

Using a cartridge without sufficient power is bad for the animal if it's wounded, and, if hunting dangerous game, can put the hunter at risk, too. Regardless of what you're pursuing, the highest priority in selecting ammo for hunting should always be ensuring the cartridge or shotgun shell you choose is powerful enough to ensure an ethical kill. These bullets are typically heavier than personal defense projectiles and retain more of their weight after entering the target. While personal defense projectiles are designed to stop human beings, hunting bullets are engineered to penetrate the thick skin, dense muscle tissue and bones of game animals.

Reliable bullet expansion and retained kinetic energy remain large aspects of this, which is why rifle and handgun hunters - as well as shotgunners using slugs - similarly use expanding hollow point or soft point projectiles (FMJ projectiles should never be used in hunting as they will likely penetrate straight through the animal, without generating enough damage to humanely kill it).Ī key difference is the need for additional penetration. The best hunting bullets can penetrate thick bone and muscle of big game animals and provide reliable expansion.Īs with personal defense scenarios, the most important thing when it comes to hunting ammunition is using projectiles that quickly and humanely bring down the target. This ensures a quick end to a dangerous situation, and harms nothing but the target. In any personal defense scenario, you want a reliable load that transfers as much energy and damage as possible without over-penetration. While other loads, including birdshot, may be used for self-defense, they are far less likely to provide an immediate end to the threat. With shotguns, the best option are buckshot loads, as they use pellets large enough to cause serious damage. Second, it controls the amount of penetration to keep the round inside the target, which reduces the chances of harming innocent bystanders and transfers all the bullet's kinetic energy into the target. First, it generates a larger wound channel on the target, which increases damage. The projectiles, called pellets, are normally lead, although some states and ranges require the use of steel shot.Ī bullet's expansion is a critical factor when selecting personal defense ammo. These shells are 2 ¾ inches in length and around 1 ounce in payload weight. 7 ½ shot and smaller (the higher the number, the smaller the shot). With shotgun ammunition, the least expensive shells are typically lightweight target loads in No. This makes FMJs less expensive to produce and therefore cheaper for the customer.

An FMJ bullet incorporates a soft core (usually lead) encased in a shell of harder metal and requires less manufacturing than the bullets used in other more complex self-defense and hunting loads.
BEST 9MM AMMO FOR BIG GAME FULL
In most cases, this means buying a widely available and relatively inexpensive load.įor rifles and handguns, the cheapest cartridges, or complete loaded rounds of ammunition, are those featuring a full metal jacket (FMJ) projectile. Whether you're a serious shooter planning to spend a lot of time on the range or a casual plinker who shoots a few times a year, you'll need ammo to fuel your chosen firearm.
