Current Location: Home : Firearms : Juuhoukata Chap. 3-5

Chapter 3: Selecting a Firearm


Ammunition

As we've stated before, there is a bewildering array of ammunition on the market, each and every one trying to convince you that it's the best round for your needs. What should you shoot?

First, remember that we stated that hollowpoint ammunition will be the best choice for self-defense use. Almost any hollowpoint on the market will perform as well as the next, and every major manufacturer has one among their lineup. Federal, Remington, Winchester, CCI, Hornady, Cor-Bon - all are respected names with good products. However, as each is manufactured a little differently, each will perform a little differently in your chosen weapon. When you go out to the range to practice - as you will be, frequently, right? - take along a box from one of these manufacturers and shoot it though your gun. Note whether or not it feeds reliably, how accurate it is, how much it dirties up the weapon. Eventually you'll settle on a brand that works best in your gun.

Practicing with this ammo can get expensive; as name-brand rounds cost a bit more than their "generic" counterparts. Practicing with the generics is OK, however- the differences in power and handling are minute enough that they won't matter. 3-D, Estate Cartridge, Master Cartridge, Wolf, Magtech and others make low-cost practice ammunition. What I would stay away from are the surplus, no-name brands that are, granted, very inexpensive. They may use inferior components or "dirty" powder that accellerates corrosion.

Which ammo to choose? Since you'll be practicing frequently, shoot some of all of them; stick with the one you like.


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