Common Projectile Types
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy want to go over some popular projectile types today. These types of projectiles are often encountered by shooters as they stock up on ammo. Additionally, these loadings are utilized by shooters of all types for things such as range use, hunting, training, self-defense, and competition use cases. We are essentially going to provide a brief overview of the common projectiles shooters will encounter when shopping for pistol or rifle ammunition. Without further ado, let’s go over some common projectile types.
What Projectiles are We Talking About?
The focus today will be on the projectiles found in pistol, rifle, and rimfire loadings. We will not be focusing on the types of loadings found in shotgun shells in this blog post. This post will cover a range of the most common projectiles one will encounter with these types of loadings. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list by any means and will not cover each and every projectile type in existence.
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Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
Like the name suggests, these types of loadings feature projectiles which are adorned with metal jacketing. This jacket is generally made of copper and will cover the tip and sides of the projectile. Typically, the base of the projectile is left uncoated. These types of loadings are well-suited for range use and are some of the most common types of ammo one will encounter.
Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail (FMJBT)
Like FMJ loadings, ammunition of this type features a projectile that is fully encapsulated in a metal jacket. This metal is generally going to be of the copper variety. Typical FMJ projectiles feature a flat base while boat tail projectiles feature a tapered base which resembles a boat tail. This geometry promotes accuracy and high velocities.
Frangible
Frangible ammunition is different from traditional ammunition due to the fact that projectiles fragment and essentially disintegrate when they impact something hard. Rather than being composed of lead, frangible projectiles typically consist of a mixture of powdered metals. Common powdered metals utilized for frangible projectiles include tin, copper, zinc, or tungsten. Typically, frangible ammunition will have lighter grain weights than their traditional counterparts. Frangible ammunition can be found in a variety of popular rifle and pistol calibers, particularly those commonly associated with duty use.
Soft Point (SP)
SP loadings feature soft, exposed lead projectile tips which are conducive to expanding upon impact. These loadings are mainly utilized in hunting applications and are effective at imparting a high degree of kinetic energy transfer. Specialty SP loadings also exist which are optimized for different types of hunting and game.
Hollow Point (HP)
HP loadings feature hollow point projectiles like the name suggests. This removal of material makes the projectile lighter and promotes high velocities. These types of loadings are optimized for self defense or match use and have a tendency to expand on impact. A good hollow point loading is one that achieves an appropriate level of penetration while expanding reliably upon impact within the target.
Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
JHP loadings feature hollow point projectiles which are adorned with a full metal jacket. These loadings are generally found in the form of defensive ammo offerings and are designed to facilitate reliable expansion upon impact. Additionally, these types of loadings are designed to achieve adequate levels of penetration for defensive purposes while not overpenetrating the target and risking collateral damage. A good hollow point loading is one that achieves an appropriate level of penetration while expanding reliably upon impact within the target.
Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT)
HPBT loadings feature hollow point projectiles with boat tail style bases. These differ from traditional projectiles with flat bases and are well-suited to precision-oriented shooting. Like traditional hollow point loadings, these loadings are also designed to facilitate expansion on impact.
Open-Tip Match (OTM)
These types of loadings will generally feature heavier projectiles and are well-suited to precision-oriented shooting. Material has been removed from these projectiles, hence the “Open-Tip Match” designation, helping achieve high velocities. While technically a hollow point, these loadings are designed for superior ballistic performance and not intended to function as standard hollow points.
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Copper Plated Hollow Point (CPHP)
This term is most commonly used when referring to .22 Long Rifle ammunition or other rimfire calibers. Like the name suggests, these loadings feature hollow point projectiles with copper jacketing. Additionally, these loadings feature lighter projectile weights and are loaded to achieve high velocities. These types of loadings are well-suited for a variety of firearms and use cases such as plinking.
Copper Plated Round Nose (CPRN)
Loadings bearing this designation are generally going to be found in the form of rimfire calibers like .22 Long Rifle. As the name suggests, these loadings feature copper plated projectiles of the round nosed variety. This is to say that these loadings will run cleaner than their exposed lead counterparts. These types of loadings are generally going to come in the form of high velocity ammo offerings.
Polymer-Tipped Projectiles
Loadings featuring polymer-tipped projectiles generally fall into the category of specialty ammunition offerings and projectiles. Typically, these projectiles exist to provide better ballistic capabilities, often allowing for higher velocity potential. Additionally, many of these polymer tips allow for better, more consistent expansion after desirable levels of penetration are achieved. These loadings are typically found in the form of Hornady A-Max and V-Max projectiles.
Various Specialty Projectiles
Many specialty projectiles exist and are also commonly utilized and employed. These types of projectiles encompass Hornady V-Max, Sierra MatchKing, Nosler AccuBond, and Barnes TTSX bullets. Specialty projectiles like these and more are utilized in specialized loadings for use cases such as hunting, precision shooting, competition, and defense-oriented offerings. Some specialty projectiles, such as the TTSX projectiles from Barnes, are made of copper and are classified as lead-free in nature. Loadings of the lead-free variety are commonly employed by hunters in areas that restrict lead ammunition.
Conclusion
And there we have it, these are some of the most common projectile types one will encounter with pistol, rifle, and rimfire loadings. As mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list by any means as we only focused on the most common types of projectiles one will come across as they shop for ammo. Whether you want to buy ammo in individual box form or are after bulk ammunition, we here at True Shot Ammo have you covered. Our wide range of ammunition for sale covers pistol, rifle, shotgun, and rimfire loadings of various types, offering support to shooters of all types. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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