All about guns

First, what is plinking?

Plinking is a term used in shooting sports to describe informal target shooting done for fun. A sheet of steel can be used as a makeshift target and makes a plinking sound when hit.

After World War II, the activity became increasingly popular in Eastern Europe and then spread to other parts of the world. In recent era – especially in North America – it has became generally applied to informal target shooting with any type of rifle or handguns at objects such as tin cans, logs, glass bottles, and boxes.

Plinking is similar to target shooting, except that the main goal of plinking is not typically competition. It’s mainly done for fun. But it is also good practice for other kinds of target-shooting competition.

Plinking ammunition

While any ammunition can be used for casual plinking or practice, smaller caliber rounds such as the .22 Long Rifle are the most popular. They are much cheaper than centerfire rounds and are therefore less expensive to shoot in quantity. Saving money is one reason why informal shooting sports like plinking became popular.

A popular handgun round is the 9mm. The 9×19mm Parabellum is used a lot for plinking because they are less expensive than more powerful cartridges. Their lower velocities also make them safer for use in many urban settings where ranges are often located close to populated areas.

I shoot a lot of ammo. I handload, but handloading is time consuming and requires extra equipment which isn’t always practical, so I buy in bulk quantities when sales are available.

A significant amount of the ammo that I purchase is either .22 LR or 7.62x39mm, because these are relatively cheap loads that are easy to obtain.

Occasionally, however, certain types of .22 LR become unavailable at normal prices – even online stores with huge inventories sell out within hours when manufacturers release ‘shortage’ announcements.

Can plinking ammo kill a person?

Some types of .22 LR ammunition can kill a person when fired directly into the heart, most plinking ammo will not have enough power to penetrate deep enough to cause significant damage.

.177 caliber pellets and BBs lack stopping power on their own. But, because they may be shot at high speeds and from close range using powerful airguns, they still pose a threat and must be handled with care and respect.

What is plinking ammo made from?

Plinking ammo is often made from lower-quality metal alloys. Brass casings are rarely used, and most plinking rounds have a mix of steel and zinc in the bullet or pellet.

Some ammunition may contain a highly fragile core that will shatter upon impact. Most plinkers understand how to handle various types of ammunition without harming themselves or their targets.

Is Plinking Ammo Accurate

Cheaper ammo used for plinking can certainly be accurate. It is not match grade accuracy but that;s not really the point.

Can you use plinking ammo indoors?

Yes, shooting indoors at a gun range is fine because they have a special backstop that will stop the ammo. But precautions must be taken when firing any ammunition at items indoors.

Most people who shoot indoors make sure there is plenty of space between them and anything behind the target they are using.

I would advise against shooting anything bigger than a BB gun in your own home.

Plinking ammo safety tips

#1: Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times. Some plinkers have been injured or killed when their guns recoiled and/or suddenly discharged without warning.

Plinkers should always be aware of what is ahead of them, especially if they are shooting from a different elevation than their targets.

#2: Avoid ricochet by keeping shots on a level plane. Directing any bullet or pellet ricocheting off a flat surface back toward yourself is extremely dangerous. Ricochet can occur when a round strikes an object at a shallow angle instead of directly penetrating it. If you see that rounds are ricocheting from your target, either move to a different shooting position or switch to another type of ammunition.

#3: Be aware of your target and what is beyond it. Plinkers who shoot at targets in their backyards may not be aware that bullets can travel a long way before air resistance begins to slow them down.

A bullet fired from even a .22 LR firearm could go through the back wall of a house and kill someone on the other side. If you didn’t know where your shots were going, you violated Rule #3 and might have also broken the law.

Just because you weren’t aiming at anything doesn’t mean somebody wasn’t endangered by your actions.

#4: Treat every gun as if it is loaded and ready to fire. People shouldn’t place any part of their body or hand over a firearm, even if it is unloaded.

Is plinking ammo good for self defense?

Millions of shooters around the country go “plinking” every weekend. Plinkers are either shooting at paper targets or cans, bottles, or junk they have lying around their property.

There is nothing wrong with plinking, but if you want to develop self defense skills it isn’t enough. Shooting at a stationary target just doesn’t prepare you for possible real-life situations that might pop up in front of you while carrying concealed. You need to practice with some defensive ammunition so that you can be confident in your abilities when the time comes.

Defensive loads are different from cheap plinking ammo because it is usually designed to expand upon impact instead of passing right through its target like most bullets do when they hit an object. The reason for this is because an attacker can be wearing heavy clothing or have a layer of muscle protecting his vital areas. By the time a bullet penetrates through the various layers, most of its energy is lost and it will probably not do as much damage as you had hoped.

A bullet that expands upon impact causes a larger hole going in and then rips into your target on the way out with multiple fragments which drastically increases stopping power. It also transfers more of its energy to your target instead of leaking away as it passes through. This allows defensive ammo to knock down targets faster than regular ammunition from high-velocity handguns. This is why shotguns are usually considered the best home defense weapon if you want to stop an assailant quickly.

Which ammo is best for self defense?

Granted, this is an age old question that depends on many factors. For instance, what kind of weapon are you using? Where are you at the moment? What is your background like? And so on… But there’s one over-riding factor when it comes to the actual selection of your ammo… penetration. This is why I highly recommend that anyone who carries a firearm for self defense be very careful in selecting their ammunition.

One innocent mistake could cost you dearly in terms of not only legal ramifications but possibly even bodily harm or death! And by “innocent” I mean utterly negligent and inexcusable mistakes.

*ALWAYS keep in mind that if someone is trying to kill you it’s very likely they may be on PCP, Meth, or some other drug that makes them impervious to pain! Or they might simply be hopped up on adrenaline… which means even a flesh wound could result in your death because they won’t feel it until after they’ve killed you.

Remember this especially when choosing ammunition for carry purposes… penetration takes priority over everything else!*

For example, .22lr ammo would have little effect against an attacker who had taken drugs or was high on adrenaline unless the bullet struck the central nervous system of your assailant (brain/spine).

Can range ammo be used for self defense?

No, range ammo is generally full metal jacket and should not be used for self-defense.

Full metal jacket (FMJ) bullets should never be used in defensive ammunition because a FMJ round’s main objective is to punch a hole through the target. While this may be great for some applications, in terms of fighting with your pistol you need to focus on temporary and permanent tissue damage which is created by cutting/fragmenting holes in your opponent.

Full metal jacket rounds have a much greater chance of penetrating your attacker and hitting an innocent person behind them. You should always use hollow point rounds for self defense!

– Any type of round nose (RN) bullet should not be used in defensive ammunition because round nose bullets are designed to bounce off objects they hit without deforming or fragmenting. For most self defense encounters that occur at close range this would create even more of a danger because it is likely that fragments from an RN bullet could hit the defender instead of the attacker causing unintended bodily harm instead of just very localized damage to the bad guy.

What is 9mm plinking ammo?

9mm plinking ammo is the 9×19 parabellum round, the most common caliber in the world, and was originally designed as a military cartridge. However, it’s also a very popular round for both casual plinking and self defense.

So let’s get started with our list of the best 9mm plinking ammo from least to most expensive.

500 Rounds of Wolf 115 gr FMJ 9mm Ammunition

This particular load fires a 115 grain full metal jacket bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1130 feet per second.

This makes it a great plinking cartridge if you’re looking to get some trigger time in at the range without spending too much money on your ammo.

The muzzle energy is rated at 326 foot-pounds, which isn’t very powerful for this purpose. But it all depends on what you want out of your 9mm plinking ammo: target shooting, training, tactical drills etc. It’s no wonder that the following comment was left by one customer:

“This is my go-to ammunition when practicing skills and drills. Nothing special here but it fires well in both my Beretta 92FS and M&P9

1000 Rounds of 115 Grain FMJ 9mm Ammunition by Tula

This load is capable of penetrating barriers such as glass and sheet metal, so it can also be used in tactical training drills.

  This particular ammo has a 115 grain full metal jacket bullet that travels at a muzzle velocity of 1150 feet per second.

It’s also by far one of the cheapest 9mm plinking ammo you could get so this might be an option to consider if you’re on a budget.

1000 Rounds of 115 Grain Full Metal Jacket 9mm Ammunition by Federal

This 9mm plinking ammo has a muzzle velocity of 1180 feet per second with a muzzle energy rating of 356 foot-pounds. The full metal jacket bullet is also 115 grain in weight. This load was designed to be used on the battlefield, so it’s no coincidence that many individuals trust this ammunition for self defense and target shooting purposes alike.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

Last updated on October 11th, 2021

So much of our gun culture today was influenced or actually designed by a legend named John Browning. To understand where ACP Ammo came from we have to understand a little bit about this man.

I’ll go into more detail about John Browning in a second but let’s answer the main question first, “What is ACP Ammo?”.

ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. The .45 ACP cartridge is a rimless straight-walled cartridge that was invented in 1904 by John Browning.

It is a handgun cartridge that was used by the military for many years in the M1911. It is also used in many other semi automatic pistols.

There are five cartridges that carry the name ACP. Those are:

1. .45 ACP
2. .380 ACP
3. .38 ACP
4. .32 ACP
5. .25 ACP

.45 ACP

The typical 45 ACP bullet is composed of 230 grains which travel about 830 feet per second when fired from a government issue M1911A1.

It operates at a relatively low maximum chamber pressure rating of 21,000 psi (145 MPa), compared to 35,000 psi (241 MPa) for the 9mm parabellum.

Due to its subsonic speed it is a useful caliber for suppressed weapons because it does not create a sonic boom.

History of the Automatic Colt Pistol

John Browning grew up around firearms. In fact, his father owned a gunsmith shop in Ogden, Utah. John began working at the gun shop at age 7.

He learned how to clean firearms. He learned how to take guns apart and put them back together. He even learned engineering concepts and how to build firearms.

John built his first of many guns at age 13. Over his lifetime he amassed 128 firearms patents.

The Moro Rebellion was an armed conflict between America and the Moro people that began in 1899 in the Philippines. During this conflict the Army and Cavalry realized the .38 Long Colt did not have enough stopping power.

At the time John was working on a 41 caliber cartridge with the Colt Firearm Company. The U.S. Cavalry asked them to submit a 45 caliber cartridge for testing. So they created the 45 ACP to submit.

There were several other companies that submitted designs but after multiple rounds of testing the 45 ACP was the clear winner.

The M1911 semi automatic pistol was also designed by John Browning. It was chambered for the 45 ACP and was adopted by the U.S Army right before the first world war.

The model M1911 was used exclusively all the way until 1985 when the Army switched to the Beretta M9.

What Does ACP Stand For?

ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol.

What is the difference between .45 auto and .45 ACP?

There is no difference between .45 auto and .45 ACP. They are interchangeable. The original name was .45 ACP.

The SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Institute) was created in 1926 to standardize ammunition specs.

SAAMI did not allow trademarked or copyrighted names. The C in ACP stands for Colt which is a trademarked name.

So the .45 ACP was submitted to SAAMI with the generic name of .45 Auto. Again, they are both the same cartridge.

What does 380 ACP stand for?

The 380 ACP is another rimless straight walled cartridge created by John Browning. It is also called 380 Auto, 9mm short, or 9mm Kurz.

The 380 ACP has been used by foreign militaries and police forces. But very few still use it today. Most units have upgraded to the 9mm or 40 caliber.

The 380 ACP is not my favorite round but it is the round I carry daily. I carry the Ruger LCP which is chambered for .380. I love this gun because it is lightweight and small enough to fit in my front pants pocket.

Since I must tuck in my shirt for work this is the most comfortable way to carry. The .380 has less stopping power than 9mm or .40. But experts always say to buy the gun you will actually carry every day. And for me that is the Ruger LCP.

45 acp ammo vs 9mm

Both of these cartridges have great stopping power. The 45 automatic looks much bigger but it actually has a lower velocity than 9mm. This is because the 45 has a much heavier bullet.

Typical velocity from a 45 acp is between 800 and 1100 feet per second. A 9mm is faster at 1000 to 1350 feet per second.

45 acp ammunition can be almost twice as expensive as 9mm. Even at today’s prices it seems like there is always a shortage of both calibers. You can find both of these rounds at Lucky Gunner.

Magazine size is another consideration. Manufacturers are able to fit way more 9mm into a magazine than 45 acp. A standard 1911 chambered for .45 can only hold 7+1 . But a Glock 17 has a capacity of 17+1.

This may be a valid concern for the police and military but not so much for individuals. Most self defense situations are over in seconds. This means you may not even have time to fire off the full 8 rounds in your 1911. So carry the firearm that works best for you.

.380 acp ammo vs 9mm

Both cartridges are 9mm in diameter but the .380 ACP is only 17mm in length. The 9mm is 19mm in length.

This is where the European names for these cartridges come from. The .380 ACP is called 9x17mm and the 9mm is called 9x19mm.

380 and 9mm ammo are not interchangeable. Don’t try to use them in the same gun.

The 9mm is a more powerful round. It has more stopping power. But this also means that it has more recoil than the .380 ACP. Many police and military units use 9mm the world over but very few still use the .380 ACP.

You might be wondering if a 380 can stop an attacker. Most defense situations happen at short ranges. .380 ACP can be very effective at short ranges.

If you are shooting at someone who is outside the lethal range of a 380 round then you are probably not in a defense situation, and you will most likely have some legal troubles.

Can you reload 45 acp ammo?

Yes, you can definitely reload 45 ACP ammo. You will likely save over half the cost of new rounds. The old rounds can be reloaded almost indefinitely.

Is ACP the same as Ball Ammo?

Not exactly. An ACP cartridge can be loaded with a ball bullet, hollow point bullet or other types of bullets. Here is a great article to learn all about Ball Ammo.

ACP vs LCP ammo

This is a question that Google suggested but I believe there is a misunderstanding here. There is no lcp ammo. There is a Ruger LCP pistol which will fire 380 acp rounds.

What is the best 380 acp ammo for self defense?

380 ammo can be hard to find sometimes, especially self defense rounds. Here are a couple great options:

• 380 Auto – 88 gr JHP – Remington UMC

• 380 Auto – 90 Grain JHP XTP – Underwood

What is the best 45 acp ammo for self defense?

It’s hard to name a particular bullet the best. Instead I’ll give links to 3 excellent 45 caliber rounds at Lucky Gunner.

• 45 ACP – 230 Grain JHP – Speer Gold Dot LE

• 45 ACP – 230 Grain JHP – Federal Punch

• 45 ACP +P – 230 Grain HST JHP – Federal Premium Law Enforcement

Is 45 acp a good defense round

Yes, 45 ACP has very good stopping power. This is why the military switched to it back in 1911.

There are many models chambered in 45 but the most popular is the 1911. It is relatively slim which helps with concealment. Make sure you choose hollow points for self defense.

What is the difference between acp and gap ammo?

GAP stands for Glock Auto Pistol. The 45 GAP cartridge was developed by Glock and CCI/Speer in 2002. Glock wanted a shorter cartridge so they could design a smaller 45 caliber automatic pistol that could compete with 40 s w and 9mm.

You should not use GAP ammo in a weapon chambered for ACP.

What is the best 45 acp practice ammo?

Here is a great choice for 45 ACP practice ammo:

• 45 Acp 230 Gr Fmj Blazer Brass 1000 Rounds

This is about the cheapest 45 practice ammo you can find:

• 45 ACP – 230 Grain Plated RN – Military Ballistics Industries

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

Last updated on August 24th, 2021

When you hear the term “ball ammo” you may be picturing an actual ball. While the term did originate from ball shaped ammo, that’s not what it means today. Most ball ammo today is cylindrical in shape. It will have a lead core coated with copper.

Keep reading to learn all about the history and how ball ammo is used today.

What is Ball Ammo?

Ball ammo is also referred to as full metal jacket. It has a soft core made of lead, and is encased in an outer jacket made of harder material like copper. Ball ammo is one of the most used types of ammo in the world, and one of the least-expensive.

It is very accurate and readily available to civilian gun owners. It does not expand upon impact, but it is designed to go through the target. It’s great for punching holes in paper, although it does come with the possibility of hitting objects behind it.

The fact that the projectile can go through the target and cause unintentional collateral damage behind it, can be a disadvantage. It is not recommended for concealed carry.

It comes in flat nose, truncated cone, or boat tail types, all of which are made for penetration while leaving less residue in the barrel. Less residue means increased velocity and increased accuracy.

Why is it called ball ammo?

The term most likely came about because smoothbore muzzleloaders used a ball shaped projectile. This is the most agreed upon origin of the term.

As a side note, smoothbore just means there was no rifling in the barrel. If you don’t know what rifling means just picture the opening scene of any James Bond movie where you are looking through the barrel of a gun. The swirls you see are the rifling.

Rifling was invented in the 1400’s but it required a difficult and expensive manufacturing process. Therefore most muzzleloaders all the way into the early 1800’s were smoothbore. And most ammo was simply in the shape of a ball.

In 1849 a man named Claude-Etienne Minie invented a new cylindrically shaped ammo that became known as the “minie ball”. It was much more accurate and had longer range. Some people believe the term “minie ball” contributed to the term “ball ammo”.

Another group believes the popularity of “ball powder” helped to cement the term “ball ammo”. Ball powder is a name trademarked by the Olin Corporation to refer to their ball propellant. This new type of propellant was easier and faster to manufacture.

What is the difference between FMJ and ball ammo?

Both terms are used interchangeably most of the time, and that’s ok. If you really want to get technical the Full Metal Jacket bullet is a subset of ball ammo.

All FMJs are ball ammo but not all ball ammo is FMJ.

FMJ ammo has a lead core that is coated with a harder metal, usually copper. The base of the bullet is not usually coated. So if you pulled a FMJ bullet out of the brass cartridge you would see exposed lead at the base.

There is another subset called TMJ or Total Metal Jacket. This type would be completely coated including the base. These are used in environments where lead dust in the air would be a problem.

Is ball ammo ok for defense?

The short answer is no. It can easily penetrates it’s targets. While this may sound like a good thing, it really is not when talking about self defense situations.

If you are forced to defend yourself with a gun it will likely be in your home or another area where other people are present. Ball ammo can penetrate walls, glass, car doors, etc. This means that innocent people behind your attacker could be injured or killed.

When carrying a weapon for self defense we also have to be prepared for the backlash caused by our actions. Of course our main concern is to protect ourselves and family, but in many cases there are lawsuits after the fact that will cost time and money. By only using hollow points in our carry gun we are signalling to jurors that we exercised caution.

Hollow point ammo has a hollowed out section on the tip of the bullet. This causes the bullet to expand upon impact. The expansion slows down the bullet and causes more damage to the intended target and less damage to objects behind the target.

Use ball ammo for target practice because it is cheap and accurate. But always load your carry gun with hollow points.

Why does the military use ball ammo?

The military has to store ammo for long periods in less than ideal conditions. They also have to transport ammo over rough terrain. We all know that crap happens during shipping, and ball ammo is tougher than hollow points.

Military ammo has to reliably feed through belt fed firearms. Hollow points will deform much easier because of the exposed soft lead on top.

To illustrate this, just think what would happen to a bullet that was bounced around or dropped off the back of a vehicle going through a desert. The ball ammo is more likely to continue to feed properly after this kind of treatment.

Lower cost is another reason. The US military fires more than a billion rounds of small arms ammo each year. Even small changes in price really add up at this level.

Ball ammo vs hollow point?

Each type has pros and cons. So let’s make this simple with a list:

Ball Ammo

Pros:

• Cheaper
• Accurate
• Reliable
• Great for target practice

Cons:

• Penetrates a target too easily
• Does less damage to an attacker
• Not good for self defense

Hollow Point

Pros:

• Great for self defense
• Less likely to penetrate and hit innocent bystanders
• More likely to stop an attacker

Cons:

• More expensive

Ball ammo vs green tip?

The first thing you need to know is the green tip is nothing special. It is just painted green to indicate the type of ammo. That being said there are some differences.

Green tip ammo is a subset of ball ammo. It is a full metal jacket bullet. It mainly comes in 5.56 and .223 calibers.

The military used a 5.56 round named M193 for many years before switching to the newer M855. When they switched, they painted the newer M855 tips green so soldiers could tell the difference.

The older M193 has a traditional lead core while the newer M855 has a lead core and a steel penetrator tip. The M193 is more effective for hunting under 100 yards because it will often break up when entering the target.

The M855 was designed to punch through the target. Therefore it is more likely to pass right through an animal with minimal damage.

I would not recommend either type for self defense. As always get hollow points for self defense.

Is ball ammo good for hunting?

If we’re talking about deer hunting the answer is no. The bullet will punch a small hole through the animal causing minimal damage. You could end up chasing a wounded deer a long time, if you can even find it.

It is actually illegal in most states to use FMJ for deer hunting. Instead you should use hollow points or another soft tip round. Hollow points are designed to break apart upon entering the target causing more damage.

While this may sound inhumane it is actually better for the animal because it means a faster kill.

Some people do use ball ammo for small game hunting.

What is ball ammo used for?

Civilians mainly use it for target practice. It is cheap, accurate and readily available. It is not ideal for hunting or self defense. Although some people do use it for small varmint hunting.

The military does almost exclusively use it. They require reliable feeding and durability over long storage periods and rough transportation. The military also prefers this type of ammo because penetration of cover is important in battle.

Is ball ammo accurate?

Yes, it can be very accurate. It all comes down to the quality and care the manufacturer puts into their processes. As with anything, you get what you pay for. But generally it is considered very accurate.

The United States military appreciates accuracy and almost exclusively uses it.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

Last updated on October 24th, 2021

When you first became interested in shooting you probably heard the terms sight picture and sight alignment being thrown around. Most people tend to use the two terms interchangeably; however, they do not mean the same thing.

In this guide, I will make a clear distinction between sight picture and sight alignment.

To master any new trade, you must first learn the rules of the game, and being a great shooter is no different. This article will help you gather a deeper understanding of the terminologies and best practices that will sharpen your marksmanship.

What Is The Sight Picture?

Sight picture is the proper sight alignment while aiming at your target. To make it even simpler, sight alignment precedes sight picture.

As a concept, sight picture occurs when the sights are perfectly aligned with the target. Sight alignment only amounts to half the aiming equation.

You might have a great grip, and your sights might be impeccably aligned with the rear sight aperture (all factors that contribute to a perfect sight alignment), but your shot may still not hit the target.

Why?

For a perfectly-aimed shot, you must make sure the sights are properly aligned and squarely aimed at the precise spot on the target that you intend to hit.

What is Sight Alignment?

Long before the innovation of laser pointers and red dots, the sole way of aiming a handgun was by using iron sights.

Iron sights differed from pistol to pistol and from one manufacturer to another. Most designs had a rear aperture and a single post mounted on the muzzle. The rear aperture was mounted on the opposite end of the single post and helped the pistol users find the appropriate sight alignment.

The perfect sight alignment is achieved when the shooter aligns the rear aperture sight with the front sight post.

As you align your eye with the rear aperture, the front sight becomes visible. Once aligned, the space on either side of the sights should be equal, and the top of the front sight must be even with the edges of the rear aperture. Before shooting, you will focus more on the front sight post.

Sight alignment can be summarized as to involve the following:

• Holding the handgun properly
• Finding the sights
• Aligning your rear sight with the front sight post

Despite the distinction between sight picture and sight alignment, they both rely on your eye. Now, let’s explore how your eyes impact the accuracy of your shot.

Should You Close One Eye Or Leave Them Both Open?

Just like we have dominant hands, we also have dominant eyes. This means that one eye is dominant over the other in the same way you are either right-handed or left-handed.

It is important that you understand the concept of eye dominance, for it is critical in marksmanship.

The term, “dominant eye”, refers to which eye your brain prefers to receive information from. So, what is the impact of using a dominant or non-dominant eye?

If I align my sights with the less dominant eye, I will hit my target to the side of the precise spot I aimed at. For most people, their dominant eye matches their dominant hand. If you are right handed your dominant eye will usually also be the right eye.

However, some may be cross-eye-dominant where you write with the right hand, but your left eye is your dominant eye. Having cross-eye-dominance necessitates more hours of practice to perfect marksmanship.

Given this information, the answer to whether one should close one eye or not is, “If possible train to shoot with both eyes open.” You need to realize that some situations require full situational awareness, and having one eye closed will reduce peripheral vision.

When I began training with both eyes open, I experienced double vision when trying to focus on the target. If this happens, you may have to close one eye and work with your dominant eye.

When training with the non-dominant eye closed, eye dominance may still not have a huge impact since the gun is an independent object, and as long as your sights are perfectly aligned with the target, you will trick it just right.

If you happen to have cross-eye dominance, you have to slightly shift your head from the center to allow the dominant eye a clear view of the sights.

For beginners, it is advisable to start training with the non-dominant eye closed as this helps you get clear sight pictures and understand exactly what you are seeing when shooting.

Sight Holds

To further advance one’s marksmanship, it is important that the shooter understand how the particular handgun was designed to perform.

While the sight alignment remains constant, the sight picture changes with distance and from gun to gun. Different sight pictures are known as sight holds.

Each handgun is designed with a specific sight hold in mind. Since all pistols are not designed with the same preferred sight hold, you will have to test your gun to assess the sight hold that performs best.

Below are some of the common sight holds in reference to a bullseye target.

Combat Hold

It is also known as “frame hold,” and in this sight hold, the middle of the front sight post covers the bullseye entirely. The center of the sight covers the center of the bullseye. Some handguns that use the combat hold include the SIG Sauer and Glock pistols.

Center Hold

With this sight hold, the top of the sight post divides the bullseye horizontally.

6 O’clock Hold

The top point of the sight post is positioned below the bottom of the bullseye. Some people refer to this hold as “pumpkin hold” or “lollipop hold.”

Irrespective of the manufacturer’s intended sight hold, the shooter can always opt to use a different hold depending on the situation and preference.

Defensive Shooting

While having to use a gun is not a situation that most people want to find themselves in, it is something we must train for.

During training you will have enough time to align your sights and pick your sight picture. But real defense situations will be a little bit different.

It’s silly to think the bad guy will wait for you to align your sights and pick the perfect sight picture. So, in such a situation, you will revert to your lowest level of training.

So train hard and always be safe!

In my assessment, the combat hold is best for defensive shooting or in real-life defense situations. The center hold and the 6 o’clock hold will waste your precious time as you try to bisect the target with the top of the pistol’s front sight or aligning the top of the front sight with the target as this calls for great concentration and precision.

Instead, just align your sights and aim them at the center of the bad guy’s mass. The combat hold will only require sight acquisition, which is faster, meaning the defense is super-fast.

Are sight alignment and sight picture the same?

No, they are not. Sight picture is what you see when you look through the rear sight aperture at the front sight and the target.

Sight alignment is a component of your sight picture that consists of two relationships: 1) the relationship between the center of the front and rear sights and 2)the relationship between the top edge of each respective sight and its bottom edge.

How to improve sight picture when shooting a gun

The two essential things that must be done in order to get a proper sight picture are:

1. Align your sights by centering the front blade within the rear aperture. If you do not, you will miss to one side or another of your target regardless of how well you hold the gun—a common mistake among beginning shooters.

2. Place both irises (the black part inside your eye) onto the front blade and fully concentrate on it while holding it still at arm’s length. When both these fundamentals are mastered, shooting accurately becomes very easy.

Some tips for improving sight alignment/sight picture:

– The three most important elements in obtaining good sight pictures (alignment and picture) is:

– Concentration on front sight.

– Holding the gun firmly in both hands (firm grip).

– Breath control (relax and exhale when the shot leaves the barrel).

With this three point focus, you will notice considerable improvement in your accuracy.

When using iron sights on a firearm with an open notch and post type of rear sight, concentration upon the front sight blade is most important because it may be possible to see two equally well defined images of the rear sight or one image of each, but not both at the same time due to parallax error.

Therefore, when focusing upon aligning both blades for best sight picture, the shooter’s eye must be focused to a pinpoint that will enable the shooter to see two separate images of the blades and not one blade superimposed upon a second.

An unfocused eye will actually cause a displacement or movement of the rear sight because it is being observed as a single image instead of as two separate images. If this occurs, there will be no sharp focus on any part of the front sight blade.

All parts of the blade from its tip to its notch should appear as one clear defined spot with all edges sharp and distinct as well as black in appearance.

This method has been known as peaking – i.e., seeing only part of something – but now is called focusing – i.e., an attempt to focus.

Sight picture when shooting trap

I would like to add some information about the sight picture when shooting trap.

When you are shooting clays in the air, your gun barrel must be directed (or tracked) towards the clay.

Let’s call this movement “tracking”. The goal of tracking is to keep your gun barrel directed at your target (the clay) all the way until it hits or passes by you.

The shooter’s focus is on the correct plane of the clay, which is just above your head.

Maintaining the correct plane of clay is accomplished by keeping your head still and not moving it towards the clay, but rather keeping it “centered” to the clay’s flight path while following its flight path until it has passed or been broken.

The underlying concept here is that there are “two planes”, one vertical and the other horizontal. One refers to a line going through an object from top to bottom, while the other describes a flat surface going from side to side.

Think about a clock face. The vertical plane bisects a clock at twelve o’clock and six o’clock positions, while the horizontal plane bisects a clock between 3 and 9 o’clock.

In order to shoot a moving clay, the gun barrel must be kept in the correct plane of that clay for as long as possible.

GLOCK Sight Picture Issues

Some people have reported only seeing about half of the front sight dot when their Glock is properly aligned. I have a feeling this problem mainly occurs for people with shorter arms than the average person.

This problem isn’t as bad as not being able to see any part of your front sight, but it can still affect accuracy if you’re too used to this style of sighting. In order to fix this problem, try adjusting your grip lower down on the gun and allowing yourself more time in order to bring the sights up.

You can replace your Glock polymer sights with iron sights or just get use to how it shoots for you.

Sight picture for red dot sights

Using the same sight picture with differing power red dots gets confusing. You just don’t know what your looking at or if that dot is on target !!!

This is why I came up with this system that works with all red dots and optics. The technique uses a 45 degree prism method in which you use the top half of the optic as your point of aim, while keeping the bottom half covered by your non shooting hand thumb.

When aimed properly you will see 3 things…. one dot in the center..two dotted lines running parallel to each other around it . These two dotted lines mimic your front sight post, only as a miniaturized picture for iron sights.

This method is very fast and effective in engaging targets. You keep both eyes open and can instantly aim into the center mass of a target.

It is important to always use this prism when aiming an optic/red dot, even if you use it on a low power setting. The eye sees the same thing every time because it’s not your brains job to figure out what power setting you’re on or how much magnification you have dialed in .

This eliminates any need to adjust your head or cheek weld making you that much faster. Your brain only needs to tell you where the front sight post 2 dots are focusing.

Summary

The sight picture refers to the view of the rifle with the eye looking through the rear sight. It’s also known as “alignment of sights”. Where you place your eyes is critical because it has a direct effect on your alignment. Once you’ve lined up your sights properly, keep both eyes open when shooting. Closing one eye can cause you to misalign your rifle, leading to misses.

The sight picture consists of the rear sight, front sight post and target or aiming point. You want all three to be in focus at the same time for proper alignment.

To achieve this, adjust your position until you get a clear picture of all three elements. If at first you don’t succeed, move your position a little closer to the target and try again.

By aligning your sights correctly the bullet should impact the target in or near it’s center mass, assuming of course that your rifle is zeroed for the range. This is called “Centering the Bullseye” .

The alignment of sights is very important on your rifle, so don’t skip on the details. Watch your sight picture as you move around engaging targets and practice practice practice!

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

It’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I whole-heartedly endorse Lucky Gunner, like many of their satisfied other customers:

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: Only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

There are loads of myths and assumptions surrounding handguns. If you grew up around guns, you probably heard some of these myths. Today, we will answer the question: Is it bad to dry fire a Glock.

The Quick Answer

Dry firing modern centerfire guns is completely fine (this includes most Glocks). The firing pin does not hit anything when released and no damage is done.

On the other hand, excessively dry firing rimfire guns can actually damage the firing pin. The firing pin on a rimfire gun is designed to hit soft brass when a round is loaded. When dry firing, the pin will hit the much harder steel of the breech face. Over time this can dull the firing pin which can lead to misfires.

Most Glocks are chambered for centerfire cartridges. The one exception is the new Glock 44 which is chambered for a 22 long rifle, and is Glock’s first rimfire handgun.

The company even states that dry firing this modern rimfire G44 will not damage the gun. However, they recommend using snap caps if you plan to be doing a lot of dry fire practice.

So, the quick answer is “No”. Dry firing will not damage your Glock, but let’s go into a little more detail.

What Does Dry Firing a Glock Entail?  

First, let’s define dry firing. Dry firing simply means racking the slide and pulling the trigger on an empty chamber.

The only thing you should hear is a click as the hammer hits the firing pin. It sounds like a safe and straightforward procedure but the debate still rages.

Why Is There So Much Controversy Over Dry-Firing a Glock? 

I’ve come to notice that every shooter has their own policy on dry firing drills. So, it’s easier to look at both sides to see where the controversy lies.

Here are a few arguments for and against dry firing:

What the Supporters Say:

1. According to the NRA, dry firing centerfire handguns is perfectly fine if you ensure that you don’t have a live round in chamber. You also need to ensure that the gun is pointed in a safe direction before dropping the hammer.
2. Many recreational shooters find the cost of ammunition and range memberships prohibitive. Therefore, dry firing your gun comes as a natural cost-cutting measure.
3. A healthy mix of live fire and dry fire drills can help you improve the accuracy and other aspects of your shooting. These fundamentals include stance, breathing, and aim.

What the Opposition Says:

1. Firing a handgun without a snap cap, live round, or an empty shell casing in the chamber can damage the firing pin. As we saw earlier, this is only true for some older rimfire guns.
2. Many forums point to the fact that dry firing drills fail to simulate the experience of firing a loaded Glock. I guess this is a valid concern if you only ever train by dry firing.

What Is Glock’s Policy On Dry Firing Their Products?

Here is an excerpt from Glock’s FAQ section:

It’s ok to dry fire your GLOCK pistol, but we recommend using a snap cap or dummy round if you will be dry firing for a long period of time.

https://us.glock.com/en/faqs

Why Do Many People Recommend Dry Firing Drills for Glocks?

Trigger discipline and gun safety are essential aspects of owning a Glock or any firearm. Running dry firing drills has helped me gain the confidence to handle a Glock and take ammunition conservation seriously.

However, there some concerns that dry firing your Glock might fail to address. Such questions include:

Can A Glock Go Off Without Pulling the Trigger?

You’ve probably heard horror stories about Glocks going off by themselves, especially in pawn shops and other secondhand gun stores. However, all Glocks come with 3 safe action systems to prevent such things.

These include:

Trigger Safety

A lever blocks the hammer from moving backward unless deliberate pressure is placed on the trigger. 

Firing Pin Safety

A mechanism automatically reengages a firing pin channel to block it from moving rearwards unless you’re ready to fire.

Drop Safety

This mechanism engages the safety ramp inside the trigger mechanism to release or block the firing pin. It automatically engages when you take your finger off the trigger. It also prevents your Glock from going off when you drop it accidentally.  

Is It Safe to Carry a Glock with a Round in the Chamber?

Yes, it’s perfectly fine to carry a Glock with a round in the chamber.

Most people worry about the stress the loaded round puts on the trigger when in the forward position; however, the entire firing system remains under the same stress level, whether your Glock is loaded or not. 

Such people contend that it could stretch the mag spring beyond its engineered capabilities, making your Glock go off with a little pressure. However, Glocks have been around for decades and there’s no evidence to support such a conclusion. 

Can I Fire A Glock While Underwater?

Glocks of various calibers can fire underwater because their firing mechanisms fit inside the body of the gun. However, as Edwin Sarkissian shows in his YouTube videos demos, your accuracy will depend on your targeted distance and choice of ammunition, i.e., full metal jackets, federal hollow points, etc.

Why Do Glocks Have 2 Triggers?

Engaging and pulling the first trigger fires your Glock. The inset trigger prevents a holstered Glock from going off, and effectively prevents you from accidentally discharging your handgun.

How Fast Can I Fire My Glock?

Most Glocks are semi-automatic with a short recoil with no measured fired rate. Glocks of various calibers can fire at an impressive rate of 1000-1200 rounds per minute (Provided you can load it at such a rate). Such handguns can fire at a muzzle velocity of 375 m/s.

Conclusion

Dry firing most modern firearms is completely fine and is a great way to practice with your firearm. It’s also a cost-effective way to sharpen your accuracy and overall trigger discipline.

However, there are loads of gun collectors, competitive shooters, and even active/former servicemen that discourage Glock owners from dry firing their handguns.

In this age of fake news and contradictory information, I thought it would be a great idea to shed some light on the question: Is It Bad To Dry Fire A Glock?

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

To answer the question: “What Is A Centerfire Pistol?”, you must first understand that there are two main types of ammunition:

• Centerfire
• Rimfire

These ammo categorizations are based on where the firing pin hits the back of the bullet to make it fire.

A centerfire pistol is one where the firing pin strikes the center of the bullet instead of the rim. The firing cap is at the center of the bullet, which explains why the firing pin strikes the center of the bullet.

Once the pin hits the middle of the bullet, its propellant ignites and the round is fired.

The rimfire pistol, on the other hand, is where the firing pin strikes the rim of the bullet to ignite its propellant and send it into motion.

Centerfire or Rimfire: Which One to Select

If you are an avid hunter, you have most likely come across both rimfire and centerfire ammunition. To truly determine which kind of ammunition is best for your hunting adventure, you need to look into their designs and operation.

The centerfire wins in both design and function, making it the most popular type in today’s rounds.

The first advantage of the centerfire is how the gunpowder is burned evenly upon firing.

On a rimfire bullet, the powder on one end of the rim may burn faster than on the other; therefore, reducing the amount of powder that can be used in each round.

Since the centerfire is struck in the middle, it is assured that all the powder will ignite and burn evenly.

The second advantage to the centerfire is that it can be made with thicker cartridges.

With rimfire, the edge of the cartridge must be struck for it to fire, which weakens the cartridge wall.

For a successful firing, the cartridge wall needs to be thin to ensure the strike ignites the primer bead.

On the other hand, a centerfire round’s primer bead is removable and is the only piece that needs to be struck. This allows designers to make the cartridge walls as thick as possible, allowing more powder and bigger bullets.

The last advantage of the centerfire is that the cartridge is left intact after firing, making it available for reuse.

The cartridge of a centerfire round remains in one form because the primer is self-contained and removable. If you have the tools needed to reload your rounds, you can save your cartridges and use them multiple times.

The Centerfire and Rimfire Also Differ In Terms Of Functionality

In addition to design, you must also consider the functionality of the pistol’s rounds, which will determine your user experience.

The first crucial difference between the centerfire and the rimfire is reliability.

Centerfire rounds have separate self-contained primers built for one function only–making them more reliable and less likely to misfire.

On the other hand, a rimfire rounds’ primer bead is built into its casing, making it more likely to have issues at the manufacturing stage, often leading to misfires.

This difference in reliability is why people use centerfire rounds for the military and self-defense, and rimfire rounds for hunting and practice. Everyone can agree that in both the military and self-defense, the round is required to fire every single time.

A second distinction in functionality is accuracy.

When it comes to accuracy, both rimfire and centerfire have their pros and cons.

Rimfire rounds are generally smaller and carry less powder. This means the recoil from a rimfire will be less than a centerfire, and less recoil can help with the following:

• the user may flinch less as the level of recoil they anticipate is reduced
• recoil is also known to make the second and third shots less accurate because the explosion will pull the barrel off target, causing the user to have to realign the pistol for each shot.

Due to reduced recoil, the rimfire may be deemed more accurate. However, the lack of recoil may be due to reduced power and a lighter bullet, making long-distance shots more difficult.

Due to reduced powder and therefore less propulsion, the round will travel slower and drop more over longer distances.

Lighter bullets can also be affected by crosswinds. Firing such a shot over 100 yards will show the winds clearly taking the bullet up to 6 inches from its initial path. Therefore, for longer distances, the best round is the centerfire.

The last element of functionality is how the round type affects the design of the gun.

On a single-shot gun, there is no difference in reloading. However, on semi-automatic rifles, there is a significant difference arising from the kind of round used. Centerfire rifles use the force generated by escaping gases upon igniting the powder to reload the round.

Rimfire pistols, on the other hand, rely on the small amount of recoil generated by the round to reload, making their operation less complex. When it comes to guns, simplicity is often the better option.

Differences between the Centerfire and Rimfire Cartridge for Hunting

If you are hunting small game, rimfire ammunition may be the best option. For example, the rimfire .22 rounds are inexpensive and have less recoil, making them good enough for hunting rabbits and squirrels.

If you are hunting larger game, you need to consider your proficiency as the rimfire rounds will greatly reduce your chances of success. A well-placed shot with a rimfire can take down a larger animal, but to increase your chances of success, save the rimfire rounds for smaller animals.

The other factor to consider is the bullet quality. Rimfire bullets are made with thinner, weaker metals so that they fracture and spread upon impact.

This will work well for smaller game, but not for the thick hides of larger animals.

Although there are centerfire rounds for small game, they are more expensive. Instead, use centerfire rounds for larger game, where the power, speed, and accuracy will significantly boost your chances of taking down an animal.

Centerfire Vs. Rimfire for concealed carry

Centerfire is generally recommended for concealed carry because larger rounds mean more stopping power. It’s often said that a .380 is the smallest caliber that you should even think about carrying for self defense.

However, you have to choose a gun you will carry consistently and have the most accurate aim with.

If the only round you can handle is a .22 rimfire, then choose that gun and carry it every day (Just remember to find proper defense ammo).

Personally, I carry the Ruger LCP, which is chambered in .380. Since I have to tuck in my shirt at work, I can easily slip this little gun in my front pocket.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —