Defending Your Home: Handgun Ammo

Simplifying the Many Options Available to the Handgun Owner

Choosing the Right Ammo for Your Needs

What Works With Your Firearm?

Assuming that you already own a handgun, your next step is to find the ideal ammo. If you haven’t already purchased a firearm, backtrack a bit and check out our blog on budget-friendly handguns. There are many different handguns that serve a variety of purposes and preferences. The same goes for your ammo. There are some important factors to take into consideration that should affect your decision making when purchasing ammo.

First and foremost, you will need to know the model and caliber of your handgun(s). Having knowledge of your needs and preferences will guide you when choosing the best firearm for your needs initially. Price, purpose, experience level, and reliability are just a few factors that should play a role in your choice of ammo.

Here are three easy places to look when matching up your gun and ammunition’s caliber:

• An engraving of the caliber should be located somewhere on the firearm, typically on the barrel or side of the frame

• The ammo’s caliber is written on the original manufacturer's box

• On the ammo’s cartridge case, specifically if it is a civilian case, the caliber should be stamped in– this is also known as a headstamp

Know the Power of Your Ammunition

Nearly 500 people die a year from accidental firearm injuries. The power of your firearm is not only determined by the firearm itself, but the ammo used in the firearm. When using a handgun for home defense, the ammunition should be expanding, also known as a hollow point. If a bullet over-penetrates an assailant, there is a possibility of subsequent penetration of other people.

With every bullet shot, there is a great amount of liability attached to it. This goes for all firearms, not just handguns. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the severity of possible consequences as soon as a bullet leaves your gun.

With this being said, it is not a great idea to use full metal jacket ammunition in a personal defense gun. Ideal home defense ammunition combines penetration and expansion. In other words, the bullet should sufficiently stop the assailant in their tracks, but also expand enough while in the flesh to come to a full stop prior to exiting the target.

Make sure you spend some time shooting any new ammunition at a shooting range. Ammo such as a +P or P+ is an overpressured round designed for personal defense. The overpressure increases the velocity of the bullet. The goal for this type of ammo is for the hollow point to expand more reliably.

Mindful Purchasing & Use

Not All Ammo is the Same

Some guns are more particular about ammo than others. Be sure to test shooting both full metal jacket ammo (range ammo) and hollow points (expanding ammo) to get a better feel of what works more reliably with your firearm. It can be a bit pricey to go about this process, however, you will have more peace of mind knowing that you have found consistently reliable ammo for your gun.

The main benefit of range ammo is that you can purchase greater quantities of it for less than hollow-point ammo. This can be an encouragement to train more often with your firearm, which is always important. However, in the occasion that you need to use range ammo for home or self-defense, be especially mindful of where the bullet will be exiting the target.

Again, be sure to practice shooting both defense ammo and range ammo. Additionally, try different brands out to help determine which ones work best with your gun,

Safe Shooting

When relying on a firearm to save you and your loved one’s lives, it's incredibly important to be skilled and knowledgeable of what is required of you to stop an assailant. There are always risks associated with being a gun owner and using guns as a form of personal defense.

When it comes to storing your home defense guns, keep them secured in a locked safe out of sight. Though owning a personal defense gun can make us feel more safe, they can be the catalyst for fatal accidents if the proper precautions are not taken. Additionally, keep your state’s laws surrounding gun ownership and home defense in mind. There can be some serious legal action taken against you, even if you are purely attempting to protect your home.

The “Castle Doctrine” and “Stand Your Ground” law can legally back you up if legal ramifications follow. However, they are not applicable in all states. Some states impose the duty to retreat. Meaning, you cannot use a firearm to protect yourself unless you have already attempted to physically remove yourself to avoid harm or death. Check your state's standings on these legalities here.