If you are new to shooting though, it may not be a familiar term, so what is bullet grain? Like Dislike : Robert: Subject: Re: 130 grain or 150 grain .270 bullets Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:50 pm: Are you hunting whitetails and other bigger game or just … Here at Ammotogo.com you can select the cartridge type, then filter your search by bullet weight, type, or even brand. Most Cartridges Have a General Range of Bullet Weights. Stabilizing these bullets is, therefore, more challenging than a faster and lighter shot. Bullet grains has no direct relationship to velocity or (speed) of the bullet when buying ammo at the store. Heavy bullets are less affected by wind and other external conditions. The 168-grain TSX BT has a secant ogive which lengthens the nose profile and has shown superb accuracy downrange. The only way to know if your gun can shoot well is by shooting and testing various ammo types. If you’re like many shooters, you may have no idea. In the same 8-pound (3.6 kg) rifle, a 150-grain (9.7 g) bullet at 2,910 feet per second (890 m/s) will only generate 17.6 foot-pounds force (23.9 J) of recoil energy. Heavy bullets carry more energy and hold it farther downrange, but drop more. Smaller bullets can also reduce recoil. Many shooters rarely consider bullet weight during range training. It will impact how the firearm recoils, and it will have an impact on the overall trajectory of the bullet. It is understandable the confusion though as grain in common usage would refer to a single seed of a food item, so there is plenty of scope (pun intended) for the confusion. Others have weights (or a narrow range of weights) that are most common because they deliver the best performance. Different bullet weights will generally hit different spots on the target. You can find the most suitable round for you and your firearm by a little experimentation and evaluating your needs. There’s also a unit of weight called a “grain” which is used to denote the weight of bullets and gunpowder. A popular misconception is that grain refers to the gunpowder. The bullets are very affordable and they have very low recoil. The grain is a unit of weight measurement and is defined as being equal to 0.0648 grams. For self defense, a heavier bullet gives you a better chance at stopping a threat. Does the weight of the bullet affect bullet performance? But before we explain how that happens, let’s look at some of the commonly used 5.56 rounds, their bullet grain, and muzzle velocity. Keep reading to find out. One pound is equal to 7000 grains, and there are 437.5 grains in an ounce. A larger grain is generally better for any defense shooting and hunting. Well, let’s unravel the confusion. If you couple this with muzzle velocity of, say 1200 fps, then the ammunition manufacturer is saying that every round you fire will be a 7.45 gram bullet projected at 1200 fps. The lower the number the larger the diameter of the shotgun shell. So, if you have a shooter that is recoil sensitive. Likewise, 9mm Luger cartridges have bullets from 60 to 160 grains. How do you choose an ideal bullet size and weight? However, we can explore the relationship between recoil and bullet weight. As we saw above, the heavier bullet dropped further, which means your trajectory will be straighter with a lighter projectile, and your overall distance potential will be longer. pro's or con's???? That’s not a huge difference, but that will increase with range. If you are using the ammo for other uses besides range shooting, try the ammo in your weapon to ensure it performs well. For example, if you’re using a large frame pistol, that firearm might help absorb some of the recoil, reducing what you feel. There is an equal and opposite reaction. I first fired one magazine with 5 of the 115 grain followed by 5 of the 147 grain at the same target from 10 meters. As you might expect, there are a ton of variables that play into all this. Let’s start by understanding what a grain means. For those using the metric, 1 grain is equal to 15.41gram. SFAIK, the deal is that 150s are faster, but the 180s have a better BC. For example, a 115 grain 9mm Luger cartridge, means that the bullet will weigh 7.45 grams ( 0.06479891 x 115). If you want to plink at the range, the weight does not matter much. In the end, this will increase your enjoyment of shooting sports and allow you to select better ammunition for your specific needs. Do Glock Pistols Have A Loaded Chamber Indicator? No point in having great penetration power if the round does meet the required distance you need. This is one of the most common questions among gun owners. Well, bullet weight affects how it flies and performance after hitting the target. The choice of an ideal cartridge depends on the intended use. So if I were to say a 12 gauge shell th… 180 grain bullet = .0257 pounds. You should familiarize yourself with the features of each grain weight. This unit, which is often abbreviated as “gr” is equal to one 7,000th of a pound. (Both expansion and penetration are affected by bullet shape, material, and other factors as well, but weight plays a role.). Numerous factors affect recoil. OK, I bought some 115 grain and some 147 grain because I had never shot 147 grain and wanted to see if it was a noticeable difference in shooting the two. The lighter jacketed hollow point is considered a much better choice than a heavier full metal jacket. One ounce is equal to 437 grains, or a single grain is equivalent to 0.06479891 grams. For more detailed, 1 grain is equal to 1/7000th of a pound. 150 grain bullet = .0214 pounds. We took some of their most popular self-defense ammo for 9mm pistols, HSTs in 124 grain and HSTs 147 grain. The point is that even when you purchase a given firearm to shoot a specific cartridge, you still have options for bullet size. The point is that even when you purchase a given firearm to shoot a specific cartridge, you still have options for bullet size. But that may be all. Dagger Defense DDHB Review: Does Quality Come With A Budget? Changing bullet weight while maintaining the same velocity is probably the most consistent way to raise or lower the point of impact, particularly if the powder charge can be kept the same, or at least very similar. Some guns perform dismally with certain cartridges. The straightforward answer is that bullet weight matter a lot. It will impact how the firearm recoils, and it will have an … The options are even greater if you are handloading your ammunition. Shooting a Glock 19 Gen 5, Blazer Brass Ammunition. There are many different types of bullets here is a website that displays some of the most common pistol bullet types. Most gun owners don’t need to be experts on bullet weight. If you’re a believer in muzzle energy and the idea of putting as much energy into your target as possible to stop a threat, this bucks the trend that “bigger is better” when it comes to bullets. And how does it affect the performance of a gun? A good example of this is the relatively short-cased 40 S&W cartridge. These higher grain rounds do require use in a “throated” barrel due to their longer overall length. For instance, The 180 grains Winchester Super X 308 is suitable for hunting boars and deer. However, stabilizing the bullet can also be challenging. 5.56×45mm is actually 5.56mm wide and 45mm long. The difference in flash was because the target rounds are loaded with less powder then the regular bullets are. Velocity Vs Momentum: Lighter vs Heavier Bullets Okay, so the first part: what you gain and lose with lighter-for-caliber bullets compared to heavy-for-caliber bullets. … The 230 grain Hybrid has a higher BC: 0.368 vs. 0.354 for the 215. The term grains drew from the approximate unit of mass … Get some different bullet weights and find out. Why does it matter? Leupold FREEDOM Red Dot Sight (RDS) – Review, Vortex SPARC II Red Dot Sight Review: A Good Budget Friendly RDS, What Is Bullet Grain? If you want ammunition to perform exceptionally well inside a live target, jacketed hollow point ammo is your best bet. One last time, remember that the grain just measures the mass of the projectile, not all the cartridges. Essentially, you should decide what you are shooting for before you choose a specific size of ammunition. It does not connote the amount of gunpowder in a cartridge. Supporting Member. The ammo should penetrate the target deep and hit vital organs and expand enough to stay inside the body and cause collateral damage. Find the Right Bullet Weight for Your Needs at Ammo To Go. So, what does a 23 grain differential mean for muzzle velocity? Likewise, 9mm Luger cartridges have bullets from 60 to 160 grains. Depending on the hunting condition, distance, and size of the game you are targeting, the shooter should consider these factors when choosing an effective round. So why is bullet weight significant? This ammo is the same brand, line and is even loaded with the same bullet. Young shooters can start out with even lighter bullets weighing 110, 125 or 130 grains (7.1, 8.1 or 8.4 g). Most weapons prefer specific ammunition. For instance, a blunt nose 30-30 round would work great for short distance deer hunting, but if … If you are hunting with a rifle at long distances, a light bullet may be better, but you will sacrifice energy. Well, the weight has some effects on accuracy and recoil. Its 180-grain Ballistic Silvertip drops 7.9. As you shoot those groups to see how high or low they impact compared to your preferred sight … A heavier bullet means it will not go as far as a lighter grain bullet. As a result, it is difficult to determine which factor affects the recoil the most. Heavy bullets rotate slowly and have a generally slower velocity. Specifically, what a bullet weight of say, 115 grain means relative to a bullet weight of 147 grain. Finally, it will impact terminal ballistics, changing how the bullet performs once it strikes a target. The GR stands for grain and is a term heard throughout the ranges. This means you must consider the shooting distance, terrain, size of the game, animal anatomy, and hunting area regulations. At 500 yards the lighter bullet shoots 3-inches flatter, maybe the difference between hit and miss. A “grain” is really small since 7000 grains make up one pound. They go for the cheapest and most affordable cartridges. Light bullets require higher speed and more gunpowder to attain equal power factor than heavier bullets. The recoil of heavy bullets is vaunted for a more flat push while fast-moving light bullet tends to be snappier. Mass is part of the momentum equation, along with velocity. I couldn’t keep the gun on target with the 147-grain. .38 vs. .38 Special – What’s the difference. When looking for a self-defense round, the top priority should be bullet expansion and penetration. Dunno about any in-between distance, since my only other measured distance is 100 yards, where they all shoot at about the same POI. Shooting both loads at that distance confirmed what the ballistics program stated. It damages more tissue and expands on impact. (The amount of powder used, while usually not as important as bullet weight, … 25,834 1,921. The 147-grain shells were not an option, because the barrel flip was too strong for me hit a soda can that was only 7 yards or so away. That is a muzzle energy of 288 foot pounds. However, you can find cartridges with bullets over 600 grain, which are found in products for the .50 BMG. (As well as bullet type.). For instance, while there are heavier and light rounds than Hornady Critical Duty 40 S&W 175 grains, the Federal Bureau of Investigation chose the round as its official ammunition. But, the implications on energy into the target are significant. The exact projectile plays a vital role in the accuracy of a weapon during long-range shooting and competitions. For example, AR-15 ammunition has a standard size of 55 grains, but you can purchase ammo for your .223 rifle with bullets ranging from below 40 to over 70 grain. Thus with a 168 Grain .308 Winchester cartridge, the bullet will weigh 10.88 grams. Almost a bewildering array of choices awaits anyone purchasing a cartridge box. A gran is a unit of weight measurement usually abbreviated as ‘GR’ or ‘GRs’ and preceded by a number. In 30-06 Springfield, Winchester’s 150-grain Ballistic Silvertip drops 7.3 inches at 300 yards (with a 200-yard zero.) Larger grain, heavier bullets have a better performance with penetration of the target. The grain of a bullet is simply its weight. I find that 115-grain is the most comfortable bullet to shoot with it consistently. When thinking about bullet weight, it’s important to think about how you will be using the cartridge. If you are simply “plinking,” that is, casually shooting smaller cartridges at a short to medium distance, weight is not really a concern for you. Grain is the weight of the bullet (15.4323584 grains = 1 gram). The higher the grain the heavier the bullet. Simply put, the grain weight of a cartridge does not refer to the weight of the gunpowder or the number of particles. Despite an inaccurately phrased question, I think I know what you mean, so here does… I will limit this answer in reference to handgun loads, not rifle, although the concepts are nearly identical. Powder grains is the weight of the powder used in the bullet during manufacture or reloading process. Newton’s famous law says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, a light bullet delivers less energy and is susceptible to wind, which means it can be blown off target much easier than heavier bullet. Go with lighter bullets. That is not all. The grain is used as a unit of measurement when loading ammunition with propellant. If you are shooting for maximum accuracy, however, the bullet weight matters, but it’s not as simple as saying heavier or lighter bullets are better. As bullet grain affects the speed of the round going down the barrel (heavier bullets are harder to move) the designed rifling can have less of an effect on a bullet moving too fast if it is too light. Are The Glock 17 and the Glock 22 The Same Size? These bullets have different ogive geometries. 7 grains may not seem like a lot (it’s just 0.016 of an ounce, after all), but that small amount of weight can make a big difference in how the bullet flies towards the target. A caliber that fits the hunting condition is a more important consideration than round weight alone. It is, therefore, unrealistic to depend on bullet weight alone. 120-grain vs. 190-grain. If you are not sure whether you should go with a heavier or lighter bullet, the best option is to go with something in the middle. For example, the 9mm Luger is most commonly found with 115-grain, so this is likely your best starting point. They are the types of bullets that … The grain of a bullet is simply its weight. The five shot average muzzle velocity for the heavier 147 grain bullet was just under 940 feet per second. Subject: 130 grain or 150 grain .270 bullets Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:26 pm: i have been shooting 130 grain .270 rounds but thinkinh about moving to the slightly heavier 150 grain bullets. The round should be powerful enough to penetrate the target’s vital organs. This caliber weight varies between 115 and 147 grains. Shooters with heavy race guns lean toward light bullets while those using more lightweight poly rifles prefer heavier bullets. Ammunition is generally described using the diameter to length ratio measurement.For example: 1. When buying bullets 124 grain bullet has less grains than a 147 grain bullet and therefore the 147 grain is a heaver bullet. To start this discussion, let’s begin with an explanation of the basic unit of measurement for bullet weight: grains. What was the weight of the last bullet you shot? However, learning about weight; about how it impacts speed, accuracy, and terminal ballistics, will make you a more knowledgable and confident shooter. Bullet weight makes a difference on how the bullet performs. The grain is a unit of weight measurement and is defined as being equal to 0.0648 grams. Remember, the aim is to incapacitate the target. If you participate in distance rifle shooting, especially for target practice, a lighter bullet may be ideal. To understand these points, let’s look at two products from Federal Ammunition. The five shot average muzzle velocity for the lighter 124 grain bullet is 1073 feet per second. The 158 is heavier and will kick more due to the added weight. Ensure you understand the available options for your ammo caliber before you make a purchase. We know it requires more energy to move a heavier bullet than a lighter bullet, right? A smaller bullet can be effective if overall speed and distance is your goal. Anybody involved in the shooting sports would be hard pressed to deny that there is a vast array to choose from. INDY. Bullet weight is more critical for long-distance shooting. Thus with a 168 Grain .308 Winchester cartridge, the bullet will weigh 10.88 grams. A lot of people think grain is the amount of powder in a bullet when actually it's a unit of measuring the actual weight of the bullet itself. The only difference is in the amount of gun powder that they use. Although too fast will affect the rifling’s designed purpose. For most plinkers, you’ll simply want to purchase the ammunition that best fits your budget. missiledefender, Feb 23, 2016. missiledefender, Feb 23, 2016. The point is that you should find a high-performance bullet in both real applications and testing. Some rifles are more accurate with a specific bullet weight. However, on a box of ammunition intended for purchase, the grains advertised almost always refer to the projectile’s mass. Sure, you know the caliber of the firearm, you may even know the general distance and speed. Given the same bullet construction you will probably get more penetration out of the heavier … spire points. Bullet size within a given cartridge can vary, but there is a general range of size for each ammunition cartridge. (And What Difference Does It Make). It is, therefore, challenging to determine how weight solely impacts recoil. Thus to convert the grain of a bullet to grams just multiply the grain weight by 0.0648 to get the weight. (Another way to say this is that one pound equals 7,000 grains; one ounce is equal to 437.5 grains.). Although this type of bullet expands upon hitting soft targets, they do so at a slower rate than hollow point bullets. It’s not uncommon to refer to a 40 cal round as “snappy” when compared to larger cartridges, like 45 ACP. Here’s what we can say: a lighter bullet generally has greater speed, which means it can often maintain a straighter trajectory at a greater distance. Bullet grain is one of the essential considerations when picking a suitable round for you. Let’s explore what this means to the shooter. The twist rate should be higher in heavy bullets to counter the slower moving effect and help accuracy. The 165-grain TSX incorporates a shorter tangent ogive in the nose profile. Its stopping power varies as well, based on the type of bullet in use. More grains of powder make a … Note that a round that performs well in one rifle may not perform well in another. For example, 9mm rounds may be listed as “115 gr FMJ.” This tells us that the cartridge is loaded with full metal jacket bullets that weigh 115 grains. So from an accuracy perspective, neither is absolutely better. 124-grain can be shot, but the is much more fatiguing for the hand after a couple magazines. Some grains are made specifically for the game you are hunting. Low-Speed .22 LRs As their names indicate, CCI Quiet-22 and Remington CBee 22 Low Noise LRs … This … The prudent thing to do is experiment with different rounds to determine the best round for your rifle. Common Bullet Calibers To make things a little more confusing, there’s a mixture of measurements in inches and millimeters. Bullet weight is a major component of recoil, so these two statements make sense. In this case, the lighter bullet, moving faster delivers more energy. Thus when the firing pin strikes and ignites the cartridge, the force behind the bullet propels it forward. Is the bullet weight important? 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