English is a funny language, with many identical terms that mean different things. Take the word “grain” for instance. Most people hear the word and think of farms, grocery stores, and fields. But what does grain mean in ammo?
When grain is referenced in terms of ammo, it’s usually called “grain weight.” It’s basically a measurement that lets the shooter know the mass of the projectile (bullet) in the cartridge. It’s often confused with how much powder is behind the bullet.
If it makes it easier to understand, “grain” is just a term of measurement no different than other measurements used across the world, like ounces, pounds, grams, kilograms, etc. The only difference is “grain” is a measurement applied to ammunition, specifically the bullet.
What Grain is Best for Ammo
This depends on several factors and it doesn’t have much to do with personal preference. Every firearm is different, and so is every caliber. Different grains within each caliber has different effects on the velocity of the round, level of recoil, and trajectory.
If you’re just shooting at a 50-yard range for the fun of it, the grain won’t matter one way or the other. For long-range accuracy, the grain is immensely important.
Lightweight rounds
Let’s say we’re working with 9mm rounds. They’re the most popular and easily sell more than most other rounds. In most cases, the lightweight round will outperform the heavier round in terms of speed while lacking in the energy department.
The problem is, there are so many different variables at play. Lighter rounds tend to have more muzzle energy than heavier rounds, though you would think the muzzle energy of a heavier round would be higher. Speed is the separating factor, and light rounds have more speed.
Sometimes, lightweight rounds create more recoil, and sometimes they don’t. That’s where other variables come into play to explain the weird and ever-changing dynamics in bullets with different grains.
The burn rate of your propulsion matters. In other words, how fast and well the powder in your cartridge explodes. It always happens in the blink of an eye to us.
However, if we could break that process down into microseconds, there is a lifetime of difference in the burn rates between different cartridges. The brand, amount of powder, quality of the powder, and grain of the bullet all make a difference.
Heavier rounds
It’s a common misconception that a .45 must be more powerful than a .40. In some cases, that’s very true. In some cases, it’s not. When it comes to expansion and penetration, a .45 will beat out a .40 more often than not, at least at closer ranges.
That’s why heavier bullets are preferred for home defense. However, the .40 is more effective when you step outside of perhaps 25 or 30 yards. It has more speed, and no matter what the comparison between .40 and .45, a .40 still has plenty of stopping power.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the shape of the bullet, the material that goes into its construction, and its weight helps shape the overall characteristics of the round. A cheap, FMJ .45 round won’t be as effective as a hollow point, well-made .40. That’s true no matter what you’re a fan of.
Is higher or lower grain better?
It depends on what you want. Neither is inherently better, but they each have superiority in specific situations.
Lower grain
Lightweight bullets generally have more range. However, they’re more affected by things like wind. On a windy day, you’ll find your round is more affected at 100 yards + than on a calm day. Most of the time, light rounds feature less recoil, except the 9mm example above and others.
Last but not least, lighter bullets tend to lack the stopping power of heavier bullets, for obvious reasons. Again, like the above, 9mm example, this isn’t always the case.
Higher grain
With higher-grain bullets, you sacrifice speed and range for raw stopping power. Since it takes more energy to push a heavier grain, expect more recoil (again, in “most” cases). For instance, “subsonic” rounds tend to be heavier with a substantially reduced recoil.
In self-defense situations, the heavier rounds have more stopping power and more recoil, though recoil is entirely subjective, and the recoil you experience with heavier rounds is less of a “snap-back” feel, most of the time.
Does a higher-grain bullet kick more
Not necessarily. For shooters that fire a lot and experience a variety of recoil from different weapons and calibers, light grain recoil is more of a snappy effect—quick and to the point. With larger calibers, it’s more like shove or a rolling effect as the muzzle rises and naturally rolls off target before you return it.
You’ve probably seen YouTube videos where inexperienced shooters try to fire .50 Desert Eagles. They unerringly get punched in the face for their efforts. They probably wouldn’t experience that effect by firing a .22 or even a 9mm.
Despite that, a lot of shooters will tell you they experience more recoil from lower-grain rounds than they do from higher-grain.
As we mentioned above, it’s often subjective. Besides, someone with powerful forearms and excellent firing form will have an altogether different experience with recoil, over a skinny person with little experience. All that means is the shooter plays a role in this every bit as much as the cartridge.
Bottom Line
Grain is nothing more than the weight of the bullet. It has nothing to do with the cartridge, only the bullet (as in the projectile that shoots down the barrel, out the muzzle, and down range.
Having a lower-grain bullet or a heavier-grain bullet doesn’t necessarily place you at a disadvantage, as long as you are applying the round to what it’s meant for. Every time you purchase a box of ammo, the grain is clearly displayed on the front, side, or bottom of the box.
If you’re new to using and firing a gun, it’s a good idea to do some research on the various grains in your caliber. It will give you a solid understanding of the performance you should expect.
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