|
How To Choose The Right Ammo
Peak
Performance wants to make sure that you as the end user of their ammunition is
set up for success in whatever shooting discipline you may be partaking in.
Whether it’s shooting competitively, hunting, or general target shooting at the
range the key elements for success is understanding what we are putting in our
rifles to make sure we are getting what we expect out of them. As you look
through Peak Performance rifle cartridge offerings you will notice that along
with different weights each bullet also has a type, such as full metal jacket
(FMJ), Total Metal Jacket (TMJ), and Boat-Tail Hollow Point (BTHP). Let’s take
a look at each of three rifle bullet types offered by Peak Performance,
Full Metal Jacket
(FMJ)
A full metal jacket (FMJ) is the most common found plinking or
target style bullet. It is most commonly constructed as a soft core, usually
made up of lead which is then “jacketed” in copper gilding with a closed bullet
tip. The lead core is exposed in the base of the bullet. FMJ is often referred
to in military nomenclature as “ball” ammunition, such as M193 (55 grain) and
M855 (62 grain) standard military issue ball ammunition. The copper jacket is
harder than the lead core so this helps alleviate damage to the projectile that
would often be found trying to use softer lead bullets in auto-loading firearms
such as AR-15’s. This hard exterior jacket also means that this bullet will
penetrate deeply into a target rather than expand on impact which means that
this ammunition may not be the best choice for hunting where dumping kinetic
energy into a target relies on the bullet expanding. However, the full metal
jack does make a great hunting round on lighter game where pelt preservation may
be a concern such as predator hunting. Full metal jacket bullets are also
simple in construction and cheap to make and the costs are often passed along
in cheaper loaded ammunition. Full metal jacket bullets most commonly have a
flat base with or non-tapered shape which generally limits their performance to
about medium level effective range in its weapon platform.
Total Metal Jacket
(TMJ)
A total metal jacket bullet is very similar to the full
metal jacket ammunition where it is a lead core jacketed with copper gilding
material. The difference is in the base of the bullet where rather than an
exposed lead core at the base of the bullet, the lead core is encapsulated in
copper as well as the exterior. Since the lead core is encased with copper and
protected from the hot expanding gases of burning powder, it reduces exposure
from lead particles that can often be found in the air shooting at indoor
ranges and is often the only ammunition type allowed. Some shooter have often
reported increased accuracy shooting TMJ bullets due to a more consistent base
of the bullet. TMJ bullets can also be found in a variety of bullet shapes and
are not limited to flat base styles.
Boat-tail Hollow
Points (BTHP)
BTHP rifle bullets are often used in competitive shooting
and also known as open-tip match (OTM) bullets. Despite having a hollow tip
similar to hollow point defense purposed pistol rounds, their performance
should not be confused. The open tip on BTHP bullets is a carryover from the
method used for their construction and BTHP’s are NOT designed to expand upon
impact like hollow tip pistol bullets. The BTHP open tip enhances the bullet’s
aerodynamics while in flight and many believe this type of bullet to be one of
the most accurate bullet construction methods. The boat-tail shape is in
reference to the shape of the base of the bullet and how it is tapered like the
shape of a boat. This boat-tail shape reduces the effect of drag on the bullet as
it flies through the air in the same way it reduces drag on a boat as it floats
through water. These bullets are often have higher ballistic coefficient and
are flatter shooting across when considering the entire bullet trajectory and
make this bullet type the coup de gras for longer range shooting.
Many people can often find themselves frustrated with their
shooting simply because they may not have the correct ammunition for what they
are trying to accomplish. We simply must equip ourselves with the correct tools
for the job. By understanding bullet construction and matching bullet types to
what kind of shooting we expect to do, we can eliminate a lot of frustration
that can come with shooting. Good luck and happy shooting!
|
