Just getting into guns? If so, there’s probably a lot of terminology you’re not familiar with yet. One piece of terminology you might be unaware of is bullet grain. 

Bullet grain essentially refers to the weight of a cartridge’s projectile. It dictates not only the way that the bullet flies but the recoil on the rifle, shooting accuracy, and more. 

Interested in learning more about bullet grain? Then read on. Here’s everything you need to know. 

What Is Bullet Grain?

Let’s start with the obvious question: what is bullet grain? Put simply, bullet grain is bullet weight. However, there’s a little more to it than that. 

See, bullet grain has nothing to do with the cartridge that the bullet was fired from. It also has nothing to do with the gunpowder that’s loaded inside of the bullet. It’s simply the weight of the projectile itself, free of cartridges and gunpowder. 

Bullet grain is often abbreviated as “gr.”. Bullet grains range from as low as 17 gr. to as high as 700 gr. 

It’s also important to note that grains are used outside of the referencing of bullet weight. In fact, the grain is the smallest unit of weight in the entire United States measurement system. As such, you’ll sometimes see it used to designate the weight of other lightweight objects. 

The Impact of Bullet Grain

Now, we’ve talked about the meaning of bullet gain. The question is: why does it matter? What is the impact of a bullet’s grain? 

Bullet grain influences a variety of characteristics, including the following: 

The Accuracy of the Shot

As you might expect, bullet grain can have an effect on the accuracy of your shots. This is particularly true of long-range shots, as even small differences in bullet weight can cause a bullet to fly off target over long distances. Short-range shots deal with this problem much less, but can still encounter it from time to time. 

Now, how exactly does bullet grain affect shot accuracy? Well, it’s a little complex. 

In flawless weather conditions, low-grain bullets fly much more accurately. This is because they’re thrown out of the gun with more power and aren’t as affected by gravity. This means that they stay on the initial line projection for much longer than high-grain bullets do. 

High-grain bullets are heavier and therefore start to sink much faster than low-grain bullets. Because of this, when using high-grain bullets for long-distance shots, you need to aim a little higher than your intended target. 

That said, there’s more to it. Let’s say that the weather conditions aren’t flawless. Let’s say that it’s a bit windy or a bit rainy.

In this case, light-grain bullets are going to be much more susceptible to going off-target. High-grain bullets, conversely, are heavier and therefore won’t be as affected by wind. 

So, when choosing a bullet grain, be mindful of what you’ll be using the bullet for. If it’s for short-range shooting, there’s not much to worry about in this department. If it’s for long-range shooting, be mindful of weather conditions and the effects of gravity. 

The Recoil of the Gun

Another area where bullet grain makes a big difference is in the recoil of the gun. Recoil refers to the way the gun jumps backwards when being fired. It’s essentially a reaction against the moving mechanisms within the gun that fire the bullet. 

Recoil matters a great deal for a number of reasons. If the amount of recoil is too substantial for the user of the gun, the user might not be able to handle it, leading to injury. In addition, too much recoil can negatively affect shooting accuracy. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you want to eliminate recoil entirely. Sometimes it’s necessary in order to have a strong enough shot. However, you do want to keep it within reason. 

Logic tells you that a higher bullet grain produces a stronger recoil. However, in fact, lower bullet grains produce a stronger recoil. 

This is because, the lighter the bullet is, the faster it has to be projected in order to produce the desired result. The faster it has to be projected, the more gunpowder it requires. It’s this increased gunpowder that results in more recoil, not the weight of the bullet itself. 

Of course, bullet grain alone doesn’t dictate the level of recoil you receive. Gun size, gun type, and a variety of other factors dictate this as well. However, it does make a difference, nonetheless. 

The Speed and Power of the Bullet

One last thing that bullet grain can influence is the speed and power of the bullet. Speed refers to the time in which it takes for the bullet to get from the barrel to the target. Power refers to the level of impact that the bullet has upon making contact. 

Put simply, low-grain bullets move at a higher speed than high-grain bullets. Conversely, high-grain bullets are more powerful than low-grain bullets. 

What’s the impact of this? Honestly, not much. See, the two opposing characteristics tend to offset each other. In other words, though low-grain bullets may not have the hitting power of high-grain bullets, their increased speed makes up for it a lot, often resulting in the same wound type. 

That said, there is one area where this can make a difference: hollow point bullets. See, hollow point bullets are designed to expand upon penetrating the target. However, in order for them to expand, they must meet their target at a fast-enough speed. This means that when using hollow points, using a lower bullet grain can be ideal. 

Choosing the Best Bullet Grain for You

We’ve discussed the impact that bullet grain can have on the quality of a shot. Now, let’s talk about which bullet grain is best for you. Let’s help you choose a bullet grain. 

Are You Hunting?

Hunting bullets must meet a variety of criteria. Not only must it travel accurately over long distances and be powerful enough to penetrate an animal’s skin, but it must also be able to expand upon impact. In short, it needs a good balance. 

This is why most hunting bullets possess between 115 and 180 grains of weight. If you’re going to be shooting from close range, anything in this range of grains will get the job done. If you’re going to be shooting from long distances, consider the weather conditions and pick accordingly. 

Are You Defending Yourself?

In self-defense situations, you want a bullet that penetrates and stops the target. However, you don’t want it to pass through the target and potentially hit an innocent bystander. 

This is why, for self-defense purposes, you should use a fairly high-grain bullet. High-grain bullets make a great impact upon contact and thus have a much better chance of piercing an internal organ. At the same time, they don’t fly as far as low-grain bullets, and so are much less likely to create an exit wound. 

We advise using a bullet between 124 and 147 grains. These are popular bullet grains for a 9mm pistol. 

Are You Shooting at Targets?

Target shooting is low-stakes fun carried out inside a controlled environment. The objective is quite simply to hit a target, usually for the purpose of having fun. As such, when target shooting, there’s no real reason to stress over bullet grain. 

The alternative, of course, is if you’re practicing for something specific. In that case, you should just use the grain that you’ll be using for that purpose. 

Are You Shooting in a Competition?

Competition shooting requires great accuracy and precision. As such, if you want to win, you have to take all negative factors into account and then work to combat them. This, of course, entails choosing the optimal bullet grain. 

When shooting competitively, you not only need to be accurate but fast as well. If you want to be as fast as possible, you need to keep recoil to a minimum. This means choosing a high-grain bullet. 

Now, the specific grain you choose is dependent on the gun you’re using. For a 9mm pistol, a 147-grain bullet is a good choice. For a 12-gauge shotgun, you would be best suited with a 180-grain bullet. 

For recommendations on other types of guns, give your local ammo seller a call. 

Bullet Grain Can Make a World of Difference

When you’re first getting into guns, bullet grain might not mean much to you. However, as you progress with your rifle or firearm, you’re going to understand more and more the difference that bullet grain makes. Use this guide to dictate your ammo choices, and you should be able to find the ammunition you’re looking for. 

Currently on the search for ammo? You’re in the right place. Diamond K Brass has a wide variety of bullets for you to choose from. 

Check out our selection of ammunition now!