Shooting sports including, hunting, target shooting, or competition shooting, may all use similar firearms, but the ammunition may not be the same. Rifle ammunition is available in many variations of the same caliber for very different uses. 

Rifle Hunting

When you are using your rifle for hunting, the type of game you are pursuing can play a significant role in the rifle ammo you choose. While you must use a specific caliber of ammunition to fit your rifle, the amount of gun powder in the cartridge and the bullet design can be very different. 

Some cartridges are designed with heavy bullets and offer a lot of energy transfer to the target, while others are lighter, so they fly further and faster. The size of the game, the distance you are shooting, and the weather conditions can all play a role in which rifle ammo works best for you. 

Many hunters will purchase different ammunition varieties and experiment with them until they find the best ammo for their firearm, but ask at the local gun shop and choose ammo that works for your situation if you are unsure what you need. 

Target Shooting 

When you are taking your rifle to the gun range for some target practice, the rifle ammo your choose should be similar to the ammo you will use for hunting. If you are not a hunter and only shoot your rifle at targets, you can use any ammunition that fits your firearm and will do the job. 

Some target shooters buy inexpensive ammunition to save only, but lower quality ammo can affect the accuracy of the firearm and can cause jams in the rifle action. The gun powder in the cartridge may also leave more residue inside the rifle, causing the action to stick and jam. 

Using higher-quality ammunition may mean you buy fewer boxes, but you will have a better shooting experience with higher-quality ammunition from a reputable manufacturer. 

Competition Shooting

If you are a competition shooter, the rifle ammo you choose should be match-grade ammunition, made to exciting standards. This ammo is the best on the market, and each cartridge coming out of the box should be the same. The bullet weight, the amount of gunpowder used, and the primer used are all very specific to ensure the round fires and are accurate every time you pull the trigger. 

Match-grade ammo is the best way to measure the accuracy of your rifle because any variation in the target strikes is not related to ammo differences. The rifle or the shooter may have changed, but the rifle ammo is the same every time. If you are competing in a target shooting contest, spend the money on match-grade rifle ammo because there is little doubt the person you are shooting against did.  

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