January 17, 2023
By Jace Bauserman
Federal Power-Shok 360 Buckhammer Federal's Power-Shok is a hunting legend trusted by big-game hunters from East to West and everywhere between. For 2023, Federal boosts its coveted Power-Shok line with a pair of new offerings in the all-new 360 Buckhammer. A straight-wall cartridge created for lever-action guns that promises precision beyond 200 yards, the .358-diameter, jacketed soft-point bullet delivers maximum energy with improved accuracy. Another big win of this load is it's legal in more previously slug-only areas. The Power-Shok 360 Buckhammer is available in 180-grain and 200-grain bullet offerings.
$37; federalpremium.com
Offered in a smattering of calibers for 2023, Federal gives big-game goers a match-accurate bullet that hits like a freight train and ensures effective expansion across a range of velocities, making it an excellent choice for taking big critters at any range. The nonstandard polymer tip is engineered to resist deformation, maximize ballistics and initiate extreme-range expansion. The bullet also boasts an optimized boattail, concentric copper jacket and ultra-robust shank. Like most Federal killers, this top-tier ammo utilizes nickel-plated brass and specially formulated propellant.
$53-$83; federalpremium.com
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Norma BondStrike Norma's BondStrike combines a streamlined polymer tip with a match-grade style boattail for a ballistic win that's a nightmare for big game. Designed to provide terminal performance at all distances and deliver bone-breaking force, the BondStrike bullet's thinner front-jacket expands at all ranges. Power Bonding technology ensures high residual weight and penetration. BondStrike is available in multiple caliber configurations.
$40-$74; normashooting.com
Browning Silver Series A modern version of the timeless soft-point bullet, Browning's new Silver Series utilizes proven, traditional bullet technology with a twist. Browning goes the extra mile in 2023 to modernize the classic bullet design with nickel plating to ensure maximum corrosion resistance and smooth feeding while fitting each casing with heavy-for-the-caliber projectiles that hit like a ton of bricks. Browning's Silver Series is available in many calibers and is a great choice for any big-game foray you have planned in 2023.
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$ Prices Vary; browningammo.com
Winchester Power-Point 35 Whelen & 300 Blackout Dubbed by many as the poor man's magnum, the 35 Whelen is an extremely versatile cartridge with a wide frontal area and a high bullet grain weight. Introduced in 1923, this cartridge is a perfect addition to Winchester's tried-and-true Power-Point line. With an exposed lead tip, Power-Point bullets are constructed with a copper jacket and showcase strategically placed notches around the jacket mouth to initiate rapid and uniformed expansion. Loaded in 35 Whelen, the 200-grain bullet will quickly anchor deer and other big-game critters. The 300 Blackout Power-Point sports a bullet weight of 150 grains and is a great option for those that chase their whitetail dreams with an AR-style rifle. The .308-inch diameter bullet is loaded into a bottleneck cartridge to ensure cycling, and with the Power-Point bullet, this round promises exceptional accuracy and deep penetration.
$Prices Vary; winchester.com
Remington Premier Long Range Featuring Speer Impact From the minds at Remington comes carefully selected brass loaded with Speer's top-notch Impact bullets. The tough bonded-core construction punches deep and destroys close targets. At the same time, the patented Slipstream Tip initiates expansion at velocities 200 fps lower than standard polymer tips to ensure put-them-down impact at extended distances. The Impact's ultra-sleek make and tightly tapered hybrid ogive combined with its boattail mean a high ballistic coefficient comparable to match-grade bullets. With a bullet this cherry, Remington selected top-quality propellants and primers to top it off.
$60-$99; remington.com
Remington 360 Buckhammer Possibly the new kingpin of the straight-wall caliber family, Remington's new-for-2023 360 Buckhammer has been optimized for lever-action rifles and promises precision beyond 200 yards. The massive .358" diameter bullet flies fast and flat and has energy and drop like that of a 30-30 Winchester. A joy to shoot, this low-recoil round is sure to be cheered by the lever-action masses, especially those that chase their whitetail dreams in states that have put straight-wall laws in place. Available in Remington's Core-Lok SP in grain weights of 180 and 200, this new round should raise more than a few eyebrows.
$37; remington.com
