February 28, 2014
By Tom Austin
It's no secret that ammo for your favorite predator or varmint rifle has been difficult — and oftentimes impossible — to obtain. Believe it or not, no one is more aware of this situation than ammunition manufacturers. They want to produce the ammo just as bad as we, the consumer, want to use it.
Despite their unprecedented work loads for production, the ammunition manufacturers haven't been resting on their laurels. Just the opposite, in fact. Here are just a few of the best predator ammo offerings for 2014, all designed to make the fastest growing sport in the U.S. that much more enjoyable.
Whether your quarry is the wily coyote, the destructive feral hog or the much debated gray wolf , there's an ammo offering perfect for your needs. So, in the words of the American patriot Frank Loesser, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition."
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Black Hills Ammunition Speaking of Barnes Bullets, the legendary
Black Hills has partnered with Barnes to bring 5.56 shooters another quality choice with the Optimized 62-grain Triple Shock (TSX) load. Designed for use in all rifles with a 1/9'' twist rate and faster, including short barreled rifles, it's flash suppressed for use in low light situations, making it a great choice for night hunters and spotlighters.
This load opens up immediately upon impact to over .50 caliber and penetrates to 20 inches in ballistic gel, while creating a wound channel over 5 inches in diameter. This 5.56mm ammunition is loaded to pressures higher than commercial .223 ammunition in order to provide maximum performance and should be used only in suitably chambered firearms. Staggering velocities of 3,100 fps have been recorded with 1,323 foot-pounds of energy.
Although not necessarily fur friendly, you won't have to worry about tracking any predator you connect with.
Federal Premium Ammunition Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) represent the most versatile class of firearms in history, handling everything from tactical to competition, coyotes to elk. The
Fusion MSR comes to us in four different calibers for your AR. Two for the smaller framed AR-15 and two for the larger AR-10 or LR308.
The .223 Remington comes loaded with a 62-grain Fusion bullet providing velocities of 2,750 fps at the muzzle, delivering 1,041 foot-pounds of energy. A 6.8 SPC round is also available with a 115-grain Fusion bullet offering 2,470 fps and 1,550 foot-pounds at the muzzle. The .308 Win. is topped with 150-grain Fusion bullet at a velocity of 2,770 fps and 2,555 foot-pounds of energy, and the .338 Federal harbors a whopping 185-grain Fusion delivering 2,680 fps worth of velocity and 2,950 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.
After all, when you're hunting the largest land predators in the country, size does matter.
Hornady Ammunition Opening day only comes once a year. Make sure you're ready when the one you've been waiting for steps out by loading-up with
Hornady ammunition. The latest offerings for your predator slayer are here. Available in .204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .243 Win., .308 Win., or a slew of others, you'll have plenty of knock-down power with these proven combinations.
Whether you settle on the traditional
V-Max or
Superformance ammo, your quarry doesn't stand a chance. These fur friendly offerings will amount to less time with a needle and thread come fur sale time as well.
Winchester Ammunition Winchester jumped on board recently after receiving demands for better performing ammo on North America's fastest growing nuisance animal, wild hogs. The
Razorback XT is now available in five different centerfire calibers, three of which are popular hog rifle choices. The Razorback XT drives through thick hide and bones, delivering lethal impact on even the toughest boars.
The .223 Rem. touts velocities of 3,020 fps at the muzzle with 1,296 foot-pounds of energy. The .308 Win. launches at 2,810 fps delivering 2,629 foot-pounds and the 7.62x39mm sends out a message at 2,365 fps delivering 1,527 foot-pounds at the muzzle. Hogs beware, these new offerings from Winchester are a game changer.
Another project over at Winchester headquarters is the new
Winchester Varmint X . This newly designed, polymer-tipped bullet provides high ballistic coefficients while also delivering the necessary accuracy and fragmentation needed for knocking down wary predators or pesky varmints. This 'Extreme On Predators ' cartridge is offered in .204 Ruger, .223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., and 243 Win. Surely you have something in your gun safe in one or more of these calibers.
Barnes Ammunition Although
Barnes VOR-TX rifle ammo isn't necessarily new, it's been making huge headlines since it's debut. Available in .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem. and .243 Win., just to name a few. My favorite hog hunting bullet, the .300 AAC Blackout, produces velocities of 2,400 fps for the 110-grain, polymer-tipped bullet delivering 1,407 foot-pounds of energy.
Even with short barrel rifles, this bullet has shown to provide as much as 20 plus inches of penetration out to 300 yards. The all-copper construction provides consistent terminal performance, making it an excellent choice for medium sized predators and hogs alike. Also, coming soon is an exciting new 120-grain Black Tip offering for the .300 Blackout. If I'm chasing big cats or wolves, my .260. Rem gets the nod. A 120-grain Barnes TTSX at nearly 3,000 fps will stop any 100-pound plus toothy creature in its tracks.
Wolf Premium Ammo Most of you have heard of or even shot
Wolf ammo at some time in your life. For years they've been the leader in inexpensive steel cased rounds featuring a bi-metal bullet. While they still offer this cheap alternative to the higher-end ammo, they have also included high quality ammo to the fold as well with their
Wolf Premium Ammo Gold line.
The new ammo features premium brass, reloadable cases with the excellent accuracy and expansion of hollow point, and soft point copper bullets for hunting. They offer several calibers to chose from with my favorite being the .223 Remington 75-grain Match Hollow Point bullet at a respectable 2,750 fps at the muzzle.
These new high quality options from wolf are sure to have you howling with excitement.
