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Does Ammo affect your accuracy?

Believe it or not, when you told your range buddy that the ammo you started running through your rifle made you miss, it might not be a total lie. Professional marksmen will tell you that ammunition can make or break your shot, especially when distance shooting. 

Why are these expert shooters so set on their ammunition if they can maintain complete control of their weapon? Everything that plays into shot accuracy can be undone with a bad round, making all the skill that took years to develop unimportant. Of course the bullet where the firearm is pointing, but on an expert level fractions of an inch can ruin your shot. Bullet imbalances, inconsistent charge or inferior design can kill your shooting experience or be exactly what you need to get “just a hair” closer. 

Does ammo quality affect accuracy?

The quality of ammunition can affect many parts of your shot, including accuracy. While the difference may not always be seen, it is proven that high quality ammunition can provide you with a better shot. A high quality bullet will have a charge, weight and design that is intended

specifically for ammo accuracy. An ammunition brand that focuses on accuracy will pair the

ideal metals with the right charge and balance to ensure a reliable and on target shot.

When purchasing, look at what the ammo was intended to be used for because some rounds are made to be an inexpensive bulk ammunition option, not quality marksmanship bullets. Other ammo may be directed towards a specific use like hunting or self defense, sacrificing accuracy for power in some cases. While cheaper may not mean inferior, check quality ratings  and do not over purchase anything unfamiliar when buying a new brand of ammunition for your firearm. This may help you avoid wasting money on useless or inaccurate ammunition, especially if you are used to buying bulk ammunition.

Does the type of ammo affect accuracy

The shape and weight of a bullet have a big impact on ammunition accuracy. Just like the design of an arrow, different firearm ammunition will have a varying flight path, depending on the design of the round paired with the weapon being fired. While certain bullets will respond differently from altering firearms, the design of ammunition affects everything after the round launches.

The bullet weight will affect how far and fast the round can travel once fired. The design will alter the aerodynamics of a bullet and its flight pattern, making a huge difference in impact point. While this may not matter much in short range situations, when distance is added, the importance of ammo quality multiplies. Ammunition spec charts are a great tool for deciding which rounds are best for different velocities.

Is brass better than steel?

The metals that make up a bullet and it’s casing also affect accuracy in a major way. Because different metals react uniquely when fired, some metals are better to use in ammo. Bullets are made using copper, steel lead or even rubber among other materials. All of these metals are used to accomplish a similar, yet different mission. 

Simply put, brass is a softer metal than steel and that allows for the casing to expand when ammo is fired. What does this mean for your shot accuracy though? When a brass round is fired through your weapon, the expansion of soft casings allows for a seal to be made inside the firearm’s chamber. Not only does this prevent blow back into the receiver, but the pressure built gives additional accuracy to your shot. With brass casings, there is no need for the lacquer used on other metals. Brass ammunition is naturally slick, meaning that rounds will smoothly chamber without lubricant. While brass ammunition may not be the cheapest option, many professional marksmen across the globe use brass ammo for any competitive shooting because of its dependability. 

Steel ammunition helps with solving the price issue with ammo, but at a potentially higher cost. Steel cased rounds may be cheaper than brass, but may damage your firearm while making it near impossible to clean. For anyone who has cycled steel rounds, they know that lacquer doesn’t always stick to the bullet. Rapid firing and prolonged firearm use creates heat, cooking off the coating of the bullet and clogging your weapon. Steel cased ammunition also carries a reputation for damaging components (due to steel being a harder metal), as well as leaving the weapon filthy from blow back. For certain weapons, harder rounds may actually perform better though. When dealing with firearms that are equipped with shorter extractors,brass rounds may be too soft, leading to failure or inaccuracy.

Everything that goes into ammo production affects the bullet’s value down range, so finding the perfect round is usually done with a little research and hours of target shooting. While cheaper ammunition may not always be more inaccurate, there could be other consequences associated with using “bad rounds”, so make sure that you weigh out your options. Do your research and pick ammo that is reliable and healthy for your firearm while taking your shot to the next level.

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