Ammunition is one of the most important things to look for after buying your gun. There’s a distinction you can make any time you talk about it. The two main types are target ammo and self-defense ammo.
Each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks, so a beginner may find it pretty difficult to choose one over the other.
Of course, it’s great to be able to make a distinction between the two types of ammunition, especially when you’re looking to buy some 308 ammo or a different caliber bullet for your gun.
Keep reading to find out what each type of ammo means and how you can use them best.
What is target ammunition?
Target ammo is the ammunition you use when you practice at the gun range. You use it to shoot at targets in well-delimited spaces. It can be found under names like balls or FMJ. The bullet or the tip has the shape of a ball and FMJ is a designation for the specific kind of ammo.
Target ammunition should only be used when target practicing, as the name suggests. It shouldn’t be used on concealed guns.
Only a few limited circumstances allow for the use of target ammo on guns that you have a concealed carry permit for.
One reason is when you’re hiking through wild animal territory and you don’t carry hard-cast ammo with you, but you need to use your gun as a last resort. Or when your gun doesn’t feed hollow point ammo anymore, which is a good reason for you to replace it.
You go to target practice to learn and perfect your shooting skills, to understand how to use your gun for protection.
Practice makes perfect, and you have to train your muscles for adequate shooting. When the need arises, you have to rely on muscle memory to protect yourself.
Basically, you will use a lot of target ammunition at the shooting range. That’s why it’s less expensive.
Target ammo is usually full metal jacket (that’s where FMJ comes from). It means that the bullet can penetrate much further than when you use defense ammo. Fortunately, most shooting ranges are designed particularly for such outcomes.
Target ammunition has a lower recoil and a high level of accuracy. Because it’s less expensive, target ammo will be less effective. It doesn’t fragment or expand when it reaches a target, primarily because that’s not what it’s meant to do. It should simply penetrate the target. Nevertheless, it can pose a danger for those surrounding you when you shoot.
What is defense ammunition?
Self-defense ammunition is designed to shock the body of an aggressor, stopping them from advancing. The energy released by the bullet is transferred when it reaches the body, and it expands. Because the bullet expands, it will create a larger, more dangerous wound.
Self-defense ammo is also called jacketed hollow point (JHP) or hollow-point ammunition, but nowadays, the design doesn’t necessarily use the hollow point anymore.
Bullet technology has evolved considerably, so some types of ammo can cause damage in different ways, like using friction and bullet rotation.
They’re more costly to build, meaning they’re more expensive than target ammo. So, they’re not usually shot during target practice.
Of course, occasionally, some target practice with hollow-point ammo is common because you have to become familiar with the way the weapon acts and with the results.
A good defense ammo needs to penetrate the target deep enough to stop them. For example, the FBI standards are of minimum 12 inches of penetration, while the bullet can keep expanding. The bullet must also expand considerably and reliably, to stop the attacker, and it must work well in any weather conditions and remain reliable.
Which ammo suits you best?
Target ammunition is ideal for those who spend a significant amount of time target shooting. By comparison, defense ammo is much more expensive, so novices will most likely choose the cheaper version, at least at first.
Target bullets don’t expand, and they reduce their speed upon impact. That translates to a clean passage through the target and possibly through things or people behind it. On the other side, defense ammo causes direct damage to the primary target.
When you’re more focused on target practice, your ideal choice will be target ammo, of course. When you have a permit to carry and you want to feel safe, you’ll choose the defense ammo.
Of course, it’s clear that you have to make sure the ammo you choose works well with your weapon. That’s why you’ll either ask for a professional opinion, or you’ll do your research well before making a purchase.
If you are looking for an alternative that is both high-quality and reliable, give Belom Ammunition some thought for your next purchase.
Conclusion
In the end, it all depends on how you want to use your weapon. Of course, we hope you never have to use it for self-defense. But, in case it happens, make sure to use the ammo that efficiently stops the threat and keeps you and those around you safe.
If you need help deciding which type of ammo is better for you, think about where you’re going to use it and what your carry weapon of choice is compatible with.
Make an informed decision to get the best results out of your gun.