Ammunition Selection & Ballistics

Selecting the right ammunition is one of the most important decisions in shooting, whether you are breaking clays at the club, stalking deer on the open hill, or working on your long-range precision. Ammunition influences not only accuracy but also legality, comfort, and the humane outcome of every shot. This archive brings together our most detailed guides to help you make informed choices and avoid costly mistakes.

Understanding calibre choice is the starting point for any rifle shooter. Our UK Calibre Guide explores the strengths of popular rounds, from the .243 Winchester for roe deer through to the .308 for larger species, as well as small-bore options for vermin and target shooting. It also explains how to balance recoil, cost, and ballistic performance while staying on the right side of UK law.

Shotgun users face a different challenge: matching shot size to quarry or discipline. The Shot Size Guide explains the often confusing numbering system and shows how No. 9 suits close clays, while larger pellets like No. 5 carry the energy needed for pheasants.

For rifle shooters pushing their skills further, bullet construction and ballistic coefficient become critical. The Long-Range Bullet Selection Guide sets out how weight, design, and consistency shape performance beyond 500 yards.

Together these guides form a foundation in ammunition knowledge that is as useful to the newcomer as it is to the experienced shot fine-tuning their performance.

From calibre choice to pellet size, from legal requirements to long-range stability, the advice in this section is designed to build confidence and improve results in the field or on the range.

Whether your goal is humane hunting, competitive clays, or stretching your rifle’s legs on distant targets, the articles below will take you deeper into the detail.