The Complete Ammunition Buying Guide

• Case: Usually brass, sometimes steel or aluminum. Brass is the gold standard — it headspaces precisely, expands to seal the chamber on firing, and springs back for extraction. Steel cases save money but aren't reloadable. Aluminum is single-use and budget-oriented.
• Primer: A small percussion cap that ignites the powder charge. Standard vs. magnum primers affect ignition in cold weather. Primer quality directly affects consistency — this is where budget ammo sometimes cuts corners.
• Powder: The propellant burn rate, charge weight, and consistency determine velocity and pressure. Reputable manufacturers use precise powder charging with very low standard deviation between rounds.
• Projectile: The only part that reaches the target. Bullet construction affects terminal performance, expansion, penetration, and whether the bullet holds together on impact.

Manufacturers with the tightest quality control include Hornady, Federal Premium, Nosler, and Winchester. For practice ammo, Federal American Eagle, Blazer Brass, and Remington UMC offer reliable consistency at reasonable prices.

Hunting Ammunition

Hunting applications demand controlled expansion — the bullet must open reliably at the velocities present at your shooting distance while retaining enough mass to penetrate to the vitals.

• Bonded core bullets (Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame): The core is chemically or mechanically bonded to the jacket. Ideal for large game or any shot where angle or bone may stress the bullet.
• Polymer-tipped bullets (Hornady SST, Nosler Ballistic Tip): Higher BC for flatter trajectories and reliable expansion even at lower terminal velocities. Good for deer-sized game at extended range.
• Monolithic copper bullets (Barnes TTSX, Federal Trophy Copper): Lead-free. Legal in California for all hunting. Excellent penetration, consistent expansion, high weight retention.

Long-Range and Precision Ammunition

• Hornady ELD-M: The benchmark for factory match ammo. Uses Heat Shield tips that don't deform from aerodynamic heating in flight.
• Sierra MatchKing: The original match bullet. Hollow point boat tail design optimized for accuracy.
• Federal Gold Medal Match: Factory-loaded with Sierra MatchKings and consistent powder charges.

Practice and Plinking Ammunition

• Brass-cased FMJ (Federal American Eagle, Fiocchi, PMC Bronze): Reliable, reloadable cases. Best overall value for the serious shooter.
• Steel-case FMJ (Wolf, Tula): Significantly cheaper per round. Not reloadable. Some ranges prohibit steel cases — check before buying.
• Aluminum-case FMJ (CCI Blazer): Clean-burning, reliable. Single-use cases.

Self-Defense and Carry Ammunition

The FBI ballistic gelatin protocol is the industry standard for evaluating defensive handgun ammo. Goal: consistent expansion to 1.5x bullet diameter, penetration of 12–18 inches through bare and clothed media.

• Federal HST: Consistently tops FBI protocol testing. Bonded construction keeps core and jacket together.
• Hornady Critical Defense / Critical Duty: Flex Tip technology initiates expansion at lower velocities — important for compact carry pistols.
• Speer Gold Dot: Uni-Cor construction for deep penetration. Standard issue for many law enforcement agencies.
• Winchester PDX1: Aggressive petal expansion with good weight retention.

Range and Training Ammunition

Use FMJ for practice. Shoot enough defensive ammo through your carry pistol to confirm function (minimum 200 rounds), then train primarily with FMJ. The cost savings over a year of regular practice are substantial.

Competition Ammunition

USPSA and IDPA require a minimum power factor. Minor power factor allows lighter, softer-shooting loads. Major power factor is required for some divisions.

• Minor: 124gr @ 1,050 fps or 115gr @ 1,100 fps — most 9mm factory ammo qualifies
• Major: 180gr @ 920 fps in .40 S&W, 230gr @ 720 fps in .45 ACP

• .22 LR for small game and training: CCI Standard Velocity, Eley Club, Federal AutoMatch. Test in your specific firearm before committing to a bulk purchase — some .22 rifles are picky.
• .22 LR for precision target shooting: Eley Tenex, Lapua Midas+, SK Rifle Match. Match-grade rimfire with extremely tight velocity spreads.
• .17 HMR: 17 grain at 2,550 fps. Outstanding varmint round to 150 yards. Flat trajectory, minimal wind drift.
• .22 WMR (.22 Magnum): 40 grain at 1,875 fps. Bridges the gap between .22 LR and centerfire for small game and varmints.

• Grain weight (gr): The weight of the projectile. Heavier bullets are slower but hit harder at close range. Lighter bullets are faster with flatter trajectories.
• Feet per second (fps): Muzzle velocity measured from a specific barrel length. Your shorter barrel will produce less velocity than listed.
• Foot-pounds (ft-lbs): Energy at muzzle. A useful comparative metric — bullet construction determines what that energy actually does on impact.
• SAAMI: All commercially sold ammo must meet SAAMI pressure specs for the listed cartridge.
• +P / +P+: Higher pressure loadings for additional velocity. Verify firearm compatibility before using.

• Store in a cool, dry location — 55–70°F ideal. Avoid garages and attics with extreme seasonal temperature swings.
• Original boxes are fine for short-term storage. For long-term, use sealed plastic ammo cans with silica gel desiccant packs.
• Inspect stored ammo periodically for green verdigris on brass, primer discoloration, or cracked cases.
• Properly stored ammo can remain functional for 10+ years. Military surplus ammo from the 1950s–60s still functions reliably when stored correctly.