Ammunition Guides with Ammo.com

When it comes to the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, there is no denying that the 223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO are the kings of the centerfire cartridges. As it is the standard issue ammo for the U.S. military and an incredibly potent varmint round, the 5.56/223 Rem is by far the most popular centerfire rifle cartridge in North America. Even though the 223 and 5.56 are both battle-proven rounds, some shooters wanted more out of their AR-15. They wanted more power and range without having to upgrade to the heavier and more expensive AR-10 platform. Adapting new cartridges to the AR-15 platform is nothing new, as the 6.8 Remington SPC, 300 AAC Blackout, 224 Valkyrie, and 50 Beowulf have all seen moderate acceptance in the AR shooting community. Enter the 6.5 Grendel cartridge, which gave shooters the range and stopping power they wanted in their lightweight modern sporting rifles. But is it worth it to upgrade your AR-15 or buy a new one in 6.5 Grendel or should you stick with the tried-and-true 223/5.56 NATO?

Handgun grip strength is something that many shooters struggle with, especially those advanced in age. Holding a handgun steady is critical to accuracy and recoil control. In this podcast, Chris and Dave interview Maureen Sangiorgio, an NRA Certified Instructor and RSO who has worked with countless shooters of all ages, sizes, and genders. In the video we will discuss tips and tricks to improve your grip, grip strengthening techniques, and the best ways to introduce new shooters to America's favorite past time, firearms ownership. If you'd like to speak with Maureen: [email protected]

In the early 2000's, there was a big push from the U.S. Army to adapt new, more powerful cartridges to the M4 carbine. This initiative was prompted by battlefield reports of enemy combatants taking multiple hits from 5.56 NATO rounds and remaining combat effective. The 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (SPC) and 6.5 Grendel were two new cartridges developed to increase the lethality of the AR-15 platform. Although their terminal ballistics were impressive, neither cartridge was adopted for mainstream military use. The 6.8SPC and 6.5 Grendel may not have seen frontline combat, but they have enjoyed moderate commercial success from shooters who want a little more "oomph" out of their semi-automatic sporting rifles. However, many 2A enthusiasts are perplexed over which cartridge to select for their new AR-15 if they want something other than the standard 5.56 NATO/223 Remington chambering. Is the 6.8 SPC better than 6.5 Grendel? Or does the 6.5 come out on top? Picking between the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel really comes down to determining what you want to do with you AR. If you want a close in CQB rifle, then the 6.8 SPC is an excellent choice but not so good at long range shooting. However, if you need a cartridge that can reach out and touch something, then the 6.5 Grendel is the way to go. The 6.5mm bullet is right in the sweet spot for long range accuracy, while the 6.8mm or 0.277" bullet is an excellent choice for close encounters. Both calibers only require a bolt, barrel, and magazine change for a conversion. However, many shooters prefer to have dedicated upper receivers and simply swap it out with their every day 5.56 NATO upper. The versatility of the AR-15 is really showcased in these two calibers as both are excellent hunting and self-defense rounds. If you want to read more, check out the full article at https://ammo.com/comparison/68-spc-vs-6.5-grendel

The lethality of the 5.56 NATO/223 Remington rifle cartridge has been a topic of heated debate since its adoption by the US military during the Vietnam War. When fired from a 20 inch barrel, the terminal performance of the 5.56 is quite impressive, however problems arise when a shorter barrel length is used. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the US Army started fielding the M4 carbine with a 10.5" barrel, as a short barrel was ideal for close quarters battle (CQB) as it was more maneuverable. However, the shorter barrel negatively affected the terminal ballistics of the 5.56 and soldiers later reported enemy combatants taking multiple hits while remaining combat effective. The search for a new rifle cartridge was on, as US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) wanted something that could outperform the 5.56 in CQB conditions with a short barreled rifle (SBR). One such cartridge was the 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (SPC). Developed as a joint operation by Remington and the Army Marksmanship Unit, the 6.8mm SPC showed a lot of promise as it had impressive terminal effects at CQB ranges while experiencing a full powder burn in an SBR. Although the 6.8SPC was not adopted by the US military, it has found a home in civilian AR platform rifles as a hunting cartridge and self-defense round. The 6.8 SPC Is one of those rounds that had a massive failure to launch thanks to Remington botching the release by not having the rifle chambers built correctly. This caused slightly higher chamber pressures that the military balked at thanks to the issues during the release of the M16 and 223 Remington in Vietnam. Instead of fixing the chamber, Remington criminally underloaded the ammo which did not meet the expectations of the military. Although the 6.8 SPC II has resolved these issues, the damage was done and Remington was out of the running. However, civilian shooters love the 6.8 SPC for its increased kinetic energy and effectiveness against medium to large game at closer distances. The 6.8 SPC gives AR-15 hunters an option for both whitetail and hogs that the 5.56 NATO simply cannot offer. Sadly, ammo availability is a major issue for the 6.8 SPC as you aren't going to find a lot of this at your local gun shop or sporting goods store. On the other hand, 5.56 is one of the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges on the planet and you can easily find ammo at any store, online retailer, or gun range across North America. Our recommendation is to stick to the 5.56 NATO unless the 6.8 SPC gets a major revival, as there's no worse feeling than having a rifle you can't shoot!

The release of the 6.5 Creedmoor by Hornady in 2007 signaled a change in North American shooting culture. For over a century, the 0.308" diameter bullet was the go-to option for long-range shooting, as the 300 Win Mag and 308 Winchester were the preferred precision rifle cartridge for many competitors. With shooters warming up to the Creedmoor and finally discovering that 0.264" (6.5mm) caliber bullets had lower recoil and higher ballistic coefficients than their 30-cal counterparts, a flurry of new cartridges started hitting the market. The 6.5mm cartridge wars had begun, and multiple manufacturers looked to improve upon the success of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Two such new cartridges that were designed to push the limits of the 6.5mm bullet are the 26 Nosler and 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC). Although these two centerfire rifle cartridges fire the same diameter bullets, they each have their own nuances that make them ideal for different situations. The 26 Nosler is the hotter of the two rounds with superior ballistics and long range trajectory. However, it's a barrel burner and has been known to shoot out barrels in 1000 rounds or less. The 6.5 PRC, on the other hand, is a bit softer shooting and will have at least 50% more barrel life than the 26 Nosler. However, the 6.5 PRC should not be underestimated as it has extreme long range shooting potential and an excellent trajectory as well. The 26 Nosler is hampered by low ammo and rifle availability while the 6.5 PRC is considerably more prolific in ammo variety and rifle options. For most shooters, the 6.5 PRC will be a fine choice, however if you want the best possible ballistics then the 26 Nosler is the choice for you.

One of the coolest things is innovation. Sometimes inventers make new things just for the sake of making something cool. In this episode of Ammunition Guides with Ammo.com, we are going to talk about 8 cartridges I doubt you'll ever find on our store. Cartridges like the 22 Tuba, 2mm Kolibri, and the Gyrojet are all amazing pieces of engineering and vision, yet never broke the market. Some cartridges are just too wild to make it to market, but they deserve their time in the limelight nonetheless. Chris and Dave share their top 8 obscure cartridges you've never heard of in this episode. Enjoy!

The standard AR-15 chambered in 5.56 NATO is truly America's rifle and is a symbol of American ingenuity and freedom. Although the 5.56 NATO has proven itself in the jungles of Vietnam and deserts of Iraq, some gun owners wanted something more… They wanted more stopping power, better terminal ballistics, and a rifle cartridge that could be used for both home defense and big game hunting. The 458 SOCOM cartridge is the answer that these gun owners were looking for, as its heavier bullets can deliver bone-crushing kinetic energy that can stop feral hogs or whitetail in their tracks. However, is investing in a big bore 458 SOCOM upper receiver really worth it? Or is it better to stick with the AR-15 platform mainstay, the 5.56 NATO? The 458 SOCOM makes for an amazing hog hunting and self-defense cartridge as well as just being fun to shoot in an AR-15. However, the 5.56 NATO has been the gold-standard AR chambering since its release in the 60's. The 458 SOCOM really helps increase the stopping power of the AR platform but it does so at the cost of magazine capacity, range, and most of all, recoil. Ammo availability is also an issue for the SOCOM round as it is not a SAAMI certified cartridge and only custom ammo manufacturers make factory ammo for it. The 5.56 on the other hand is incredibly easy to find and is relatively inexpensive to shoot. In this podcast, Dave and Chris take a deep look into the 458 SOCOM and 5.56 NATO to determine what is best for your next AR-15.

If you've ever wanted to stir up a hornet's nest, all you need to do is go onto any hunting forum and pose the question, "Which is better, 270 or 243?" Then just sit back and watch the fireworks like it's the 4th of July. The 243 Winchester and 270 Winchester are two centerfire rifle cartridges that shooters predominantly use for varmint hunting or whitetail, antelope, or mule deer. Both hunting calibers are wildly successful and have their distinct advantages. The 270, with its heavier bullets, is particularly devastating against large game, while the 243 uses lighter projectiles that many deer hunters prefer for its low felt recoil and flat shooting tendencies. Both camps of hunters and marksmen staunchly defend their rifle caliber of choice, refusing to budge even an inch or entertain the possibility that the other cartridge has some merit. However, many novice hunters are dragged into the quandary of which deer cartridge will be best for their new hunting rifle. No matter which hunting cartridge you choose, there's no doubt that the whitetail deer in your area will rue the day you go into the woods! I can promise that if you do your part, you will have good luck with either rifle cartridge. However, when selecting a caliber for your new bolt action rifle, it's prudent to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.

If you quickly glance at 38 Special and 357 Magnum ammo, you might not notice any differences and think they were the same round. Although they are almost identical in their case dimensions, the 38 Special and 357 Magnum are extremely different. Both revolver rounds are superb choices for concealed carry and self-defense, as they were used by multiple law enforcement agencies well into the 1990s and have proven their efficacy on the streets time and time again. The 38 Special and 357 Magnum both came into existence under the same pretenses - Necessity. At the time, 38 Long Colt was ineffective at stopping Pilipino Morro warriors and could not penetrate their hardened wooden shields. The 38 Special was developed to take extra powder and punch through barriers more effectively. Fast forward to the Prohibition Era and the 357 Magnum was made to defeat early body armor and punch through the car doors of the time. The 357 Magnum packs quite a punch that can be hard to handle in a lightweight snubnose revolver. Some shooters describe the recoil in these firearms as painful which can limit your practice. However, 38 Special +P is an excellent alternative to 357 in these revolvers. Although each cartridge has its place, the 38 Special lends itself to concealed carry as the lower recoil helps when using a small revolver while the 357 Mag is a great option for home defense when handgun weight is less of an issue.

he 50 BMG and 50 Beowulf are two 50 caliber cartridges that are similar only in their bore diameter. The 50 Beowulf was made my Alexander Arms to increase the stopping power of the AR-15 while the 50 BMG was developed during WWI by John Moses Browning as an anti-material and anti-aircraft cartridge. The 50 BMG has claimed the top 3 longest sniper shot kills in history and can retain its lethality at nearly 2 miles. The 50 Beowulf on the other hand, is excellent at short-range combat and can be utilized to dispatch Bambi or herds of feral hogs that terrorize farms in the southern states. The 50 BMG and 50 Beowulf satisfy different shooting needs as the 50 Beo is excellent at short-range while the 50 BMG likes to shoot 1000 yards or more. Both are excellent 50-caliber cartridges and help ring in the deafening sound of freedom every time you pull the trigger. In this podcast, Dave and Chris take a deep dive into the land of the 50's and let freedom ring!