Can All Types Of Guns And Ammo Work Together?

When you are new to the world of guns there can be a lot of confusion as to what type of ammo you can use.  We’ve all watched TV and heard “He was shot with a 357” or “that guy is carrying a 9mm”.  And if you were like me, you wondered what in the world does that mean?  It doesn’t have to be that complicated.  Saying “9mm” or “357” refers to the caliber of the gun.  To simplify even further, caliber is a measurement related to the diameter of the ammunition.   The diameter being measured is the diameter of the projectile part of the bullet, not the case.  And caliber has nothing to do with the length of the bullet.

Now, ammunition is broadly divided into two types, rimfire and centerfire.  Rimfire has a primer that encircles the rim of the bullet.  Rimfire cartridges travel 1300 feet per second. This primer is the ignition source of the powder in the bullet.  Igniting the powder causes the bullet to propel down the barrel of the gun.  Most all rimfire ammo has a caliber of .22 and can be used in .22 caliber rifles and handguns.  Centerfire ammunition has a primer in the center of the base of the bullet.  These centerfire bullets are made in various calibers and are specific to a handgun or a rifle. Centerfire cartridges travel 2000 feet per second.

Next, you need to consider what you are using the ammo for.  A .22 caliber is fine for small game hunting and light enough to carry a large amount of bullets.  Since a .22 is a small diameter bullet it is not the best choice of ammunition when personal protection is your goal.   You need to make sure the game you are hunting can be killed with one clean shot.  Make sure the ammo is heavy enough and fast enough.

Another difference in ammo is black powder and smokeless powder.  Smokeless powder is a more modern powder and has greater pressure and energy than black powder.  Smokeless powder should never be used in a muzzleloader unless the gun is designed to use that type of powder.  Speaking of powder, the length of the bullet will indicate the speed of the bullet.  A 357 magnum bullet was made from a .38.  The difference is in length.  The 357 is longer and hold more powder.  Therefore the 357 is a faster bullet.

There are so many types of ammo you can use.  It certainly can be overwhelming.  When you have any questions, always check with your sporting goods store to get accurate information.  They are the experts in this field.