A practical identification and safety checklist for old, inherited or unknown ammunition: preserve the packaging, check lot numbers, inspect condition and verify official recalls.
Boxer and Berdan primers use different anvil and flash-hole arrangements. Learn the identification clues, what headstamps can tell you, and why primer type is not the same as corrosive…
CCI sells both Blazer Brass and aluminum-cased Blazer ammunition. Learn how the case materials differ, how to identify the product, and which details are separate from caliber and bullet…
Decode common ammunition manufacturer abbreviations including FC, WIN, R-P, S&B, PPU and GFL, and learn why commercial brand codes differ from military arsenal markings.
Learn what ammunition lot numbers mean, where manufacturers print them, how they differ from product numbers and headstamps, and how to check official recall notices.
9mm Luger, 9x19 and 9mm Parabellum are recognized names for the same basic cartridge. Here is why the names differ and which other 9mm cartridges are not interchangeable.
Who actually makes Browning-branded ammunition? A sourced guide to the Browning–Winchester ammunition partnership, the modern brand launch, product categories, licensing, packaging and…
A reference guide to the .30-06 Springfield cartridge: what the name means, historical origin, SAAMI dimensions, common bullet-weight categories, headstamps, and how it differs from similar…
How to identify Sellier & Bellot headstamps, what S&B means, what caliber markings can and cannot tell you, and how to verify loose or older ammunition safely.
A reference guide to Sellier & Bellot ammunition, including company history, Czech manufacturing, S&B headstamps, product families, standards, and how to identify boxes and cartridges.
Learn what every major ammo-box field means: cartridge designation, grain weight, projectile type, velocity claims, package quantity, product number, lot number, warning text, UPC and…
How to decode an ammunition manufacturer catalog: cartridge names, product families, bullet abbreviations, grain weight, velocity columns, package quantities, SKUs, catalog numbers and…
A safety-first visual and packaging checklist for remanufactured ammunition: how to verify labeling, condition, lot information, case damage, seating abnormalities, corrosion, and when to…
A plain-English explanation of factory-new, remanufactured, reloaded and once-fired ammunition, including labeling, warranty considerations, condition, and how to compare products without…
A guide to ammunition product identifiers: manufacturer catalog numbers, SKUs, item numbers, symbols, lot numbers, UPCs and why each code answers a different question.
A neutral reference comparison of .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester covering cartridge dimensions, history, common bullet weights, rifle-action length, recoil context, availability…
Learn how SAAMI and C.I.P. differ in standards, proof systems, cartridge naming and pressure measurement, and why their published values should not be mixed casually.
Best 7.62x39 ammo for AK, SKS, and other rifles: brass vs steel case, bullet types, bulk picks, and how much to stock.
Best 6.5 Creedmoor ammo by use: match loads, hunting bullets, practice ammo, and how to test loads in your precision rifle.
Best 5.56 and .223 ammo: M193 vs M855 green tip, .223 range loads, chamber safety, and bulk picks for AR-15 owners.
Best .45 ACP ammo by use: 230gr FMJ range loads, defensive hollow points, 1911 feeding tips, and bulk buying for .45 pistols.
Best .45-70 ammo: trapdoor-safe vs modern lever loads, bullet choices for lever guns, hunting picks, and safety rules for older rifles.
Best .40 S&W ammo: 165gr vs 180gr, defensive hollow points, range loads, and how to feed a .40 pistol affordably in 2026.
Best 300 Blackout ammo: subsonic for suppressed shooting, supersonic range loads, hunting picks, cycling tips, and chamber safety.
Best 10mm ammo by use: defensive hollow points, woods and bear carry loads, practice ammo, and how to choose 10mm for your pistol.