Bullets are, by far, the most common type of ammunition. Small arms calibers range from .17 up to .50. Airguns and BB guns use a .177 caliber bullet. 38 Special Ammo is one of the most popular in use in the United States. Despite its name, it's actually a .357 caliber bullet (the .38" refers to the approximate diameter of the loaded brass case). Because this ammunition works in 357 revolvers, more shooters are opting for it due to the cost savings and reduced recoil (in Europe it is known by its metric designation 9×29mmR).
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You might be surprised to learn that people from different walks in life are interested in ammunition - from bear hunters to full-time experts in ballistics, forensics, metallurgy, chemistry, and manufacturing disciplines. Obviously, there's the current and former law enforcement and military professionals. Those not engaged in the active use of firearms include historians (particularly of the Civil War) and hobbyists interested in the evolution of ammunition, and the amazing variety of creative designs that have been tried.
Building a collection of militaria and weaponry is some people's hobby, rather than being active hunters or shooters. Since the end of the Second World War a great many surplus military rifles have been imported and sold in the United States. A few models are still being imported as various militaries around the world, particularly in the smaller nations, clean out their reserve stocks of obsolete rifles.
Hunters favor a range of rifles with the New England Firearms Handi-Rifle being one of the most popular (though it can be hard to source due to that popularity). New rifles can be quite expensive and it's worth your time to check if there are used firearms for sale either online of in your local gun stores.
Traditionally, when you wanted to buy ammunition, you'd visit your local gun store. Of course, these days you have the option of getting ammo for sale online. But you need to be sure you know what it is you're looking for. There's more to buying ammo online than simply looking for the cheapest prices. Other factors should be considered so you're certain you'll get precisely what you require - the type of ammo you require is determined by what you intend to shoot or hunt.
You also need to think about how much ammunition you require. Find a source, such as military surplus ammunition, where you can get replacement stocks easily of the same ammunition so you don't end up switching types and having to head down to the target range to sight in the new ammunition. Zeroing in a rifle takes time and ammunition isn't that cheap, even if you're buying surplus ammo. So save yourself some time and money.
Military surplus ammunition is, essentially, the ammo that the various armed forces (Marine Corps, Army and Navy) have an excess of. In the past, it also included ammunition that soldiers returned home with when they were discharged, and then later sold. Now, such things are more rigorously controlled and ammunition and weapons must be handed back before a soldier leaves military life. Military surplus ammunition is one of the most popular types of ammunition simply because the cost savings are usually pretty decent when compared to the prices offered by hunting and outdoor specialty stores and more generic large sporting stores.
Surplus ammunition isn't just limited to the U.S. forces, however - it can also come from outside the U.S. An example of that is the cartridge first used in the SKS carbine by the Soviet Union in the Second World War - the 7.62x39mm rifle cartridge.
Do a bit of research online when looking at the price of ammo and availability and keep in mind that the cheapest solution isn't always the best. Doing the research will save you money and time in the long run.
LONG-TERM GUN STORAGE
When putting a gun away for long-term storage I do not lubricate it entirely, but apply only a light coat of lubricant to the exterior. The reason for not lubricating the working parts is that grease and lubricating oils have a way of creeping around where they're not supposed to be, especially if temperatures fluctuate in your storage area. For example, a lube applied to the bolt of an auto loading shotgun may find its way into the fire-control system or even seep into the stock. So save your lubricating chore until you're ready to use the gun again and put the lube where it's supposed to be.
There are many good metal preservatives on the market, so take your pick. Some of the new high-tech preservatives that leave a micro-film on the metal are nice if you don't like a greasy look. Apparently they work as well as they claim. Call me old-fashioned, but I like to see the preservative on the metal, which is why I usually use such old-time favorites as Birchwood-Casey's Sheath or RIG grease.
I cut pieces of a shammy into hand-sized wiping patches and load it with the preservatives. A quick wipe-down with the shammy leaves a satisfyingly visible coating on the metal. I do this not just for storage but every time a rusting gun has been handled. Salty fingerprints are a gun's number-one enemy.
Do not store guns in fabric or leather cases or in their original cardboard boxes, as they attract moisture. This is why, whenever possible, you should store guns so that dry air circulates around them.
One of the best investments a gun owner can make is buying a new Gun Safe. Not only does it provide reasonably good protection from theft, but it keeps guns out of the reach of curious young hands and provides a ventilated environment for uncased firearms. Gun Safes come with either combination or electronic locks and multiple locking points for greater security. In addition some safes will have certified fire endurance test results that exceed the average heat intensity of a house fire.
If you already own a Gun safe, or plan to buy one, a smart accessory is an electric heating element. Actually, even a light bulb will do. The trick is to put the heat source at the bottom of the safe so that the warm, dry air gun store rises and flows continuously around your guns.
In my own gun room, I follow the 65/65 rule for temperature and humidity, which is just about ideal for gun keeping. A heating element is also an excellent idea for traditional closed-door gun cabinets.
The best rule for safe gun keeping is to use simple common sense. One final tip when
storing your guns with their muzzles down ensures that any muzzle lube will make its way out of the muzzle rather than into the fire control system or the stock.