The majority of those who own and fire guns do not really know about ammo grain and to be honest, it is not exactly vital to know.
However, it is still worth knowing if you are interested in guns as the ammo grain can actually play a part in your speed, accuracy, and even recoil so knowing these things will give you an upper hand that you did not have before.
What Does Grain Mean In Ammo?
A grain is a mass measuring unit. One ounce is equivalent to 437.5 grains. When you see “grain,” often known as “gr,” followed by a number on a box of ammunition, it refers to the weight of the bullet. This is the weight of the bullet that exits the barrel, not the full round of ammo.
Within each caliber, you’ll note that certain bullet weights appear more frequently than others. Federal American Eagle 9mm ammunition, for example, is available in 115 gr., 124 gr., and 147 gr.
These are the most common weights given by manufacturers, while you may come across a less common weight that is normally manufactured for specialist uses on occasion.
Because it is impossible to discern the actual bullet weight by glancing at a cartridge, most manufactured ammunition has that value written on the package. Grains are also used to determine the propellant concentration which is commonly called gunpowder.
The quantity of propellant used in a load is usually not mentioned on a box of ammunition, and this type of information is particularly useful for those who hand load their own ammo. The term grains typically refers to the bullet rather than the propellant on a box of ammunition.
How Ammo Weight Affects Shooting
The greatest discussion about bullet weight is in connection to terminal performance. There is a common misconception that the heavier a bullet is, the harder it will strike.
This is partially correct, although the increase in impact energy and momentum due to bullet weight is quite minor.
This is due in part to the slight changes in bullet weight, and in part to the fact that as bullet weight decreases, velocity increases. Bullet weight and velocity are both essential components of energy on target.
Recoil
When we consider that every action has an equal and opposite response, we might conclude that a heavier bullet will have more recoil than a lighter one. However, we would expect higher recoil from the bullet that is lighter due to more energy pushed out of the barrel.
As you may anticipate, there are several variables at work here. For example, if you use a big frame handgun, it may absorb part of the recoil, lessening how much recoil you experience.
Accuracy
In general, you may discover that your pistol performs better with a specific bullet weight. This varies depending on the gun, and testing with different rounds is the best way to determine the best option for you.
A heavy bullet may be less susceptible to external factors like wind, but it may also be more difficult to steady, resulting in keyholing or the bullet hitting at the wrong angle.
When To Use Heavy Ammo
The primary rationale for using a bigger bullet is to increase energy at the target, which enhances “terminal ballistics.”
Basically, if you want more penetration and expansion, you should use a heavier bullet. Bullet form, substance, and other parameters all impact expansion and penetration, but weight play a role.
This effectively means that larger rounds are often allocated for self-defense and hunting. A larger bullet, when placed into a hunting rifle, is more likely to send more force into the target, resulting in a cleaner shot.
Therefore, a bigger bullet has a higher probability of stopping a danger in self-defense.
When To Use Light Ammo
If overall speed and distance are your goals, a smaller bullet can be useful. Speed is often desired for long-distance target shooting since it decreases the likelihood of a drop.
Your trajectory will be straighter and your overall distance potential will be greater with a lighter projectile.
Bullet weight becomes increasingly relevant when shooting guns at longer range. Because heavy bullets move at a slower velocity and rotate at a slower rate, they can be more difficult to steady than a lighter, quicker traveling bullet.
Your barrel length and twist rate will influence your ammo choice as well, with heavier rounds requiring a quicker twist rate.
The science of long-range rifle shooting is complex and yet there are many precision shooters who can provide assistance and instruction on the subject.
Recoil can also be reduced by using smaller rounds. If you carry a handgun and have trouble dealing with severe recoil, a smaller bullet may be more comfortable to shoot.
Summary
Now that you know what grain means when referring to ammo, you can delve into more information as to how the weight of a bullet will affect your shooting.
You will discover that there are benefits and drawbacks to employing both a heavier grain and a lighter grain.
A heavier bullet has faster speed in general, which means it can frequently maintain a straighter trajectory over a larger distance.
A light bullet, on the other hand, has less energy and is more vulnerable to wind, which means it may be blown off target far more easily than a heavier bullet.
Both have advantages and disadvantages, but whether heavy or light bullets are ideal for you depends on your own tastes and scenario.
However, if you are unsure whether to use a heavy or light bullet, the best option is to choose something in the middle of the two.
There are several ammunition alternatives on the market, and bullet weight is only one of many factors to consider when selecting the best rounds for you.
What works well in one pistol may not work well in another, but by analyzing your needs and experimenting, you’ll be able to discover the ideal match for you and your gun.
