> QUICK EDUCATION NEEDED

[leVieux]

Today, I learned that what is now considered "target ammo" includes regular "ball" and "FMJ" rounds.

I have never heard those termed that way before. Please help me understand how and when the terminology changed.

Thanks for replies. . . .

leVieux
.

 

[lonestardiver]

Range fodder…shooting at paper targets for the common folk.

For those that compete or have a higher quality need discount the normal “target ammo” sales pitch.

 

[Maverick44]

I think it has to do with those rounds being used almost solely to shoot targets. I don't know when that started, but it's been that way for the decade and a half I've been shooting.

If you want precision ammo, then that's usually labeled as "Match" ammo. "Target" ammo as stated before is generally understood to be cheap, bulk, range fodder.

 

[gll]

Target ammo is now anything you can afford to shoot. Depending on your socio-economic standing that may only be 22LR... for some 9mm and 5.56mm...

Match grade (target) ammo is no longer target ammo, because it is unobtainium by either supply or cost...

 

[Moonpie]

Yep. Typically the least expensive ammo.
Intended for blasting away st the range.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Yeah, not HP....

 

[TxStetson]

With a few exceptions, Hollow Points are considered better for self defense ammo, but are usually much more expensive.

 

[Axxe55]

Another term used for cheaper ammo is "Practice" ammo. Some even call it "Plinking" ammo.

Typically the cheapest functioning ammo bought for expending lots of rounds for whatever purpose.

Applies mostly to factory loaded ammo. Those of us that reload, can build pretty much any ammo for any use cheaper than most factory available ammo.

 

[seeker_two]

With a few exceptions, Hollow Points are considered better for self defense ammo, but are usually much more expensive.

They all fall to ball.....if you shoot them in the right place enough times.....

 

[toddnjoyce]

Today, I learned that what is now considered "target ammo" includes regular "ball" and "FMJ" rounds.

I have never heard those termed that way before. Please help me understand how and when the terminology changed.

Thanks for replies. . . .

leVieux
.

The terms started changing about the time they went from stewardess to flight attendant.

Unfortunately, the number of bullseye shooters is relatively small and the number of folks who just shoot at “targets” is amazingly large. Some folks at public places the sell ammo may never even meet someone need competition quality ammo and with cheap reloading, not many folks who want consistent ammo out of their gun are buying off the shelf stuff.

Except rimfire guys. But ‘match’ is the new word you’re probably associating with ‘target’ ammo.

 

[Sam7sf]

So ball ammo isn’t ammunition designed for testicles? I have been going about my training all wrong. Jk

I thought the term ball ammo was old.

 

[leVieux]

The terms started changing about the time they went from stewardess to flight attendant.

Unfortunately, the number of bullseye shooters is relatively small and the number of folks who just shoot at “targets” is amazingly large. Some folks at public places the sell ammo may never even meet someone need competition quality ammo and with cheap reloading, not many folks who want consistent ammo out of their gun are buying off the shelf stuff.

Except rimfire guys. But ‘match’ is the new word you’re probably associating with ‘target’ ammo.

Thanks, I'm familiar with "match", as in "match grade" ammo, which was supposedly made to greater care to insure accuracy. I now also see the term "training ammunition".

As far as this Old guy is concerned, "ball" and "FMJ" are "REGULAR" ammo ?

Way back when "Black Talon" was pulled ff, I bought all the 9mm & .45ACP that McBride's had left. It still works fine 28 years later.

leVieux
.

 

[gll]

So ball ammo isn’t ammunition designed for testicles? I have been going about my training all wrong. Jk

I thought the term ball ammo was old.

Ball came from muzzleloaders, in the military FMJ was often called ball or hardball.

 

[Sam7sf]

Ball came from muzzleloaders, in the military FMJ was often called ball or hardball.

That’s what I thought.

 

[lightflyer1]

Still just ammo to me. It works. Still deadly. Still what I used in the military.

 

[skfullgun]

Target ammo.
It goes boom.
It opens wound channels on target.
It is deadly.
It works.
"Better" ammo is preferable.
It's all about marketing...

I'm pretty sure the Germans executed more than enough Jews with target ammo.
Just sayin'...

 

[Dawico]

With a few exceptions, Hollow Points are considered better for self defense ammo, but are usually much more expensive.

The main exceptions being rifle ammo.

Hollow pointed rifle ammo is usually match bullets not designed for hunting or self defense. It's about the manufacturing process and not the bullet's intended use like pistol bullets. They don't expand reliably.

When you buy hollow point rifle ammo and handgun ammo you are buying ammo for different purposes.

 

[TxStetson]

The main exceptions being rifle ammo.

Hollow pointed rifle ammo is usually match bullets not designed for hunting or self defense. It's about the manufacturing process and not the bullet's intended use like pistol bullets. They don't expand reliably.

When you buy hollow point rifle ammo and handgun ammo you are buying ammo for different purposes.

I agree, but I was thinking of the mouse gun calibers that lacked the power to reliably expand the HP bullets. 25 acp, 32 acp, and most 380. I believe you are better off with FMJ for defensive rounds in these situations. There are exceptions on the 380:



and I believe most of the "good" 380 HP's were using Hornady XTP bullets.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

This is what I have in my .380....

 

[Glenn B]

I think, manufacturers labelling ammo as "Target" ammo as opposed to "Self-Defense" aka: "tactical" ammo are using an advertising ploy to get folks to believe that FMJ (ball) ammo, labelled as target or training ammo, is not suitable for actual self-defense and thus they need to buy both type of ammo for the two different types of shooting - target/training shooting and self-defense/tactical shooting.