Rifle ammo
The vast majority of bullets are constructed of a solid lead core with a copper covering (called a “jacket”) that contains the lead. Lead is used because it’s an extremely dense, yet cheap metal, making it perfect for giving projectiles their weight while keeping the overall size small. Copper is used because it’s strong enough to keep the softer lead from de-forming, but soft enough to allow the gun’s rifling to “grip” the bullet.
The copper jacket starts out as a cup, having been cut from a long sheet. Through a process called “drawing,” the cup is lengthened and shaped to fit the profile of the projectile they’re making. These cups will eventually end up as jackets for 5.56 NATO rounds.
However, while this process is very efficient, it’s extremely difficult to actually get the metal to encase the entire lead core without any gaps. To keep production costs down, bullet manufacturers usually leave one end of the projectile open. Which end is open – and how that’s done – determines the classification of the projectile.
Here are three 150 grain .308 caliber bullets (a “grain” is a unit of bullet weight). And while they look very similar, the way in which they were manufactured is very different. The first projectile on the left is a “full metal jacket” (FMJ) round with a solid copper point. The other two are an open tip and a soft point bullet respectively, with openings in the copper at the tips of the projectiles.
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Federal F300WFS1 300MG 150 Fusion 20rds
Federal 300 Winchester Mag 150 Grain Fusion$36.99 -
Federal Premium V-Shok Brass .224VAL 60 Grain 20-Rounds NBT
Federal Premium V-Shok is built for long-range precision varmint hunting with its boat-tail and polymer tip design. Each box consists of 20 rounds of 60 grain .224 Valkyrie with Nosler ballistic tip bullets and brass casings.
$29.99 -
Federal Premium Brass .300 Win Mag 180 Grain 20-Rounds SSII
Federal Premium delivers long-range precison with consistent reliability. Each box contains 20 rounds of 180 Grain .300 Win Mag with Swift Scirocco II bullets.
$42.99 -
Federal Premium Brass .30-06 Springfield 165 Grain 20-Rounds SSII
Federal Premium provides performance, consistency, and reliability even at significant ranges. Each box contains 20 rounds of 165 grain .30-06 Springfield with Swift Scirocco II bullets.
$42.99 -
PPU Metric Rifle Brass 7.65 X 53 180-Grain 20-Rounds SP
PPU’s high quality Metric Rifle ammunition accommodates the large assortment of foreign military and commercial firearms that have entered the U.S. market since WWII.
$21.79 -
PPU Metric Rifle Brass 7.65 X 53 174-Grain 20-Rounds FMJ
PPU’s high-quality Metric Rifle ammunition accommodates the large assortment of foreign military and commercial firearms that have entered the U.S. market since WWII.
$21.49 -
Winchester Super-X 22HORN 45GR SP 50rds
Winchester Super-X, 22 Hornet, 45 Grain, Soft Point X22H1$54.99 -
Federal F6555FS1 6.5X55 140 Fusion 20rds
Federal 6.5×55 Swede 140 Grain Fusion$29.99