Handgun and Rifle Ammunition

Higher purpose training recommends that you train with factory new, brass cased, full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition in handguns and most rifles. Certain rifles such as AK-style rifles were designed to run steel case ammunition, so we recommend you run steel case ammunition in those platforms. If you would like to shoot some defensive ammunition to test how it functions, we allow hollow point ammunition in our classes.

 

We do allow you to use remanufactured brass ammunition at your own risk. Quality control in factory remanufactured ammunition is hit-and-miss. We also allow you to shoot aluminum-cased ammunition. 

 

We do not allow reloaded ammunition regardless of if you reloaded it or someone else did. There is no way to guarantee the quality control and safety of reloaded ammunition. We have witnessed reloaded ammunition cause catastrophic failure and injuries and we will not take that risk. 

 

We do not allow incendiary ammunition as it can cause fires. It is not allowed any of the ranges that host us. 

 

We do not allow ammunition with bi-metal projectiles. This is because we will sometimes shoot on steel in our classes. Bi-metal projectiles can ricochet when they impact steel targets, causing sparks, which can cause fires, or ricochet and cause injuries. Most steel-cased handgun ammunition has bi-metal projectiles. This can be tested by touching the tip of the bullet to a magnet. If it sticks, we won’t allow it. 

 

We recommend that you invest in quality ammunition for your training. It will ensure that your gun runs reliably and that you will get the most value out of your training. 

 

Shotgun Ammunition

We recommend that you bring target load birdshot for most drills. This will help you learn the mechanics of running the shotgun. In our Defensive Shotgun Skills Program, we will ensure that you will get repetitions in training shooting 00 buck and slugs. You will learn how to pattern your shotgun with 00 buck and zero with slugs. 

 

You may run reduced recoil buckshot and slugs in our Defensive Shotgun Skills Program, however, unless tuned to do so, semi-automatic shotguns do not often cycle reduced recoil loads reliably.