Ammunition

Hinterland Outfitters online ammo store includes the classic brands you love, exciting new ammunition offerings, and everything in between! We sell ammunition for practically every type of firearm, including handguns & pistols, rifles, shotguns and more. With reputable name brands like Aguila, CCI, Federal, Magtech, Remington, Hornady, Nosler, PMC, Speer, and Winchester, you can purchase from our online ammo selection with confidence.

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Understanding Ammo

When it comes to selecting and understanding ammunition, the choice can be as easy or as complicated as the firearms that use them. There are hundreds of different styles and sizes of ammo for sale, with all utilizing different chemical combinations within the round.

The applications for ammunition also vary a great deal – there's ammo designed specifically for hunting, personal defense, target shooting, etc. The trick is finding the right ammo to buy to suit your needs.

The first step to understanding ammo is to know how it is made. The basic components of ammunition are the casing, primer, propellant and projectile.

• Case: Generally brass, nickel, or steel.
• Primer: An ignition for the propellant; look for the round dimple on the base of the cartridge.
• Powder/propellant: also known as “gunpowder.”
• Projectile: Also known as the bullet itself. Technically it's the only part of the cartridge that is a bullet.

This simple list is like looking at a cooking recipe without the amounts of each ingredient. In basic terms, the casing and projectile will vary in size, yielding a different caliber. With different calibers, more or less propellant will be required.

The size of the casing and the projectile is what determines the caliber. Contrary to the measurement system used in the USA, calibers are measured primarily using the metric system. For example:

• 7.62x51 is 7.62mm wide and 51mm long
• 9x19mm cartridge is 9mm wide and 19mm long

Shotshells are measured in “gauge,” with a lower number being a larger diameter.

Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammunition:

Ammunition can be split into two different categories: Rimfire and Centerfire.

Rimfire is a method of ignition where the firing pin of a gun strikes and crushes the base's rim to ignite the primer. The most common rimfire rounds are .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum and .17 HRM.

Centerfire is a method of ignition where the firing pin of a gun strikes the primer located in the center of the cartridge case head. Centerfire rounds are more powerful and have a much greater range than rimfire rounds. The majority of ammunition can be classified as being centerfire.

Ammunition Types

After caliber, the other main difference in ammunition is the style or type of round. This refers generally to the type of projectile loaded in the casing. The nature of different projectiles once it strikes its target can be very different. The most common styles are:

• Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Wad Cutter (WC)
• Semi Wad Cutter (SWC)
• Semi-Jacketed (SJ)
• Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP)
• Jacketed Hollow Point(JHP)
• Special (RCBD)
• Soft Point

The desired use of your firearm will most often determine the style of ammunition to buy. For personal defense, most will choose some sort of Hollow Point. This unique round is designed to do maximum damage once it strikes soft tissue, turning into a mushroom-shaped blob of lead. These are ideal in slowing down a would-be threat, while a Full Metal Jacket is designed for ultimate penetration and velocity. Most target shooters will use some form of jacketed round or round nose to improve accuracy and precision.

Stopping Power

Bullet style and type can drastically affect the round's effectiveness depending on the intended use of the bullet.

Famous mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton posited that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When a person or animal is struck with a bullet, the impact is less than or equal to the recoil felt by the person firing the bullet. There is a common misconception that when a target is shot, there is an immense amount of power causing the target to stop in their tracks. This could not be further from the truth. The amount of force created from a 9mm round striking a structure is the same amount as a 10 lb. weight being dropped from less than an inch off the ground.

It is true that stopping power and caliber size often go hand in hand, but what can have a far greater impact — and is often overlooked — is the bullet design. Below are a few examples of how bullet design and stopping power can impact ammo development:

• 5.45 x 39mm: The Afghans coined the 5.45 x 39mm ammo round "The Poison Bullet" after the smallest injuries resulted in death. This is where the design of the bullet comes into play. The Russian 5.45 was constructed with a hollow rear cavity which caused the lighter rear end to tumble upon impact, which would create a random and erratic path once it struck tissue, a process called "keyholing."

• 5.56: The American 5.56 is a far more simple, jacketed ball round, which will often pass right through soft tissue, keeping internal damage to a minimum. This is also, unfortunately, a huge problem, as ball ammunition is also known for passing right through the intended target and continuing on a similar path, drastically increasing the possibility for collateral damage.

• .223 Remington/5.56 NATO: The .223 Remington/5.56 NATO ammunition has recently been criticized as being largely inefficient as a hunting and combat round, due to its power and the potential to over-penetrate the target.

Velocity vs. Grain

The last choice to consider when searching for the right kind of ammunition to purchase is weight and velocity, which can greatly affect the range and stopping power of the bullet. Usually, the higher the grain, the lower the velocity.
For example, a 150gr 30-06 Springfield round will have a much higher velocity than a 180gr round. When it comes to range, the grain of the ammo can often work for or against you. A lighter grain round will have a higher velocity, consequently increasing range; however, it will also be more affected by wind, air density and gravity. A heavier grain bullet may have less velocity, but it will not be as easily altered by external forces.
Finding the happy medium in this case can often be crucial toward anticipating how the ammo will react given the type of bullet you have chosen. Long-range competition shooters and target shooters will always try several different weights of ammunition until they decide which ones suit their needs.

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Restock & Reload with Hinterland Outfitter's Premium Selection of Ammo for Sale

Hinterland Outfitters offers a comprehensive selection of ammo for sale including:

Pistol Ammo

Pistol and handgun ammo usually have a smaller caliber than shotguns or rifles, due to the size of the firearm. The most common calibers of pistol ammunition for sale on today's market are .22 Long Rifle, .380 ACP, 9mm, .357 Magnum and Sig, .44 Magnum, .38 Special, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. If you look at the size comparison between rounds designed for long guns, the range in size between these ammo calibers are relatively small.

Many handguns purchased today are primarily for self-defense. The .380 is the smallest round recommended for self-defense situations, but is wildly popular due to its adaptability to small auto pocket pistols. The 9mm is probably the most purchased ammo round in America due to its lower price and great value, and like the 380, this ammunition applies easily to smaller and more concealable designs.

Another popular caliber (and one of the newest ones) is the .40 S&W. This ammunition round was designed in 1989 by Smith and Wesson and Winchester in an effort to duplicate the power created by the 10mm Norma, but in a smaller casing. This caliber eventually became one of the most popular for law enforcement agencies around the country.

The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) was designed by John Browning in 1905, and was put into use by the US Military in 1911 (hence the famous 1911 style pistol). .45 ACP ammunition is not as prevalent in the military and law enforcement today, as it is far heavier than some of the other ammo options available. The .45 is now highly used for target and competition shooting.

Emphasis should be placed on the type of bullet to use once the proper firearm and caliber for your needs has been selected.

Rifle Ammo

We sell a comprehensive line of quality rifle ammunition, including small caliber (17 Remington, 22 Long Rifle, 223 Remington/5.56 NATO, 308 Winchester/7.60 NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor, 204 Ruger, 264 Winchester Mangum) and large caliber (300 Weatherby Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 416 Rigby) ammo.

Understanding and separating rifle ammo is a task in itself, with far more caliber, grain and velocity options to choose from. The two primary rifle applications are hunting and long range shooting, with ammunition calibers for sale specifically designed for each. There is some definite overlap in the two categories however, with calibers like the .308 Winchester and the .300 Winchester Magnum being favorites for their ability to be useful hunting and long range competition rounds.

Some of the most popular hunting rounds are the .257 Weatherby, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 30-06 Springfield. Larger game will of course require a larger ammunition caliber, while smaller game requires a smaller one. Stopping power can be a tricky thing to predict, but it is one of the more important factors when deciding what ammunition caliber to purchase for a hunting rifle.

Long range shooting has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with ammunition rounds that are usually much larger in both weight and dimension compared to other hunting rounds. The .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor and the 50 BMG are all incredibly accurate from ranges over 1,000 yards, with the 50 BMG having an effective range of almost 3,000 yards! These small missiles are generally not used in hunting applications — if you intend to mount your trophy, you want there to be something left to mount!

Shotgun Ammo

No other online (or in-store) source can match our assortment of shotgun ammunition. From .410 bore ammo all the way up to 28 gauge high velocity hunting ammo, we have what you're looking for.
A shotgun is designed to send a pattern of several small pellets called "shot," making hitting a flying or moving target much more feasible than using a rifle or pistol that fires just a single projectile. Shotgun shells are made up of the hull that contains the primer, powder, shot wad and amount of shot.
As is the case with pistol and rifle ammo, there are different bore or "gauge" sizes and lengths, and differences in shot. It might seem like there are only a handful of common gauge choices; however, there are dozens of differences in how the shells are loaded.
Gauge describes the measure of the bore diameter of the shotgun. The only exception to this rule is the .410 which is actually a caliber. The gauge number will be equal to the number of lead balls with that bore diameter, which will add up to weigh one pound.

The most popular shotgun shell gauge today is the 12 gauge, where the diameter of a ball of lead will weigh 1/12 of a pound. So with that said, it is obvious that the bore diameter of a 20 gauge, for example, will be much smaller than that of a 12 gauge. Smaller gauges are generally used for clay shooting and hunting smaller game and birds, and the larger gauges, which can also be used for clays, are utilized for larger game species as well as personal defense.

Shotshells can come in different lengths given their respective gauges. For example, 12 gauge shells can come in 2 1/2", 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2", all containing different amounts of powder and shot charge. The most important thing to notice here is that your 12 gauge shotgun may only have a 3" chamber. It is crucial that you only used shells that are the same length of the chamber for your shotgun or smaller. Attempting to use a shell that is too big could result in a very serious injury for the shooter and those around.

Lastly, and possibly the biggest difference between shell types, is the shot, which is the pellets within the shell. The sizes are numbered, starting with numbers and eventually listed with letters. The smaller sized are known as birdshot while the larger sizes transition to what is called buckshot, used primarily for deer and self-defense. Numbers 9 through 7 are primarily used for target and clay shooting.

Next are numbers 6 through 4, which are commonly used for ducks, pheasants and rabbits. Your longer range shots are given with numbers 3 through 1, and B, BB, BBB, T, and F. These are employed for birds like geese and duck, from a greater distance. If you are one of those that likes to shoot your own turkey for Thanksgiving, a heavier charged shot would be suggested. The weight or charge of the shot will usually be depicted in ounces.

Many people are going with shotguns for home defense purposes recently, partially because there is nothing more frightening than the sound of a shotgun shell being racked into the chamber. Everyone knows exactly what that sound is the second you hear it. Whether you choose a shotgun, rifle or pistol, knowing what ammunition to go with can sometimes make all the difference in the world when it may matter most!

Blanks & Dummies

Even experienced firearm owners often confuse the terms “blank ammo” and “dummy ammo.” Each type of ammunition has different physical components, and is used for distinct applications.

• Blank ammo – This type of firearm cartridge contains gunpowder, but no bullet or lead shot. Blank ammo decreases the chance of injury or accidents; some of the most common uses for blank ammo include the starting gun for horse races, movie stunts and military training procedures.
• Dummy ammo – This is almost the exact opposite of blank ammo; but for this kind of ammo, there is no powder or propellant, just a round or bullet. Thus, no explosive sound is emitted when a dummy ammo round is fired. Dummy ammo is ideal for testing firearm functionality. Aside from military and law enforcement training applications, dummy ammo can also be used at shooting ranges to gauge firearm accuracy.

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Buying Ammo Online? Consider these Factors First

If you're making an online ammo purchase, it's helpful to keep the following factors in mind. Depending on your particular need, you may want to focus on certain ammo attributes, including:

• Price – For frequent range shooters and the always-outdoor type, keeping your barrel full can be a slight financial burden. Full metal jacket (FMJ) ammo is ideal for budget-minded handgun and rifle owners, while less-expensive (i.e., lightweight) shells will help keep ammo costs under control for shotgun enthusiasts.
• Bullet variations – For leisure shooting, typical bullet configurations work fine. But if you're concerned about home defense, consider a hollow-point projectile for handguns and rifles. This type of projectile expands upon impact, thus maximizing the damage radius.
• Purpose – If you're a hunter, you want to ensure you have enough power to effectively – and humanely – bring down your prey. Thus, go with a hollow-point projectile or soft-point projectile. To ensure one-shot efficiency, it's always best to go with more powerful ammo.
If you have any questions about which ammo to purchase, our team is always here to help. With our selection, you're sure to find exactly what you're looking for!

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Need Ammo? Set your Sights on Hinterland Outfitters

With quality brands, fast shipping, affordable prices and industry-leading customer service, no other ammo supplier comes close to Hinterland Outfitters. We strive to be the #1 outlet to buy ammo online - your cabinet needs restocked with gun ammo, browse our outstanding ammo assortment first. Our online ammo store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, so you can enjoy the convenience and hassle-free ammo shopping experience you deserve. And don't forget to visit our other great products, including hunting accessories, optics, apparel, outdoor lights, knives, shooting targets, scopes and more.