Handgun Ammunition

Some shooters don’t pay much attention to what ammunition they feed their pistol or revolver other than it being the right caliber.  Many a new shooter incorrectly assumes that all “factory ammo” is made to closely match some strict industry spec and therefore will hit a target at whatever spot at which the sights are pointed when the bang switch is jerked. Those who become more interested in handgun technique  - and shooting them more proficiently - will learn more and more about the factors, including ammo choice, that apply to making their marksmanship efforts more accurate and thus more enjoyable.

If we were to make a mechanical contraption to hold the firearm firmly in positon to eliminate operator error from an accuracy test, things like the quality of the firearm design and construction, sight positioning, weather conditions, and, of course, ammunition would be the remaining controlling factors in obtaining the unicorn we call “tight groups”. With a decent quality handgun that has had its sights properly regulated, ammunition will play a much larger role in obtaining maximum accuracy than most shooters believe.

If consistently ringing an 8” steel plate from 7 or 10 yards is accurate enough for you, keep on buying the cheapest “plinking ammo” you can find and disregard any further ammo education.  Believe it or not, however, 1” shot groups are attainable from most handguns of reasonable quality at 25 yards or beyond, but only if the ammunition is up to the task and a box of the good stuff won’t be the lowest priced package at your favorite big box sporting goods store.

Consistency.  First, each cartridge in a given group must produce close to the same pressure and burn rate when ignited.  Yes, “burn”, because gunpowder does not explode when ignited by the primer but instead burns rapidly, completing its job of increasing cartridge pressure at a pre-determined rate.  There is a plethora of gunpowder formulations available today and each has its own characteristics, including burn rate, which, among other things, determines its effectiveness in a cartridge of a given size and the shape and weight of the bullet.  If a manufacturer packs its cartridge with gunpowder “good enough” and chosen for its cost instead of one with optimal burn characteristics, the accuracy of that cartridge will suffer. Even if the formulation of the powder is correct, minute variances in the amount of that powder in a given cartridge will meaningfully affect bullet trajectory.

Additionally, each bullet in a group of cartridges must be shaped properly, weigh the same, and be made of materials which effectively engage the rifling in the barrel; and all these factors must be very close to the same on each bullet within a batch.  “Cheap” ammo is not likely to meet this criteria.  Hint: Quality control in the manufacturing process is expensive.  Tighter QC creates more consistency but costs more.

Powder.  When gunpowder is ignited within an ammunition cartridge it produces an increase in pressure because the bullet holds the expanding gasses within the cartridge until it begins its travel down the barrel, and in some cases for some of that travel. If the quantity and type of powder and/or the size and weight of the bullet is not optimized, the pressure will build up too quickly or too slowly. If the bullet accelerates down the barrel at the “wrong” speed for its size and composition, it will not properly engage the rifling grooves. This will inhibit the proper amount of spin imparted to the bullet, which will impair its flight characteristics after it leaves the muzzle. A bullet which leaves the muzzle at the “wrong” velocity also will not “fly” correctly.

Bullet Shape & Size.  A great deal of attention is paid to the shape of rifle projectiles (bullets). The longer the distance a bullet flies from muzzle to target, the more aerodynamic it must be, but even though not quite as critical, the relatively short range mission of handguns requires bullet stability during flight. Never mind that a bullet at typical handgun velocities remains airborne for only 1/13 of a second on a 25 yard range, all the interactions of it with the barrel and atmosphere will take place during that time and must be correct for accuracy to ensue.

Ammunition of a given caliber is usually available in different bullet weights. Since bullet diameter is the same on various weights in the same caliber, the length of the projectile is the variable factor among the different weights. A heavier bullet in a given caliber will be longer. The overall length of the cartridge will be the same, or very nearly so, meaning simply that the heavier bullet is set deeper into the case of the cartridge than its lighter sibling. While one might infer that a heavier (longer) bullet will have a greater surface area on which to engage the rifling in the barrel and lead to increased ballistic flight stability, this is only one of the factors at play and any advantage gained from enhanced rifling engagement might be more than offset by other factors.

Use of one bullet weight over another dictates changes in the type and quantity of gunpowder. Failure to fully compensate for the various bullet weights during the manufacturing process could produce ammunition quite competent in the realms of safety and cost but less than optimal in accuracy. During a production run of a certain caliber, for instance, a change in bullet weight might optimally require a change of both amount and formulation of the gunpowder. For cost purposes a manufacturer might choose to change only the amount. Less costly but less accurate ammo would be the result.

Cartridge to Gun Match.  Certain guns are reputed to be “ammo sensitive” in ways that affect their reliability. Even those that will “eat everything they’re fed” will likely be more accurate with a particular load from a specific manufacturer. To obtain maximum accuracy from a particular gun, it's “favorite” ammo must be discovered and this usually can be found only by trial and error. Competition marksmen typically load their own cartridges and find, through careful testing, the optimal combination of cartridge components which produces the most accurate cartridge for a particular gun at a particular range.

Generally, though not always, the higher the quality of the gun, the more tolerant it will be to ammo variations while maintaining inherent accuracy. Conversely, a common service pistol can sometimes prove to be extremely accurate with the “right” ammunition.

In Conclusion; the subject of ballistics – bullet flight from ignition to target – much more complex than most shooters realize. It is one of, if not the most important, factors in finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow we refer to as “one ragged hole.” Obviously, the best ammo will be wasted on a range mission involving a poor shooter wielding an inferior firearm, but someone who has a decent gun and has begun the journey toward competent marksmanship will certainly benefit from higher quality ammo matched to his/her gun.

None of this really matters for someone who owns a handgun or two and shoots a few rounds per year just to maintain minimal proficiency. The more serious shooter, however, who gains a bit of knowledge will gain both proficiency and enjoyment along the way.

With ballistics, as with all other aspects of the shooting sports, compromise is the name of the game. “If a little bit’s good, a lot’s gotta be better” just doesn't work well here and can be counterproductive at best and downright unsafe at worst. Most of the issues that need compromise to produce a cartridge that will work well in a variety of guns have been addressed by reputable manufacturers.  It is this effort to make their product acceptable to a wide variety of guns that makes them less than optimal for almost all of them.  Selection by the consumer of a cartridge best suited to his/her particular gun begins when that shooter becomes more knowledgeable by testing various loads and learning what to look for.

And finally; BE SAFE! Keep your booger hook off the bang switch ‘till you're ready to shoot something.

Respectfully Submitted

The Bunker Bunch

October, 2014