newbie question #2...Ammo

A

ActionJacksonNJ

Inactive
Thanks for all of the great responses from my last post. I've been doing lots of reading on the forum and have learned a GREAT deal. One question that wasn't answered was this:

Say, I purchase the S&W MP 9mm as I mentioned before, what kind of ammunition should I buy? I noticed that many of you mentioned several types. 1. Can a 9mm handgun fire a .45 or .38 or .22?
2. If so, what is the difference?
3. Will the handgun backfire (misfire) if the round ( I'm learning :)) is not the "right" size.
4. You guys mentioned ammo for the range and ammo for home protection, what is the difference?

Again, sorry for the stupid questions, but as an engineer, I must understand these things!!!

Thanks!
 
With a few exceptions (.357 revolvers are able to fire .38 rounds for example) firearms should only be used with the ammo that it is marked for. Some rounds won't fit in the mag or chamber, but some will and that's a great way to reduce a shiny new gun to a pile of parts. When people differentiate between range and S.D. ammo they're usually talking about hollow point and full metal jacket ammo. For plinking at the range, you can just walk into a Wal-Mart and buy the cheapest box of ammo in your caliber which will usually be mildly loaded FMJ ammo as it's cheap to produce. Self defense ammo is almost always some form of hollow point ammo. HP tends to expand more and not over penetrate as much as fmj. This and other features such as higher velocity and better quality components tend to jack up the price, but you get what you pay for.
 
.45, .22, and most other numbers involving a decimal are actual calibers meaning the diameter of the bullet. A .40 S&W is 10mm so a 9mm is I think .35 (off the top of my head). So as a general rule, no you cannot shoot differently marked ammunition in a different caliber firearm. Note, there are some exceptions. .38 special and .357 magnum can be fired out of a revolver of .357 magnum caliber. A .22 long rifle firearm might be able to fire a .22 short. Some .22 magnum revolvers can fire the shorter .22 LR but I think you need a conversion cylinder. (Those who actually know what they are talking about can correct me)

Since you purchased a 9mm M&P make sure the 9mm is 9x19 or marked 9mm Luger and not something else like 9x18 (Makarov), 9x17 (.380 ACP), or 9x21 (Largo). It must be 9x19. Most of those other calibers other than 9x19 will be expensive as well.

You will also see markings such as FMJ, JHP, SWHP, JSWHP, and others. These denote what the particular slug looks like. Generally the cheaper ammo for pistol will be FMJ or Full Metal Jacket which will have a rounded nose and is commonly referred to as "ball" ammunition. JHP is Jacketed Hollow Point and is designed to expand when it impacts a target of sufficient density.

Hope that helps!
 
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Ask away...no such thing as a stupid question when one is making an effort to learn.

Every gun has the caliber marked (engraved), usually on the barrel and/or somewhere on the gun itself. That particular gun should only be fired with ammo of that caliber. There are some exceptions to this rule but that will come after you learn the basics.

It is important to read the owner/operator manual for the particular gun as it will tell you if the gun is made to withstand the pressure of higher power loads such as +p or +p+. Very basically, that is a round that will have a higher pressure and some guns will not be able to withstand the other than standard pressure.

When it comes to ammo, you must always keep ammo in its original box so you will not confuse it with similar ammo of a different caliber. The caliber is marked on the casing of the round and on the box.

It might be advisable to take the NRA Basic Pistol course and the Firearms Home Safety Course which teaches all about this stuff. And of course, you have done good by trolling at this Forum as there are many knowledgeable people willing to share.

Good luck and welcome.
 
trunkymonkey, thanks for the advice on getting inexpensive ammo from walmart. I get it, now. if i get the 9mm, for the range, get 9mm at the lowest cost.

WeedWacker, thanks for describing all of the various markings. I looked them up on the internet and actually viewed the pictures. i get it, now -- for home protection you want a round that generates the most damage. I get the physics of the hollow point round -- awesome!!!

45Gunner, I didn't know guns came with manuals. I thought you just pick them out from behind the glass case and off you go. Remember, I haven't purchased the firearm and have never been in a gun shop. I'm waiting for my paper work (ID) from the town. Also the issue of +p, etc took me by surprise. I have to read-up on that. I will definitely sign up for the NRA course. I've already found a few locations that offer it.

Regards!
 
+P or +P+ are rounds that are "hotter" than regular rounds for a given caliber, which is to say that they generate more energy. The manual for whatever you end up with will say whether or not it is safe to use them in that particular pistol.

By the way, if you ever buy or inherit a used gun you can always write the manufacturer for a manual. Many makers will have them as pdf files on their websites. Remington recently sent me one for an out of production shotgun free of charge. Those manuals are a must have and must read.
 
Action,

Another thing to remember is that every gun shoots different even with the same ammo. Now I am not talking greatly different, but different enough that when you start getting more proficient, you will find the brand that is most accurate in your gun. Yes, 2 different S&W Model 27's can be more accurate with Winchester than with Remington or vice versa.

The best advice I can give you or any novice is to get out to the range and practice. In this respect shooting is no different than any other skill sport (golf, bowling, etc.). In general the more you do it, the better you will be.

Also guys since he is new, that is very good advice about looking on the barrel. But Action, there are similar bullets you need to be careful about. A .38 special can be fired through a .357 magnum, but not the other way around. Same goes for the .223 remington and the 5.56 military AR cartridges. The .223 can be fired in the 5.56 gun but again but not in reverse.
 
ActionJacksonNJ,
I would like to make several suggestions for you.
1. Join the National Rifle Association.
2. Take an NRA Basic firearms course.
3. Read the book Small Arms of the World.
4 Read the book Cartridges of the World.
5 After you take a basic firearms class, go to a gun shop that has a range and rents firearms. Try out several to see what you like the best.
Finally, welcome to the fantastic hobby of firearms and shooting.
 
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