Deer hunters are constantly wanting outstanding terminal performance from their rifles, slug guns, handguns and muzzleloaders to effectively and quickly put a buck or doe on the ground.
Whether you’re chasing big bucks in Iowa or helping with doe management in Alabama, you want to make sure you’re feeding your gun the best ammunition. Today’s options have far greater technical engineering, performance powder, tighter tolerances and years of testing. For example, the new Winchester Deer Season XP has been in testing for almost two years with nearly 200 whitetails accounted for. Winchester’s ammo gurus wanted to be sure the new tip and load was right.
Check out some of the new deer hunting ammunition introduced at the 2015 Shot Show, with availability now or later this summer from retailers:
Hornady American Whitetail Rifled Slugs
Designed for smooth-bore barrels, Hornady American Whitetail Rifled Slugs are loaded with a 1-ounce foster style slug. The hollow point style slug features a tough, lead alloy core loaded to 1,600 feet per second. The compression style wad protects the slug at ignition and helps to seal the bore for maximum velocity. Features include:
- Rifled slug for smooth-bore barrels
- 12 gauge 1-ounce rifled, foster style slug
- Hollow point, tough lead-alloy core
- 1,600 feet per second
Federal Premium Vital•Shok Trophy Copper
Federal Premium has breathed life into the venerable 30-30 Win. cartridge with a new Trophy Copper rifle load. Like the entire Vital-Shok Trophy Copper line, the polymer-tipped offering provides devastating downrange performance.
It features a tipped bullet cavity for consistent expansion across a broad range of velocities, a grooved bullet shank for increased accuracy across a wider range of firearms, and copper-alloy construction that achieves up to 99 percent weight retention—even after tremendous expansion. The nickel-plated case prevents corrosion and aids in easier, faster extraction from the chamber.
Features include a tipped bullet cavity optimized for expansion across a broad velocity range and a grooved bullet shank for increased accuracy across a wide range of firearms.
American Eagle .338 Lapua
American Eagle ammunition offers consistent, accurate performance at a price that’s perfect for high-volume shooting. For 2015, the product line has expanded to include the popular 338 Lapua Magnum. The load features a 250-grain jacketed soft point bullet in a reloadable Federal brass case. Like all American Eagle products, the 338 Lapua Magnum boasts outstanding reliability and accuracy thanks to Federal primers and a uniform bullet jacket.
The load features a 250-grain jacketed soft point bullet, reloadable Federal brass case, consistent Federal primers, uniform bullet jacket, reliable feeding and function, and is perfect for high-volume shooting.
Deer Season XP combines decades of Winchester experience into the perfect choice for deer hunting ammunition. Accuracy, combined with massive bullet impact performance means that Deer Season XP is a great choice for all deer hunters. The large diameter polymer tip accelerates bullet expansion for rapid trauma upon impact, while the streamlined ballistic profile optimizes the bullet’s downrange performance. This load was built specifically for deer hunting and taking down big bucks.
in coming up with a design for the new bullet, the engineers kept returning to the venerable .30-30, a bullet with a large meplat, or in more simpler terms, a large, flat frontal diameter that hits hard and instantly transfers an abundance of system-shocking knockdown power. In the end, Deer Season XP’s key feature is it’s large-diameter bullet, similar to a .30-30 bullet, but with a polymer tip for a better ballistic-coefficient.
The bullet expands immediately upon impact delivering significant energy that should buckle—and if properly hit, virtually anchor—any deer. According to information to appear in Winchester’s 2015 product catalog, the “Extreme Point bullet features an oversized impact diameter. A bigger impact diameter means more impact trauma, better energy transfer and larger wound cavities for faster knockdown.” In the end, that means deer won’t travel far after being hit making them much easier to find, particularly in thick cover. It’s something every deer hunter is sure to appreciate; and something nearly every one will be counting the days until it is on their local store’s shelves.
Initial offerings will include loads for .243 Win., .270 Win., .270 WSM, 7mm Rem. Mag., .30-06 Sprg., .308 Win., .300 Win. Mag. and .300 WSM.
Trophy® Copper Muzzleloader Bullets with B.O.R. Lock MZ™ System from Federal Premium® are designed to maximize the effectiveness of modern, in-line muzzleloaders. Blackpowder shooters across the nation are now redefining accuracy and performance with this bullet that delivers 200-yard accuracy in a non-sabot bullet design that is easy to load, scrubs fouling from the breech and ensures consistent seating.
The bullet’s exclusive B.O.R. Lock MZ System features an expanding and permanently attached polymer base cup that is forced onto a raised band along the bullet shank. Upon ignition, the polymer base cup expands its diameter to engage the rifling and seal the bore for increased velocity and accuracy. The rear of the B.O.R. Lock MZ cup with its hard, fiber-reinforced polymer ring scours fouling from the breech when the bullet is loaded into the breech. This reduces the need to clean between shots and helps ensure that the bullet is seated at the same depth for every shot.
With no bulky sabot in the way, Trophy Copper bullets require half of the loading force of most sabots, require less cleaning and are approved for hunting in most areas. See video of the projectile in action here.
Like other projectiles in the proven Trophy Copper line, the copper-alloy bullet features a polymer tip with a deep, hollow cavity and skiving that allows for consistent, devastating expansion and maximum weight retention. With its high ballistic coefficient, the bullets produce flatter trajectories and less wind drift to increase maximum effective range in the field.
SIG SAUER, Inc., designer and manufacturer of the world’s most reliable firearms, accessories, and ammunition, continues to expand its Elite Performance Ammunition line with the introduction of two new 10mm options – a 180gr 10mm Elite Performance V-Crown™ Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) and a 180gr Elite Performance Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) premium target load.
The 10mm Elite Performance V-Crown JHP is an extremely accurate load delivering consistent expansion. A distinct advantage of the SIG V-Crown is the toothed cannelure located halfway up the shank of the bullet. Its location more effectively locks the jacket and lead/alloy core, providing exceptional structural integrity in a jacketed bullet. This design ensures maximum weight retention and energy on impact. The proprietary SIG V-Crown stacked hollow point bullet design, along with the V-shaped jacket skives, aids in providing controlled, uniform expansion. DUCTA–BRIGHT 7A™ coated brass cases also provide enhanced lubricity, offering superior corrosion resistance, and more reliable feeding and extraction in semi-automatic pistols.
“We are pleased to add this accurate, powerful round to our Elite Performance Ammunition line,” said Bud Fini, vice president of marketing for SIG SAUER. “The 10mm caliber with our proprietary 180-grain SIG V-Crown bullet is a great load for hunting mid-sized game and an ideal round for self-defense. And for target shooters, we now offer a 180gr 10mm Elite Performance FMJ round.”
Want to Know What Your Shot Does to a Deer?
Find out what happens when you shoot a deer with this incredible Shot Simulator, which allows you to peel back layers of the deer’s body. Then you can find out what happens to the bones, muscles and vital organs — or see what happens if you goob up the shot! — and then learn more about making better, effective and ethical killing shots. Check it out here …