ARIZONA AMMUNITION, LLC.®

OUR THOUGHTS ON BULLETS

We are still working on this one too!

In our 16 years in business and test firing thousands of bullets we know bullet performance.  The past 8 years Jim has been a professional Government hunter for the USDA/Wildlife Services.  He was a full time Federal government trapper and hunter in Cochise County, Arizona and traveled through out the state dealing with all types of wild animal issues.  In that  job he was able to test various bullets in all types of shooting applications.  From raccoons to mule deer Jim has shot them all in all conditions with different bullets, conditions, and distances.  Close, far, and in between it was a real test of performance.

At ARIZONA AMMUNITION, LLC.® we do not use the current 'popular' bullets just because they are the latest rage.  O we test them to keep up on progress and new ideas but, it has to be functional in every aspect.  We use the ballistic gel test, Ohler 43 and Ohler 35P chronograph test and the actual field test of live targets. While the ballistic coefficient (BC) is important it is not everything.  Always know that the published BC by the manufacturer sets their own BC by a mathematical calculations.  It is an accepted industry standard.  There are some companies that actually have a "marketing" BC. A BC that helps sell bullets. Know that the BC listed for a bullet is relative to a certain distance, usually  under 100 yards.  As the bullet travels and slows the BC changes...basically it gets worse.  All know that do calculations on BC that the faster the bullet travels the BETTER THE BC.  Even a bullet with a less that good BC benefits from higher speed.  And a bullet with a great BC benefits by getting and even better BC at higher speeds and longer distances. That is an absolute fact.

A common mistake by shooters today is the selection of a bullet that does not fit the application.  Many manufacturers provided recommended applications for their bullet.  They have data on the effective application, effective speed, and some even list the recommended barrel twist.  Of course ARIZONA AMMUNITION, LLC.® is known for its higher speed ammunition thus improving the BC as the bullet travels.

Bullet manufactures often list a recommended speed for best performance.  We accept and respect that but, we have found in 98% of the cases where we greatly increase speed the bullet has an improved performance. We often discuss our plans our results with the manufacturer.  Most shake their head (while they smile) at our results.  Our opinion shown here is on bullets that we push to the limit. Therefore other ammunition and bullet manufactures may have legitimate results that differ from ours do to our higher speeds. Compare their data with ours carefully.

A final important note on BC.  Benchrest competitors found many years ago that BC means nothing under 300 yards.  What did we say?  BC means nothing under 300 yards.  Absolute fact! So if you are a hunter that never shoots longer than a few hundred yards BC means nothing to you...nothing.  Do not get hung up on it.  If you regularly shoot in competition or in hunting situations over 300 yards then BC is important to you.

OUR THOUGHTS ON BULLETS;

First there is not a bullet that does everything!  The US military has a single bullet that is armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, and explosive.  It actually shoots very well too.  That is the only one we know of that is a one bullet that almost does it all.  That bullet is not available to the average citizen either and is very expensive too.  Outside of that one, we are unaware of a single bullet commercially available that does it all.  Be very careful of claims of such a bullet.  At ARIZONA AMMUNITION, LLC. ®  we focus on selecting the proper bullet for the planned application.  We strongly feel it is very important and take it very seriously. Here are our thoughts on bullets from our testing and experience.

1. Jackets- From bullet manufacturer to manufacturer they all have their own specifications for bullet jackets.  It is an absolute fact that the more consistent the jacket the better performance one will gets from the bullet.  Know that bullet jackets are different thickness and different grades of copper.  THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!  We know one 50 BMG bullet manufacturer used copper water pipe from the local hardware store as jacket material.  We feel that the J4® copper jacket that Berger Bullets uses the best in the business. All other bullet manufacturers use their own made to their specifications, copper content, and tolerances.  Never assume they are the same. Some are very good and others are...well so so.

2. Cores- There are the common lead core bullets , steel core, and now powdered copper core bullets. Did you know that the lead core can actually soften to a point were bullet makers feel it is in a molten state while in the barrel?  With the low temperature for melting lead at only 621.43 Fahrenheit  and a large caliber like 300 Remington Ultra Mag at ----- it is very possible for the lead to be molten for a short time while in the rifle barrel.

3. Solids-

4. Flat base-

5. Boattails-

6. Protected Points-

7. Hollow points-

8. Rebated Boattails-

9. Tipped bullets-

10. Target bullets-

11. Borerider bullets-

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Copyright © 2007 Arizona Ammunition, LLC.
Last modified: January 28, 2012