Questions: Understanding Ammo

[Lefthanded Shooter]

I am new, have an XD40 Service, and want to learn about ammo, what things like grains, types of ammo, etc. mean. Please keep in mind that I am still trying to learn so my questions may not exactly make sense to those of you that are experienced. As a matter of fact, I am not even sure I know what to ask at this point. Thus, I ask the following questions:

1- What does the term grains mean, and what is the impact on how the ammo functions, i.e. velocity, impact effect, weight, recoil, other?

2- Do the grains have any implication regarding what a particular caliber weapon can handle?

3- Would the number of grains of the ammo be different for range shooting vs. self defense use?

4- Am I correct in understanding I should be using hollow points for my self defense ammo?

5- Is frangible ammo different from hollow points?

6- And finally, are there some sources where I can go to read about ammo to better understand what it is and how to use it?

Thanks for your patience and for any helpful responses.

LS

[tomfoolery]

Originally Posted by Lefthanded Shooter

I am new, have an XD40 Service, and want to learn about ammo, what things like grains, types of ammo, etc. mean. Please keep in mind that I am still trying to learn so my questions may not exactly make sense to those of you that are experienced. As a matter of fact, I am not even sure I know what to ask at this point. Thus, I ask the following questions:

1- What does the term grains mean, and what is the impact on how the ammo functions, i.e. velocity, impact effect, weight, recoil, other?

Grains is a standard unit of measure...i.e. powder, bullets...

2- Do the grains have any implication regarding what a particular caliber weapon can handle?

Typically 115-147 is 9mm, 155-180 is .40, and 185-230 is .45
there are however exceptions to this as with everything in life....

3- Would the number of grains of the ammo be different for range shooting vs. self defense use?

Typically you use a heavier grain bullet for self defense (i.e. 230gr. in a .45). Unless you have a short barrel gun in which case you want a lighter grain (to allow the bullet to reach peak velocity thus expanding further upon impact)


4- Am I correct in understanding I should be using hollow points for my self defense ammo?

Yeah, HP are probably the best bet...they don't over-penetrate.

5- Is frangible ammo different from hollow points?

Yes, frangible ammo breaks a part making it safer to shoot steel targets. HP ammo stays in one maybe two pieces (jacket seperation).

6- And finally, are there some sources where I can go to read about ammo to better understand what it is and how to use it?

The internet! Google is

Thanks for your patience and for any helpful responses.

LS

answers in the quote.

[agalindo]

1- What does the term grains mean, and what is the impact on how the ammo functions, i.e. velocity, impact effect, weight, recoil, other?
Grains is a unit of measurement 7000 grains = 1lb.
It is used to measure the weight of the bullet for example 180gr hollow point. It's also used to measure the powder charge in the case for example 5 grains of Red Dot.

2- Do the grains have any implication regarding what a particular caliber weapon can handle?
Yes the larger the caliber the heavier the bullet it can shoot.

3- Would the number of grains of the ammo be different for range shooting vs. self defense use?
It doesn't have to I like to shoot 180gr .40 for everything.

4- Am I correct in understanding I should be using hollow points for my self defense ammo?
Hollow points are the best SD ammo available at this time.

5- Is frangible ammo different from hollow points?
Frangible ammo is not recommended by ballistic experts because it tends to under penetrate. MagSafe, Glaser, Quik-Shok, BeeSafe -- Prefragmented Bullets: Dangerously Inadequate for Personal Defense

Prefragmented Bullets: Dangerously Inadequate for Personal Defense

6- And finally, are there some sources where I can go to read about ammo to better understand what it is and how to use it?

tacticalforums.com and firearmstactical.com are good places to start.

A must read.

Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness

U.S. Department of Justice
Special Agent UREY W. PATRICK

FIREARMS TRAINING UNIT
FBI ACADEMY
QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

FBI Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness - FirearmsTactical.com

[Lefthanded Shooter]

Thanks TomF and AgaL for responding. Thats good info and should help. I appreciate you taking time to write.

LS

[Raptor1956]

There may be a difference in what target bullets a pistol shooter uses versus a rifle shooter but for rifles you tend to use heavier bullets when your talking long range as the heavier bullet, though slower, will have less aerodynamic drag thanks to the boat tail design.

For 223's, for example, a very good bullet weight for short to moderate ranges is in the 55gr range, but when shooting long range like, 600 yards, you will mostly see 69-75gr bullets. At shorter ranges the bullet gets to the target so fast that there's very little drop or lateral shift from wind as there just enough time to produce that effect.

For handguns the HP (hollow point) in it's various configurations is preferred for SD (self defense) and police work but they are not perfect. The same hollow that produces the expansion due to hydraulic effect is not as effective, usually, when it first penetrates something like denim as the cloth clogs the hollow and prevents/limits the hydraulic effect and therefore expansion resulting in greater penetration and over penetration.


Brian