Knowing how to match the right ammunition to your gun takes some skill, even for the most professional gun owners. Since there are various kinds of guns and ammunition, you risk harming or killing anyone nearby. That said, buying ammunition is a tricky situation, but it can be great fun if you’re a new shooter or a long-term owner.
Luckily, once you get an understanding of the different types of ammunition and how they perform, you’ll be able to select the proper ammo for your gun and purposes.
However, there are some things you should be aware of:
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The Importance of Proper Ammunition
With so many kinds of ammunition and firearms, matching the proper ammo to your firearm isn’t always easy. Still, getting it right is crucial for many reasons. Most importantly, if you match the wrong ammunition, you’re more likely to cause an explosion, injure yourself or anyone else nearby, and possibly kill them.
Additionally, the wrong ammo could cause the gun to break or get damaged, and you could get injured in your hands or face.
Since the ammunition market size is estimated to increase by 4.7 percent in the next seven years, this represents the need for law enforcement to raise awareness for national security and the importance of proper ammo.
5 Basic Tips to Match the Right Ammunition
We’ve already gone through the main reasons why finding the proper ammo for your gun is important. So, if you want to learn the basics of finding the proper ammo for your shotgun, these five tips will help you reduce the risks of any potential injuries to you or damage to your gun.
Start with the Instruction Manual
As with anything new, you always want to start with the instruction manual as it has all the information for your type of gun. The booklet explains the types of ammo you should use, so you don’t waste time looking elsewhere.
If you bought a firearm from someone else and it didn’t come with a manual, you can still search for it online as there are usually electronic manuals from the manufacturer’s website or other places.
Get the Right Calibre
Let’s get one thing straight: calibre is one of the most essential parts of a gun – the barrel’s diameter. As such, the first thing to understand is that if the ammo is too big, it won’t fit in the chamber, and if it’s too small, the ammo slides and lodges, possibly causing an explosion.
So, how do you select the calibre? Initially, there are three places that you can use to match the calibre of your firearm. For example, if you bought a 10mm gun, you’ll need 9mm ammunition for it.
The first place to match the calibre is engraved somewhere in the gun. The second place is to go through the manufacturer’s manual of ammo. And the third place is to check on the bottom of the headstamp, which most likely has the type of calibre written on it.
Although most people find ammo to be expensive, there are some places you can use to find high-quality but cheaper ammunition, especially if you need plenty of it at once. For instance, you can get affordable 10mm ammo in bulk at ProArmory and use your gun safely, without thinking of any potential harm.
Consider the Accuracy
It’s no secret that some bullets tend to perform better on certain firearms than others. Sometimes, the ammo you get just refuses to work well with your gun, and it may interfere with its performance. The best thing would be to start with a small batch of different bullet weights and test the performance of your ammunition.
Most importantly, when it comes to defensive rounds, you must check the accuracy before you end up in a dangerous situation. Many guns are designed to be unforgiving, especially if the feed ramps are short.
Know the Purpose of Your Ammo
One of the most basic things you should keep in mind is the purpose of your gun’s ammo. For example, if you’re using a firearm for self-defense, you should pick an ammo that’s prone to damage the target at a maximum.
However, if your purpose for using guns is hunting, you should opt for a riffle ammo that provides long and precise accuracy. These types of riffles need long-range accuracy, so a good match for them is crucial.
Consider Capacity and Price
Lastly, the capacity of your firearm is also important as it shows the number of rounds it can hold. Let’s say you purchase a 9mm Glock with a big stick. In that case, your gun lasts up to 24 rounds, which are likely to go off in about a minute.
Overall, some heavy types of guns and ammo are not cost-effective, especially if you’re a frequent shooter. Depending on the type of gun, there’s a variety of ammo prices too. In low quantities, the average price of handgun ammo costs $0.50 cents per round, while the price of riffle ammo is $0.92 cents.
So, if you’re someone who wants a lot of range time with their firearm, it’s worth taking a second look at the type of ammo that you need and its quality.
