12 Best AR-15 Ammo Picks (2026): 5.56 NATO & .223 Rem Tested
The 12 best AR-15 ammo picks for 2026 across home defense, hunting, match and range use, with published barrel cut-down velocity data and live pricing on every load.
Ammo
Our ammunition guides cover popular calibers for handguns, rifles, and shotguns, with a focus on availability, performance, and value. We break down defensive ammo, training rounds, hunting loads, and bulk options so you know what to buy for how you actually shoot.
Best .380 ACP Ammo (2026): Self Defense & Range Tested
The best .380 ACP ammo for self defense and range use in 2026, ranked on measured ballistic gel data. Hornady Critical Defense, SIG V-Crown, Federal HST Micro and 14 more, with the full 20-load penetration table.
Best .45 ACP Ammo (2026): Self Defense & Range Tested
The 16 best .45 ACP loads for 2026 across self defense, duty and range use, each with live pricing and verified manufacturer velocity and energy figures.
Best .308 Ammo (2026): Hunting, Home Defense & Range
The 14 best .308 Winchester loads for 2026 across hunting, match and practice, with a game-matching table, verified manufacturer ballistics and the .308 vs 7.62×51 NATO difference explained.
Best .22 LR Ammo (2026): Hunting & Target Tested
The 15 best .22 LR ammo loads for 2026, covering hunting, target shooting, bulk plinking and suppressed use. CCI Mini-Mag, Federal Champion, Eley Tenex and CCI Quiet-22, with a full verified spec comparison.
Best 9mm Ammo for Self Defense and Range (2026)
The 10 best 9mm ammo loads for self defense and range in 2026. Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense and more, with independent ballistic gel penetration and expansion data for every defensive pick.
The Kinetic Group Sweeps All Four FBI 5.56mm Rifle Ammo Categories
The Kinetic Group swept all four FBI 5.56mm rifle ammunition categories in a single $77.4 million award, with Federal taking three loads and Remington one.
AAC Ammo Is Now PSA Ammo: Inside the Rebrand and Its 3 New Lines
Palmetto State Armory rebrands its AAC ammunition as PSA Ammo, launching the Guardsman, Sabre, and Mixtape lines with lot-level test data on every box.
Colorado’s New Ammo Law: Age 21 to Buy Rifle & Shotgun Rounds
Colorado’s HB25-1133 took effect July 1, 2026, raising the age to buy rifle and shotgun ammunition to 21 and adding ID checks on deliveries.