What Kind of Ammo Should You Use for Handgun Training?

So you’ve finally purchased your first handgun. Well done! You have joined a proud American tradition of self-reliance which may just one day save your life.

Don’t forget to wear your Second Amendment Shirt! Remember, the Second Amendment does not give you the right to bear arms; it simply acknowledges that you have an inalienable birthright to do so.

Unfortunately, you were not born knowing how to use a firearm. The only way to ensure you can effectively handle your handgun during a life-or-death altercation is through practice. If you’re uncertain of which type of ammunition you should select for training and target shooting, don’t fret it! You’re about to learn which kinds of handgun bullets are best suited for practice.

Lead Round Nose (LRN)

The LRN is the simplest type of bullet, which is made of pure lead and has the traditional “bullet shape” you’re already familiar with. 

The LRN’s absence of a jacket means it is relatively soft. Most importantly, this makes the LRN unsuitable for use in semi-automatic firearms; it is nearly exclusively used in revolvers, as their cylinders do not place stress on the bullet while it is feeding into the chamber. 

An LRN is inexpensive thanks to its lack of semi-precious copper. A supple lead LRN also poses less chance of deflecting shrapnel back at the firing line if it strikes a hard surface.

Wadcutter

Like the LRN, the wadcutter bullet is made of pure lead and is nearly exclusively loaded in revolver cartridges. (Some semi-automatics are modified to reliably feed wadcutter ammunition.) 

The wadcutter has a perfectly cylindrical profile – somewhat like a D cell battery. This makes the wadcutter less streamlined, but it also enables the bullet to behave like a hole punch when it hits a sheet of paper. The wadcutter therefore cuts a clean circle through a bullseye, which makes it far easier to assess how closely you’re grouping your shots.

The wadcutter is also practical for self-defense, as its profile enables it to gouge a more injurious wound channel than a round nose profile bullet could have.

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)

The FMJ is the most popular type of bullet for target shooting with semi-automatic firearms, although it is frequently loaded in revolver cartridges as well. It consists of a solid lead core with an outer layer of harder metal that encompasses all but its base.

Most FMJ jackets are made of copper alloy (aka gilding metal). Some FMJ bullets have bi-metal jackets, which are nearly entirely made of steel. It is important to note whether an FMJ bullet has a bi-metal jacket, as many commercial ranges prohibit bullets that can attract a magnet. This is because bi-metal jacketed FMJs pose a higher risk of damaging a range’s backstop and creating sparks that could start a fire.

Total Metal Jacket (TMJ)

The TMJ is identical to the FMJ with one important exception: Its jacket completely encompasses its lead core, including its base.

The TMJ’s fully encapsulated lead core is sealed off against hot propellant gasses during ignition. As such the TMJ cannot deposit lead residue on the bore, which in turn conserves a firearm’s accuracy. Furthermore, the TMJ does not produce aerosolized lead during ignition. If you’re training at a poorly ventilated indoor range, the TMJ will spare you from having to inhale vaporized lead.

Frangible

The frangible bullet is made of compressed metal powders: predominantly copper, with small amounts of other metals such as tin and iron. Some frangible bullets also contain polymer. The frangible bullet is accordingly brittle. When it collides with a surface that is harder than itself, the frangible bullet disintegrates into powder and small particles.

Frangible bullets are most frequently used for shooting steel targets at close range, as they virtually eliminate the risk of potentially injurious splashback. Because they are made of nontoxic materials, frangible bullets are also popular for indoor range training.

Frangible bullets are also occasionally used for home defense. This is because the frangible bullet poses a lower risk of penetrating walls and jeopardizing innocent bystanders. While safer, it is crucial to bear in mind that a frangible bullet is still capable of passing through a threat in addition to multiple layers of sheetrock!

Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)

The JHP is the most popular handgun bullet for self-defense. It features a hollow point nose cavity which fills with pressurized soft tissue during penetration to produce injurious terminal expansion.

The JHP typically isn’t favored for target practice. It is more expensive, and its ability to produce terminal expansion serves no purpose when the JHP only hits an inanimate object. Still, many people do train with JHP bullets, as they want to familiarize themselves with the same ammo they would also rely on for personal protection. You may not wish to exclusively train with JHP ammunition at the range, but it is instructive to try out your self-defense ammo before you would depend on it for personal protection!

What Kind of Ammo Should You Buy for an AR-15?

The AR-15 is as American as it’s possible for a rifle to be. Originally designed for the U.S. Armed Forces by the late, great Eugene Stoner in the 1950s, the AR-15 would go wherever our troops went – first as the M16, and then as the M4 carbine. Thanks in no small part to veterans’ preference for a firearm they’re already accustomed to firing, the AR-15 has become the most popular rifle in the American civilian firearm market – the world’s largest civilian firearm market, needless to say.

But it’s not just the AR-15’s history that makes it American. The rifle’s intuitive, ergonomic design and ease of operation make it truly accessible to anyone, whatever their experience with firearms might be. The AR-15’s customizability also makes it an everyman’s rifle. You have total control over your own AR-15’s parts and accessories and can swap them out in a matter of minutes whenever the mood or need strikes you.

Don’t let Big Tech or the Woke Left convince you that the AR-15 is some dangerous “weapon of war that has no place on our streets.” It owes its popularity to good, law-abiding citizens who want a rifle they can easily build, maintain, and master, and is a true symbol of the average American’s right to defend themself and their own. It’s also a real hoot when you’re just looking to have some fun at the range.

Another reason for the AR-15’s popularity is the great variety of ammunition it can fire. Without question, 5.56×45/223 Rem are the most popular cartridges for AR-15 builds, but a few new parts will adapt an AR-15 for several other cartridges including 300 AAC Blackout, 7.62×39, 450 Bushmaster, 9mm, 40 S&W, and even 22 LR.

Lots of folks who just bought their first AR-15s often ask: What kind of ammo should I buy for my rifle? Well, that largely depends on what kind of shooting you plan on doing. Target shooting? Home defense? Hunting? There are ideal cartridges for all of these applications.

Before we start talking about ammo, let’s briefly touch on the differences between 5.56×45 and .223 Rem. The vast majority of AR-15s can fire both, but that comes with a caveat.

5.56×45 vs. 223 Rem: What’s the Difference?

Let’s not get too bogged down in cartridge specifications and technicalities here. In short, 5.56 and .223 cartridges share virtually identical physical dimensions. If you placed the two next to one another, you’d be hard-pressed to tell which is which without looking at their headstamps.

The major difference between the two rounds is one you can’t see: The 5.56 is loaded to generate a slightly higher chamber pressure. This basically means the 5.56 round produces a more powerful explosion than the .223 during ignition.

What does this mean? Only that a firearm chambered for 5.56 can also safely fire .223, as it is more than capable of absorbing the slightly weaker round’s chamber pressure. But the opposite is not true. A firearm chambered for .223 can become badly damaged by firing 5.56 ammo.

This isn’t a big problem for AR-15 owners, as their rifles nearly certainly have more versatile 5.56 chambers. On a final note, look into the .223 Wylde chamber if you are able. It is similarly designed to fire both 5.56 and .223 ammo safely, but its internal geometry is better optimized to give both cartridges their best accuracy.

Best AR-15 Ammo for Target Shooting

Targets aren’t going to fight back. While you would ideally avoid failures to feed and extract while you’re doing your thing at the rifle range, a dud isn’t going to compromise your safety. A squib load can hurt you, however, as it will deposit a bullet in your barrel to cause the next shot to blow up your rifle, but the point we’re getting at is this: You’re allowed to buy cheap ammo for the rifle range.

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)

The FMJ is the simplest bullet design for a semi-automatic firearm. This bullet has a solid lead core and gilding metal jacket, and will feed smoothly, prevent excessive barrel fouling, and maintain a flat, accurate trajectory throughout its effective range.

Not all FMJ bullets are created equal. Many cartridges (mostly steel-cased ones from Russia) are loaded with bullets that have bimetal jackets. Bimetal jacketed bullets are functionally identical to regular FMJs. Their jackets are made of cost-effective steel with a thin copper wash coating on the exterior. The main shortcoming with bimetal jacketed bullets is that they have a higher chance of creating sparks or a ricochet, as well as damaging range equipment. This is why several commercial ranges ban “magnetic” ammunition.

You may encounter M193 ammunition during your search for FMJ ammo. This is a military designation and simply means the cartridge has a 55-grain FMJ loaded to a muzzle velocity around 3,240 feet per second (fps). Like all FMJs, the M193 round’s bullet is not designed to expand as it penetrates soft tissue. That said, it will likely fragment into three or more pieces of shrapnel following impact at 2,500 fps or faster, which does make its terminal ballistics more effective for personal protection.

You may also encounter M855 ammunition. This is also an FMJ cartridge, but its 62-grain bullet is not magnetic because it has a bimetal jacket. The M855 bullet’s jacket conceals a seven-grain steel “penetrator” tip, which enables it to pass through sheet metal and other obstinate barriers. The M855 round’s combat applications are self-evident, but you may also use it for target shooting. Just take care that it will damage a steel target!

Frangible

Frangible bullets are essentially made of compressed non-lead metal powders including tin and copper. When a frangible bullet strikes a surface harder than itself, it will instantly disintegrate. This makes target shooting safer as the frangible bullet virtually eliminates the chance of a dangerous ricochet or splash-back. Lead-free frangible bullets also keep an indoor range’s air much healthier to breathe.

Some people use frangible bullets for home defense. They do so because frangible bullets are less likely to pass through several walls to jeopardize an innocent bystander. Adopt this home defense strategy with a grain of salt, though – a frangible bullet can still punch through a human-sized target and several layers of wallboard.

Boat Tail Hollow Point (BTHP)/Open Tip

BTHP and open tip bullets may superficially resemble the kinds of hollow point projectiles you would use for self-defense with a handgun, but they are in fact not designed to deliver terminal expansion within soft tissue (with a few exceptions, such as the Berger Hybrid Hunter). These bullets’ nose cavities exist because their lead cores were poured into place while they were still molten. As the result of their form-fitted cores, these bullets boast superior rotational stability.

BTHP and open tip bullets are favored for long-range target shooting. Their balanced cores promote greater accuracy, as do their ballistically efficient boat tails (which help the bullet retain more velocity throughout its trajectory so it can fly flatter and resist wind deflection). These bullets are generally manufactured according to a higher standard than regular FMJ bullets.

Best AR-15 Ammo for Home Defense

To be very certain, any target shooting cartridge is capable of quickly neutralizing a human-sized threat. An FMJ bullet may not expand, but at the end of the day, a sharp piece of copper-coated lead traveling at nearly three times the speed of sound cannot do any favors to its target.

That said, there are better solutions for self-defense than FMJ, BTHP, or frangible bullets. You would ideally have terminal expansion – in which the bullet widens inside of its target – for three reasons:

  1. An expanding bullet gouges a wider wound channel into its target to inflict greater damage.
  2. An expanding bullet exerts more of its energy in lateral directions instead of only forward, which similarly inflicts greater damage.
  3. An expanding bullet is less likely to pass through its target, thus reducing the chance of collateral damage (i.e. hitting an innocent bystander).

Soft Point (SP)

SPs are the most popular self-defense projectiles for AR-15 rifles. The SP’s jacket stops just short of covering its lead core at the tip. This enables the pliant lead core to flatten down throughout penetration, taking on a mushroom shape in the process.

Higher quality SP bullets will have bonded jackets. Bonding helps to prevent the SP’s jacket and core from separating from one another. As the result, the SP retains more of its mass as it tunnels into its target, which in turn preserves the momentum the bullet needs to penetrate deeply.

SP bullets may be marketed for deer hunting instead of self-defense. These projectiles are absolutely suitable for defending your homestead, however, as the terminal performance which fells a deer is by all means powerful enough to neutralize a tenacious threat.

Note that an SP bullet may also be called a jacketed soft point (JSP). For all intents and purposes, it is the same type of projectile.

Polymer Tip

Although some polymer tip bullets are strictly designed for long-range target shooting, polymer tip 5.56/223 rounds are virtually exclusively intended for hunting or self-defense. When a polymer tip bullet that is designed for self-defense plunges into soft tissue, its tip smashes into its lead core’s concealed nose cavity to force the bullet to spread outward in a rapid display of terminal expansion.

A caveat about polymer tip bullets: Even if they are designed for hunting, they may not necessarily be ideal for personal protection. A polymer tip varmint hunting bullet is designed to expand and/or explode in a flurry of shrapnel the instant following impact. This makes its terminal ballistics extremely deadly to rodents and other small game, but also makes it unable to reliably penetrate to the depth where a human-sized threat’s vital organs are stored.

Best AR-15 Ammo for Hunting

The important question here is what kind of hunting you want to do: varmint (and possibly predator), or whitetail. Small game is best hunted with bullets that expand very quickly, whereas medium-sized game demands significantly deeper penetration to ensure a fast, humane kill.

Varmint: Polymer Tip or JHP

You can go varmint hunting with any kind of bullet. A ground squirrel, which weighs about a pound, is absolutely going to die when an FMJ hits it. But you can do better by selecting hunting ammo that is specifically marketed for varmints.

Whether it’s a polymer tip bullet that’s designed for virtually instantaneous expansion following impact (such as the Hornady V-MAX or Barnes Varmint Grenade) or a JHP (such as the Speer TNT Green) that is similarly optimized for fast terminal expansion, it’s an excellent choice for varmint hunting. You may also look for ammo that’s optimized to deliver superior accuracy because hitting so small a target at long range can be quite difficult.

Deer: Soft Point (SP) or Polymer Tip

For deer hunting, you would be well advised to pick an expanding bullet. A 5.56 or 223 cartridge is relatively weak as far as deer hunting is concerned, so terminal expansion will help to drop so rugged an animal that much faster. Furthermore, many jurisdictions require expanding bullets during deer season for ethical reasons.

SP bullets are excellent for deer hunting. Winchester’s Power Point and Remington’s Core-Lokt are the two most popular brand name deer hunting bullets in America, and both are available loaded in 5.56 cartridges. Federal Premium’s Fusion SP bullet, which has the bonded jacket and core which together promote deeper penetration, is also exceptional.

SP bullets that are marketed for self-defense, such as Speer’s Gold Dot, also deliver deadly enough terminal ballistics within their target to make them suitable for deer hunting. A generic SP is also perfectly acceptable for deer hunting. The bullet’s design may be simple, but it hasn’t stuck around for so many decades because it is ineffective.

Several polymer tip bullets for deer hunting are also available, such as the Barnes TTSX. When selecting a polymer tip bullet for deer hunting, just make sure it’s not designed for varmint hunting for the aforementioned reason: It will not penetrate to the ideal depth to kill medium-sized game quickly.

A Final Note

Most people aren’t going to use their AR-15 rifles for hunting. They’re considered less than ideal for deer anyway. If you purchased your AR-15 for home defense only, then here’s my advice: Buy enough good self-defense ammo to fill at least one magazine. That will prepare you for a home intruder or some other unfortunate circumstance which a rifle is equipped to handle. You would ideally get enough specialized self-defense ammo to do a little target shooting as well, just so you can familiarize yourself with its unique performance.

Once you’ve got self-defense ammo covered, keep at least one 1,000-round case of FMJ ammo somewhere dark, dry and temperature-stable. Certainly buy more if you intend to fire it during target practice, but a single case of FMJ ammo won’t take up much space, is much more affordable than specialized self-defense ammo, and is still plenty capable of neutralizing threats during a prolonged or catastrophic emergency.

But more ammo is indeed always better as far as prepping is concerned. Lots of folks would tell you 1,000 rounds won’t get you far if the you-know-what really hits the fan – or during a global pandemic that causes an ammo shortage.

Best Concealed Carry Calibers

Best caliber for concealed carry

Gun owners will rarely agree on the best caliber to use for concealed carry guns. Obviously, the type of gun will dictate, to a degree, what type of ammunition you will use. The type of weapon and ammunition will also depend on your level of experience.

Training

Novice shooters should complete a training course before shooting or buying any gun or ammunition. Range practice will guide you to choose the right gun and ammo for your unique situation. Instructors can help you decide which ammunition is comfortable for you to shoot, given power and recoil. The instructor will also help you to decide which type of ammo would work best in situations you may encounter. Most people carry concealed for personal protection. You should ask yourself why you want to carry concealed. The answers to those questions will help you choose between a .22, 9mm, .380, .357 or a many other choices.

Choosing the Best Caliber

Shooters choose the following calibers most often for concealed carry: .22LR, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 9mm. Each

.22 LR

The .22LR is a light round that many argue isn’t powerful enough for concealed carry. However, that’s not always true, especially if your aim is to scare off an intruder.

.357 Magnum

Munitions makers designed the .357 Magnum by adding more powder into the case of a .38 caliber. Law enforcement liked the round and it became a go-to for defensive shooting.

.380 ACP

The .380 ACP is a shorter version of a 9mm round. The ammo has light recoil and sufficient stopping power for this purpose.

.40 S&W

The .40 S&W was created by shortening a 10mm cartridge as well as reducing the powder charge. The round is larger than a 9mm, but it can fit in a pistol designed for 9mm. The round, a good choice for self-defense and concealed carry, remains a popular choice for law enforcement and civilians.

.45 ACP

Gun enthusiasts love the .45 ACP. Its incredible stopping power has made it popular with the military, law enforcement and those that want to carry a large caliber for protection. The only downside is it muzzle flash and recoil, which are still manageable for the right user.

9mm

The 9mm Parabellum is the most used ammunition cartridge in the world. Police and military use it for most pistol applications. It has good stopping power and is readily available from most manufacturers.

Conclusion

Shooters should educate themselves not only on the caliber of a round but also the various types of ammunition that are made for each. These include full metal jacket, hollowpoint, and soft hollowpoint, among others. You must discover which caliber is best suited for your use, is the most practical and most affordable. Once you do that, you will enjoy your weapon for many years to come.

.380 for Self-Defense

.380 is a popular off duty weapon for police.

People who carry concealed for self-defense often choose larger calibers for their stopping power. The .380 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) remains one of the most popular rounds on the market. Shooters prefer the round because it is lightweight and easy to carry with minimal recoil and muzzle blast. Police officers often carry a .380 as a backup weapon. Hobbyists and competition shooters choose the ammo for backyard shooting, competition and plinking.

 Development of .380 Ammo

John Moses Browning created .380 ammunition for the Colt Model 1908 Pocket Pistol in 1908. Browning designed the ammo after the .38 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge, which was made for blowback pistols. The military used .380 ACP ammo until it was replaced with the 9mm.

In 1912, .380 ACP ammo was introduced in Belgium, where it was named the “9mm Browning Short.” Military forces used the round throughout World War II until many replaced it with the more popular 9mm cartridge.

Other names for .380 ACP cartridges  include 9mm Browning, 9mm Browning Court, .380 Auto, 9mm Short, 9mm Corto, 9mm Kurz, and 9×17mm. The .380 Auto should not be confused with .38 ACP.

The .380 Auto for Self-Defense

People looking for a self-defense weapon may choose the .380 ACP for its accuracy. The round has a moderate recoil and muzzle blast which works well for novice shooters. The round feeds easily and the guns chambered for this round are dependable. The ammunition is better than the .32 Auto, especially when it comes to stopping power. As a result, the .380 ACP has become the standard minimum chambering for law enforcement, military and self-defense use.

The popularization of the 9mm caused a decrease in sales for the .380 ACP until the mid-2000s, when the demand increased for lightweight pistols suitable for carrying concealed. Manufacturers have responded to the demand for weapons chambered in .380 ACP and have also begun to mass produce the ammo to be sold in bulk. The mass production allows consumers to buy .380 rounds for less money at retail sites as well as through online markets.

Stopping Power

The stopping power of .380  ammo is sufficient to stop a threat.  Some experts dismiss the round because it is smaller and less effective than larger handgun calibers. For example, the 9mm has more firepower, but the performance isn’t much different. The .380 round performs like a .45 cartridge rather than the .32 ACP, which is closer to its size.

While the cartridge may be weaker than larger calibers, the lower recoil is a benefit to novice users since the gun is easier to fire. The shooter also has less recovery time and can fire faster, which means a great deal when the shooter is acquiring a target. Manufacturers continue to chamber handguns for the .380 ACP, including subcompact models that are ideal for concealed carry.

 

Pros and Cons of the .40 Cal S&W

Pistols chambered in .40 cal S&W

The .40 Cal S&W is a rimless pistol ammunition created for the Federal Bureau of Investigation by firearms manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Winchester. The .40 S&W (10x22mm) was developed from scratch after the failed FBI shootout in Miami in 1986. The confrontation left two FBI agents dead, with five wounded. The agents fatally wounded the two criminals.

The FBI commissioned Smith & Wesson and Winchester to create an ammo that could be retrofitted into their existing 9mm semi-automatic handguns. S&W and Winchester based the new ammunition on 9mm and .45 ACP cartridges. The new cartridge would function as a medium velocity round mimicking the accuracy of a 9mm, but using the parameters of a 10mm load.

The team satisfied FBI requirements. The new medium ground ammo could be used by agents in a standard issue semi-automatic pistol. The FBI believed that the new standard issue would prevent another disaster like the one they faced in Miami.

Development of the .40 S&W

The FBI determined that the standard issue .38 Special revolvers had lost their effectiveness. They switched to 10mm cartridge and the S&W 1076 Auto shortly before the Miami shootout. The FBI determined the agents’ deaths were caused by lack of ammunition, heavy recoil, and the difficulty of reloading quickly in the field. It was imperative to find a new, more effective ammo to prevent future debacles.

S&W and Winchester completed the development of .40 Cal bullets in 1990, along with the Smith & Wesson Model 4006 pistol, six months after receiving the request from the FBI. The result of the collaboration was an ammunition with the stopping power of a .45 ACP round, with the ease of use of a 9mm.

The FBI adopted the .40 Cal S&W. Law enforcement agencies around the country quickly followed suit. The United States Coast Guard and police forces in Canada and Australia also adopted the .40 S&W and still use it today.

The FBI currently endorses the Sig Sauer P226 and P228, chambered in 9mm and .40 cal.

Specs

The .40 Cal S&W uses a 0.40-inch diameter lead bullet ranging in weight from 105 to 200 grains.

The middle ground ammunition has adequate stopping power for self-defense and concealed carry. The recoil is manageable for novice and shooters with a smaller frame.

The .40 S&W casing measures .85-inch-long, .424-inch at the base. It has an average pressure of 35,000 psi. The energy of the ammo exceeds the standard-pressure of the .45 ACP.

Based on ideal terminal ballistic performance testing in the 1980s and 1990s, the .40 S&W was touted as “the ideal cartridge for personal defense and law enforcement”. The .40 Cal S&W is almost identical to the ballistics of the .38-40 Winchester introduced in 1874, with the same bullet diameter and weight, as well as having similar muzzle velocities.

Alternate Names

  • .40 Caliber
  • .40 Cal
  • .40 Auto
  • 10×22mm
  • 10mm Kurz

The .40 Cal S&W for Self-Defense

The .40 S&W is attractive to civilians due to its ease of use and light recoil. People seeking ammo for self-defense situations demand accuracy and stopping power. The .40 cal meets those requirements. Consumers have a variety of options for bullet weight and design.

Civilians appreciate the same features coveted by law enforcement, including magazine capacity, muzzle energy, and light recoil. The round is accurate and easy to manage, making it ideal for concealed carry and self-defense. While it isn’t the most popular round on the market, most new firearms offer compact and subcompact models chambered for the .40 Cal.