About Target Ammunition

Like the name suggests, ammunition of this type is intended for target shooting use. Naturally, these loadings feature projectiles and traits which are conducive to recreational shooting and practice. Target ammo is found in a wide range of calibers, gauges, and chamberings like 9mm, 5.56x45mm, 12 gauge, and more. Ammo of this type is available in a wide range of grain weights, shot sizes, projectile types, velocities, and other styles which cater to various types of shooters. This is to say that there are range ammo offerings which are suitable for various purposes at the range.

Types of Target Ammo Loadings

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Birdshot:These loadings feature multiple small projectiles. These types of loadings are well-suited for bird hunting, pest control, casual clay shooting, and recreational shooting. These loadings tend to be some of the most common loadings one will find on the market.

Firearms that Use Target Ammo

There are currently a wide range of firearms on the market which are great hosts for target ammunition. Firearms in manual action and autoloading forms alike can take full advantage of target ammo. This is to say that a wide variety of common handguns, rifles, rimfire firearms, and shotguns can utilize ammo of this type for target shooting and general recreation purposes.