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 PRM 7MMREM 160GR NP 20rds
Federal Premium, 7MM REM, 160 Grain, Nosler Partition P7RF$49.99 -
Sig Sauer Ammo OTM Match 300WIN 190 Grain 20/200
Sig Sauer Elite Match, 300 Win, 190Gr, Open Tip Match E3WMM1-20$49.99 -
Hornady Match Ammunition 300 PRC 225 Grain ELD Match Box of 20
The 300 PRC is an intelligently crafted 21st century magnum cartridge specifically designed to take advantage of long, heavy for caliber bullets capable of delivering the highest levels of accuracy and aerodynamic performance.
$46.99$66.99 -
Barnes Bullets VOR-TX 30-06 180GR TTSX BT 20rds
Barnes VOR-TX, 30-06, 180 Grain, Boat Tail BB30063$46.99 -
Federal 300 WSM 200 Grain Terminal Ascent 20 Round Box
Federal Ammunition has led to the development of thousands of specialized, high-quality shotshell, centerfire, and rimfire loads for hunters and shooters. Federal’s instilled manufacturing and quality control processes have made their ammunition one of the most trusted in the industry.
$46.99 -
Hornady Dangerous Game Series .376 Steyr 270GR SP 20Rds
Hornady 376 Steyr 270 Grain Spire Point$45.69