Riflescopes and Scope Accessories

By far the most common type of ammunition are bullets. Their calibers range from .17 up to .50 for modern small arms. Airguns and BB guns use a .177 caliber bullet. One of the most popular calibers in use in the U.S. is the 38 Special Ammo. This is actually a .357 caliber bullet. despite its name (the .38″ refers to the approximate diameter of the loaded brass case). Because this ammunition works in 357 revolvers, more shooters are opting for it due to the cost savings and reduced recoil (in Europe it is known by its metric designation 9×29mmR).

Would you be surprised to learn that people from different walks in life are interested in ammunition - from hog hunters to full-time forensics, ballistics, mettalurgy and chemistry experts and those in manufacturing disciplines. Then there are former or current military or law enforcement people. Those not engaged in the active use of firearms include historians (particularly of the Civil War) and hobbyists interested in the evolution of ammunition, and the surprising variety of inventive designs that have been tried.

Building a collection of weaponry and militaria is some people’s hobby, rather than being active shooters or hunters. Since the end of World War II the United States has imported and sold a great many surplus military rifles. A few models are still being imported as various militaries around the world, particularly in the smaller nations, clean out their reserve stocks of obsolete rifles.

Hunters favor a range of rifles with the New England Firearms Handi-Rifle being one of the most popular (though it can be hard to source due to that popularity). Buying a new rifle can be quite expensive and it’s always worth checking if there are used firearms for sale either online of in your local gun stores.

Traditionally, when you wanted to buy ammunition, you’d head down to|pay a visit to your local gun store. Of course, these days you have the option of getting ammo for sale online. But you need to be sure you know what it is you’re looking for. There’s more to buying ammo online than simply looking for the cheapest prices. Other factors need to be factored into the equation so you’re certain you’ll get exactly what you want - what you intend to hunt will determine the type of ammo you need.

You also need to consider how much ammunition you require. Find a source, such as military surplus ammunition, where you can easily get replacement stocks of the same ammunition so you don’t end up switching types and having to take a trip to the shooting range to sight in the new ammunition. It takes time to zero in a rifle and ammunition isn’t that inexpensive, even if you’re buying surplus ammo. So save yourself some heartache.

Military surplus ammunition is, in fact, the ammunition that the armed forces (Army, Navy. Marine Corps) have surplus to requirements. In times past, it also included ammunition that soldiers returned home with when they returned to civilian life, and then later sold. Now, such things are more strictly controlled and ammunition and weapons must be handed in before a soldier leaves military life. Military surplus ammunition is one of the most sought after types of ammunition simply because the cost savings are usually pretty decent when compared to the prices offered by outdoor and hunting speciality stores and more generic big stores.

Surplus ammunition can come from outside the U.S. as well as from within it. An example of that is the cardridge first used in the SKS carbine by the Soviet Union in the Word War II - the 7.62×39mm rifle cartridge.

Do a bit of research online when checking out ammo prices and availablility and don’t forget that the the best solution isn’t always the least expensive. Doing the research will save you money and time in the long run.

Filed under: Rifles and Shotguns on September 25th, 2009