How does grain affect ammo

However, you can find cartridges with bullets over grain, which are found in products for the. Bullet size within a given cartridge can vary, but there is a general range of size for each ammunition cartridge. For example, AR ammunition has a standard size of 55 grains, but you can purchase ammo for your.

Likewise, 9mm Luger cartridges have bullets from 60 to grains. The point is that even when you purchase a given firearm to shoot a specific cartridge, you still have options for bullet size. As well as bullet type. Bullet weight makes a difference on how the bullet performs. It will impact how the firearm recoils, and it will have an impact on the overall trajectory of the bullet.

Finally, it will impact terminal ballistics, changing how the bullet performs once it strikes a target. However, a light bullet delivers less energy and is susceptible to wind, which means it can be blown off target much easier than heavier bullet. So from an accuracy perspective, neither is absolutely better. This ammo is the same brand, line and is even loaded with the same bullet.

So, what does a 23 grain differential mean for muzzle velocity? A lot, apparently. The five shot average muzzle velocity for the lighter grain bullet is feet per second. When you calculate the muzzle energy for this bullet, you come up with foot pounds. Another cool thing about subsonic ammo is that if you use it with a quality suppressor, it also lessens the felt recoil because it absorbs the energy quite well.

Your needs will change depending on the purpose of your shooting. Heavier bullets are preferred when hunting. A heavier bullet has better expansion and penetration when hitting a live target.

For example, you might want to take a light hollow point bullet HP bullet over a heavy full metal jacket bullet FMJ bullet. This is because a hollow point bullet expands upon impact , staying inside your target.

Basically, a heavier bullet could be better for self-defense since it has a greater chance of stopping your threat. This is because a light bullet can carry over long distances and is generally faster than a heavy bullet. Some people say that lighter bullet grains are far more accurate than heavier bullet grains, but that really depends on the wind. Of course, this varies from person to person, from rifle to rifle so be sure to test the ammunition you pick up.

For some reason, some guns prefer different bullet weights over other bullet weights. This will affect your accuracy for better or for worse. However, aside from bullet weight, your maximum accuracy will also depend on barrel length, muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, twist rate, and a ton of other factors.

For example, an AR has an average bullet weight of 55 gr. However, you can still find ammunition with bullet weights that range from 40 gr to around 70 gr to go rifle shooting.

Likewise, a 45 mm gun has an average bullet weight of gr but you can easily find ammo for it with grains of grains to grains. Ammo comes in different kinds and we already mentioned two types in this article: the Full Metal Jacket bullet and the Hollow Point bullet. In this blog you will read about just a few things our instructors will go over with any new shooter at our range.

Stay Connected. Don's Weaponry. The Shooter's Gallery. Contact Us. Contact Us First Name:. Last Name:. Thank you for contacting us. Or… the heavier bullet could have more recoil depending on the load.

For example, if the cartridge has a fast burning propelllant, the recoil could hit you all at once, translating to a sharp snap against your hand or shoulder. A slow burning powder might distribute the recoil force over a longer period which feels like softer recoil. There is really just no way to determine what recoil is going to feel like by looking at bullet weight alone. You might even still be doubting whether bullet weight is something worth paying attention to at all.

Coming on the heels of their success with the single action P in. Aug, 21, Jun. Chris Baker. Share Article. From left to right, the bullets in these. Can you tell their weight just by looking? Yeah, me either.

A 9mm bullet weighing exactly grains.