Can You Name These Bullets?

by
posted on June 10, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bullet_boom-box.jpg

Today’s high-performance, self-defense bullet technology is a modern alchemy … of sorts. Yes, it’s all based on real science, but it’s hard to refute the fact those engineers are changing lead (or other materials), into an accurate, weight-retaining and reliably expanding projectile with mythically golden properties at a full spectrum of velocities.

Explaining the advantages to a new shooter is a challenge for instructors and storeowners, one often addressed with photographs or a rogue sample or two. There’s a solution, now, thanks to the new Bullet Bouquets Boom Box. The kit’s advantages are obviously, particularly for concealed-carry instructors.

Just for fun, though, can you match the name of the bullet and manufacturer included to each of the expanded (upset) bullets? Calibers include 9 mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, and the answers available are Speer Gold Dot, Federal Hydra-Shok, Sig Sauer V-Crown, Hornady XTP and Barnes TAC-XPD. (Careful, answers are at bottom.) If nothing else, the up-close-and-personal image of each highlights subtle differences in each company’s secret formula.

1. 2.     3. 


4.    5. 









Answers:
1. Barnes TAC-XPD
2. Federal HydraShok
3. Hornady XTP
4. SIG V-Crown
5. Speer Gold Dot

Latest

Gforce Arms Gf9 Rapture 1
Gforce Arms Gf9 Rapture 1

Review: GForce Arms GF9 Rapture

In a market filled with Glock 19 clones, the GForce Arms GF9 Rapture decided to be a Glock 26 clone instead.

New for 2026: Rost Martin RM1F Pistols

Rost Martin offers a larger version of its RM1-series pistols with the RM1F and RM1F Tactical.

Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Hellcat in .380 ACP

Springfield's latest Hellcat chambering makes the small pistol easier to shoot.

New for 2026: Stoeger M3000 Sporting Shotgun

Stoeger adds a new sporting model to its M3000 semi-automatic shotgun line.

New for 2026: Shadow Systems Axio Pistol Platform

A duty-size handgun platform joins the Shadow Systems family of 9 mm pistols.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 30, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.