounds is the best way to figure out what works best for you.
A heavy bullet may be less likely to be affected by external conditions such as wind, b ut it also may be harder to stabilize resulting in keyholing, or the bullet entering the target sideways.
Your intended use is important and will help to determine what cartridge is best. Range Training- There are many shooters who have never paid any attention to bullet weight.
They typically shoot whatever is cheapest and most available without any problems. Shooters who just want to plink at the range can usually find an affordable round that consistently makes both their gun and wallet happy. Bullet penetration and expansion are far more important than weight when selecting a round that will be used on targets other than paper and steel. Since the point is to stop a threat, you want ammo that travels deep enough into the target to hit vital organs while expanding enough to not leave the body and cause collateral damage.
There are people who swear by a heavier bullet weight in their self defense rounds and it is true that certain brands and product lines have better track records than others. You may find a lighter bullet has performed consistently better than a heavy bullet in a ballistic testing or vice versa ; because of all the factors involved, relying solely on bullet weight is unrealistic.
Features such as the no-clog hollow point bullet and a design and powder load specifically for use in a full size handgun contributed to the decision as well as consistent performance in testing. Ultimately, find a cartridge that performs well under testing or real world applications and most importantly, one that functions well in your gun.
Hunting- Picking out a round for hunting follows the same line of thinking as picking out a round for self defense — you want to stop in this case, kill your living target.
Again, you need a round powerful enough to penetrate the vital organs of your target. Considerations that need to be taken include the size and anatomy of the game, the terrain, the distance at which you are shooting, and the laws and regulations where you are hunting.
Selecting a caliber that is adequate for the game and conditions you are hunting in will be more important than any particular bullet weight. There are specialty rounds available specifically for the game you will be hunting, such as the Winchester Super-X.
Precision Shooting- When shooting rifles at longer distances, bullet weight becomes more important. Your barrel length and twist rate will play a part in your ammo selection, with heavier bullets requiring a faster twist rate.
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