Picking your first rifle round can feel overwhelming.
Walk into your local gun store and you’ll find rows upon rows of ammunition boxes with seemingly random numbers and letters. .223. .308. 6.5 Creedmoor. 5.56 NATO. What do they all stand for? And, more importantly, which one should you be buying?
The good news?
After learning the basics of a few rounds, everything will start to click. Visiting the range to shoot at targets or preparing for your first hunt can be simplified with this guide. Learn about the most common rifle rounds every beginner should know.
Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
What’s Inside This Guide:
- Why Rifle Rounds Matter
- Top Rifle Rounds Every Beginner Should Know
- Steel Cased Ammo vs Brass Cased Ammo Explained
- Matching the Round to the Job
Why Rifle Rounds Matter
Not all rifle rounds are created equal.
Each has their strengths. Some are built to punch paper at the range. Others hunt big game. Then there are guns that do just a little bit of both.
Sales of rifle ammo have been crazy hot recently. Shootingsportsretailer.com reports that ammunition shipments were up 23% during the first quarter of 2024 over the same period the previous year. This equates to more people than ever picking up a rifle and starting to shoot.
Here we go: bullet weight influences recoil and effective range. Choose incorrectly and you may spend money on ammo that isn’t useful to your needs.
That’s why beginners should start with the basics before jumping into anything too specialized.
Top Rifle Rounds Every Beginner Should Know
Okay, let’s divide up the rounds that most beginners find themselves shooting.
.22 Long Rifle (.22 LR)
The .22 LR has been the traditional beginner cartridge. It’s inexpensive, quiet, and extremely recoil-free.
Perfect for:
- Learning the basics of marksmanship
- Small game hunting (rabbits, squirrels)
- Casual plinking at the range
For less than a nice dinner you can purchase a brick containing 500 rounds. This is why it’s popular for instructing new shooters as well as introducing kids to firearms safely.
.223 Remington / 5.56 NATO
We are now entering into the most popular centerfire rifle round in America. The .223 is the cartridge utilized by the AR-15 platform and just about every other semi-auto sport rifle.
If you are just starting with centerfire rifles, 223 Remington ammo is one of the simplest and least expensive rounds to begin your journey with. There are loads available in every configuration you can think of — even cheap steel cased ammo so you can save at the range and not have to sacrifice any precious trigger time.
The .223 works great for:
- Target shooting
- Varmint hunting
- Home defense (with the right ammo)
.308 Winchester
The .308 is the “do-it-all” round for beginners who want serious performance.
It’s the cartridge the U.S. military has been shooting for generations, and it hits hard. The .308 Winchester was voted by 16.5% of surveyed hunters as their favorite hunting cartridge in a recent poll. This was overall second most popular round.
Use it for:
- Deer, elk and hog hunting
- Long-range target shooting
- Precision rifle competitions
6.5 Creedmoor
The new kid on the block that everyone is talking about.
The 6.5 Creedmoor has dominated the long range shooting game recently. It shoots flatter than a .308, but also recoils much less. That also makes it ideal for new shooters wanting to shoot long distances without beating themselves out of the box.
.30-06 Springfield
An oldie but a goodie.
The .30-06 has fed families since 1906. From deer to elk to bear, this cartridge can do it all. If you are looking for a jack of all trades rifle, the .30-06 will be tough to beat.
Steel Cased Ammo vs Brass Cased Ammo Explained
Here’s something that trips up a lot of new shooters…
Steel cased ammo is why some boxes of ammo are significantly cheaper than others.
The nutshell version: Steel cased ammo has a steel casing rather than a brass casing. Steel is cheaper to produce than brass. So steel cased ammo tends to be cheaper which makes it ideal for high volume range days where you plan on shooting lots of rounds.
The benefits of steel cased ammo:
- Costs significantly less than brass ammo
- Great for training and plinking
- Widely available in popular calibers like .223 and 7.62×39
The drawbacks:
- Can’t be reloaded like brass cases
- May cause more wear on some rifles
- Not always allowed at every range
The majority of new shooters fire steel cased ammo for plinking and reserve brass ammo for hunting or when serious target practice is needed. That is a wise way to economize without compromising performance when it matters.
Disclaimer: Some rifles function better with steel cased ammo than others. Consult your rifle manufacturer’s recommendations prior to shoving all that steel downrange through the chamber.
Matching the Round to the Job
Different rounds are designed to fulfill different purposes. Choosing the correct round will save you money and help you become a better shot.
For the Range
As a beginner, purchase inexpensive and low recoil rounds. Some good examples would be the .22 LR and .223 Remington. They are both very affordable and allow you to shoot all day without hurting your wallet or shoulder.
Steel cased ammo performs best in this application. Days at the range = high volume shooting and lower priced ammo equals more time on the trigger.
For Small Game
Small game such as rabbits and squirrels require little power. Rabbits are plenty small enough for the .22 LR. Coyotes and other varmints will do fine with a step up to the .223 or .22-250.
For Big Game
Big game hunting can lack stop power. Enter the .308, .30-06 and 6.5 Creedmoor. These cartridges possess terminal energy high enough to ethically harvest deer, elk and larger game.
Match the round to the animal:
- Deer: .243, .270, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor
- Elk: .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag
- Bear: .30-06, .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua
For Long Range
Looking to shoot targets out at 500+ yards? Your best bet is going to be a 6.5 Creedmoor or .308. The ballistics allow for easy reaching shots due to flat trajectory and low recoil.
Rounding It Out
Choosing your first rifle round doesn’t have to be complicated.
Begin with fundamentals. Practice popular service rounds. Also keep in mind that steel cased ammunition can save you money at the range when you are just training.
Here’s a quick recap:
- Start with .22 LR to learn the basics
- Move up to .223 Remington for your first centerfire fun
- Grab a .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting or long range
- Use steel cased ammo to save money at the range
Whether you are target shooting or hunting whitetails, choosing the correct ammunition is key. Educate yourself on what ammunition suits your needs and you will see improvement quickly.
Now grab some ammo and get out there!
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