Ammunition Guides with Ammo.com

Coyotes have an expansive range, which means hunters use very diverse tactics. Some snipe them at long range across open fields. Others like to call them in and pick them off at close range. That makes crowning the best coyote cartridge a nearly impossible task. There really is no "perfect" cartridge for hunting these wily canine predators. However, some cartridges are better suited to the task than others. If you're searching for an effective dog-dropper, you've come to the right place. In this episode, Chris and Dave discuss the ins and outs of the most popular coyote hunting cartridges in current production. All of the options on our list have proven their worth against what many consider a nuisance species. Any of these cartridges will make short work of any coyotes or varmints that plague your property!

Let's be honest about one thing, the 5.56 NATO/223 Remington is a battle-proven cartridge that has valiantly served the US military for decades. The 5.56's effectiveness is well documented, and it is one of, if not the, most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in North America. Yes, the 5.56 NATO is awesome. It has low recoil, a flat trajectory, is inexpensive, and has more varieties of ammo than you can shake a boomstick at. But sometimes you want to shoot something different out of your AR, and that's ok. One of the greatest aspects of the AR-15 rifle is its versatility, as many caliber conversions can be accomplished with a simple upper receiver swap. However, with so many different rifle calibers available, some shooters might be confused as to which cartridge is best for their AR-15 or AR-10. There are a ton of different caliber options available to the modern shooter when it comes to the AR rifle. In this podcast, Chris and Dave are going to discuss the 13 best possible calibers you can pick from to covert your AR into from a standard AR-15 or AR-10.

One question that is common with new shooters surrounds the difference between FMJ and TMJ ammo. Some shooters believe that FMJ and TMJ ammo is the same, however they are very different. FMJ stands for Full Metal Jacket. FMJ bullets typically have a soft lead core covered by a swaged metal jacket covering the outside of the bullet with an exposed lead base. TMJ stands for Total Metal Jacket. TMJ bullets also have a soft lead core but are completely covered in a thin layer of copper known as a copper jacket. TMJ ammo has an enclosed base so there is no exposed lead on the bullet. TMJ bullets help reduce the amount of lead exposure shooters are subjected to at indoor ranges while FMJ ammo is generally less expensive and easier to find. In general, TMJ ammo will generally be more accurate and easier to clean up after as there is no exposed lead to leave deposits in your barrel. However, TMJ ammo has a thinner jacket than FMJ ammo, meaning that TMJ bullets are not appropriate for guns using a compensator or barrel ports as small slivers of copper jacket can be shaved off and directed back at the shooter. FMJ bullets are considerably older and less expensive to manufacture. This makes them great for plinking or target shooting, but less ideal for extremely long range accuracy or bullseye competitions. However, their thicker jacket plays well with comps and barrel ports.

Long distances shooting has increased in popularity in the last few decades, which means an increase in better equipment and rounds. The 6.5 Creedmoor has dominated the long-range discussion for years, but we're here to talk about the two newcomers that have begun to gain a following. The 6.8 Western vs. 6.5 PRC debate is one of the hottest topics in long-range shooting, even though these are new rounds to the market. There are several issues at play here, as both of these cartridges are incredibly similar. The 6.5 PRC fires a 0.264" diameter bullet while the 6.8 Western fires the popular 0.277" diameter bullet. This means that the Western round will typically fire heavier bullets that are good for hunting, while the PRC fires more sleek bullets that are excellent for long range accuracy. And this typifies what both cartridges were designed to do, the 6.5 PRC was designed to be a long-range target shooting round while the 6.8 Western was designed for elk and sheep in the Western plains or in the mountains. Both cartridges excel, however, at long-range hunting. The 6.8 Western is plagues by an ammo shortage, as only Winchester and Browning currently manufacture ammo for the cartridge. On the other hand, Hornady has done a masterful job marketing its PRC cartridge to multiple manufacturers and numerous companies make ammo for it. This is the main reason why Chris and Dave favor the 6.5 PRC, because it is getting into the realm of being mainstream while the 6.8 Western has yet to prove itself as a viable cartridge.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is one of the most popular magnum cartridges in current production. Versatile and dependable, this old-school cartridge managed to overcome the American shooter's aversion to the metric with its incredible long-distance ballistic capabilities. However, the 7mm Rem Mag has been around for a long time (since 1962 to be exact), and the wheels of ammunition innovation haven't stopped turning. Could a newer long-range ballistic superstar dethrone this popular old-timer? In terms of long-range hunting cartridges, the 6.8 Western vs 7mm Rem Mag vs .28 Nosler match-up is a good one. If you're a big game hunter going after long-range sheep, elk, or antelope, is it worth pursuing one of the newer hotrod cartridges like the 6.8 Western or the .28 Nosler? Or should you stick with a safe option, like the tried-and-true 7mm Rem Mag?

t wasn't that long ago that everyone swore by "the bigger, the better" when it came to shotguns. However, with a few recent introductions, small-bore shotguns are generating a lot of attention from shooters and hunters, who initially dismissed them. But which one is best when comparing the 28 gauge vs. 410? Overall, the 410 is a great option for a new shooter. It has low recoil and there are tons of single shot or pump-actions for the shell. However, it's not cheap and is actually more expensive than the 28 Gauge. The 28 Gauge is an all but forgotten shotgun cartridge, as the 20, 12, and 410 are the big three when it comes to smooth bores. Although a lot lighter than a 20 gauge, the 28 gauge is an excellent choice for upland game hunting, grouse, pheasants, and doves. It might be a little light for ducks but with proper loads you could probably make it work. However, ammo is in short supply for the 28 ga as most hunters have dropped it in favor of the 20 ga. Both rounds make excellent options for training young shooters, as they have low recoil and are easy to handle. However, we have to err on the side of the 410 for this one, as there are a lot of different ammo options available for it and it is considerably easier to find.

When it comes to varmint hunting, there are few rounds that can compete with the popularity and success of the 223 Remington. Since its release in 1964 and adoption by the US military, the 223 Rem has been nigh untouchable as the go-to option for plinking, long range target shooting, and varmint hunting. However, before the 223 was even a twinkle in Remington's eye, the 22 Hornet ruled the roost as the king of the varmint cartridges. With extremely high muzzle velocity for its time, it was not uncommon for hunters to harvest coyotes at 200 yards with iron sights thanks to the Hornet's flat trajectory. Although the 223 Remington outperforms the 22 Hornet in every ballistic category, the Hornet is one of those cartridges that refuses to die as it's a perfect bridge caliber between the rimfire 22HMR and 223. The 22 Hornet is the more classic round of the two, as it dominated the varmint hunting stage prior to WWII. However, after the war, new varmint rounds like the 220 Swift and 22-250 pushed the Hornet into relative obscurity. As of late the 22 Hornet has seen a bit of a resurgence, with several mainstream rifle manufacturers offering new bolt action rifles chambered in 22 Hornet. However, ammo availability still plagues the Hornet's mainstream acceptance in the hunting community. Overall, the 223 Remington is our choice for the better caliber with better ballistic performance and ammo availability to the moon and back. However, if you find yourself in possession of an old Hornet rifle, then by all means keep it and enjoy shooting a classic varmint hunting cartridge.

Shotguns may be the most versatile firearms on the face of the planet. Shooters around the globe rely on these smoothbore firearms for hunting, sport shooting, and personal defense. Because shotguns are in such high demand, modern shooters can choose from an incredibly diverse selection, with models designed to suit specific shooting needs. While variety is definitely the spice of life, too many options can make finding the right shotgun seem almost impossible, especially if you're new to firearms. The 12 gauge shotgun is undoubtedly the most popular shotgun option in North America and likely the world. It is incredibly versatile and can carry a variety of payloads with varying levels of power. On the other hand, the 410 is a shotgun shell that nearly was dead before the introduction of the Taurus Judge and the S&W Governor. Typically relegated to youth shotgun duty, there are considerably less shell options for the 410 than the 12 ga. Chris and Dave take a deep dive into two of the most popular shotgun shells on the market in this episode of the Ammunition Guides podcast!

The 6.5 Creedmoor is beloved by many for its long-range shooting capabilities. However, the 6.8 Western recently emerged as a worthy contender to dethrone the 6.5 as everyone's favorite cartridge. Is that possible? When comparing the 6.8 Western Vs 6.5 Creedmoor, which one comes out on top? There's no denying the 6.8 Western's big game hunting prowess, firing the larger bullet of the two and dwarfing the Creedmoor in case capacity gives the Western a distinct advantage in ballistics. However, the 6.5 Creedmoor offers lower recoil and his a beloved deer hunting cartridge in addition to its long range shooting capabilities. Although the 6.8 Western also makes a formidable long range cartridge, the added recoil makes it harder to shoot and the main reason for why you won't see it stacked up on the line at F-class shooting competitions. Ammo scarcity is also a major issue for the 6.8 Western, as 6.5 Creedmoor has become one of the hottest new cartridges to hit the market in the 21st Century and ammo for the Creedmoor is easy to find and less expensive than the Western. Overall, the 6.5 Creedmoor is our first pick for most shooters thanks to widespread ammo availability and low recoil. However, if you need a long range hunting cartridge that can take down an elk at 500 yards or longer, the 6.8 Western makes an excellent choice.

Video game guns expand the horizons reality and take firearms to a whole new level. From being able to manipulate gravity to having a chainsaw attachment on your rifle, there's no limit to what video games can come up with. Many shooters are introduced to firearms through video games like Call of Duty, Gears of War, or in the case of my generation, Goldeneye 007. No matter how you came to enjoy firearms, there are some iconic video game guns and we wanted to share our Top 14 list of the most iconic video game guns of all time!