Testing Nosler's New Whitetail Country Ammunition

Deer hunting is a classically American pastime, replete with time-honored traditions and experiences that span generations. It’s also the most popular type of hunting, with millions of Americans taking to the whitetail woods on opening day in the hopes of tagging a trophy buck. It’s those hunters Nosler has in its crosshairs with their all-new Whitetail Country line of ammunition, which is dedicated to delivering accurate and affordable performance in a bullet built specifically for white-tailed deer.

The Tradition Continues, Affordably

Bullet and ammunition technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, with new designs and modern materials chasing the rage for long-range terminal performance. That’s great, and it’s been a boon for hunters and shooters alike, but all those advancements have come with a price, literally. Take a look at the ammo shelf at your local outdoor store and you’ll see boxes of ammunition in both new and common calibers that cost upwards of $50, $60, and even $70. Heck, it’s not unheard of to see a $100 price tag on a box of hunting bullets.

Nosler recognized this trend and decided to buck it with their new Whitetail Country. Instead of introducing advanced ammo at an astronomical price, they re-engineered a proven design to give deer hunters an affordable option that doesn’t sacrifice performance. Available in most popular chamberings, Nosler Whitetail Country ammunition will be priced at $35, with the .45-70 load coming in right at $40. These are MSRPs, so you might expect to find an even better deal on Whitetail Country at your local store.

At the heart of Whitetail Country is the newest generation of Nosler’s original and proven Solid Base bullet. First introduced in 1972, this classic design has been upgraded with a modern tapered jacket that allows for quick, but controlled, expansion, which is initiated by the exposed lead tip. This is perfect for thinner-skinned game like a whitetail. When viewed in a cutaway profile, you’ll see the jacket thicken slightly as it reaches the boattail. As the name suggests, the base is solid, putting more weight toward the rear of the projectile to drive penetration, increasing the chance of a complete pass-through, even on big, North Country bucks and fat, corn-fed Midwestern does. The boattail aids in accuracy at longer ranges, though don’t expect to see the high-B.C. profiles so common among modern, long-range bullets. Most whitetail deer are killed within 150 yards, and the Solid Base bullet is made to expand and penetrate at similar distances out to 400 yards or more.

Most whitetail deer are also taken with more classic chamberings, and Nosler did its research when introducing Whitetail Country. In its standard Solid Base offerings, Whitetail Country is available in .270 Win.; 7mm-08; .30-30; .308; .30-06 and, in a nod to modern hunters, 6.5 Creedmoor. Nosler also introduced two straight-wall offerings: .350 Legend and .45-70 Gov’t.

Something for Straight-Wall States

I don’t think anyone, even its inventors, could have honestly predicted the popularity of the .350 Legend, or foresee the straight-wall craze the cartridge’s introduction would kick off. Safe to say, straight-wall cartridges are now the go-to option in states where the best option for deer hunters used to be grandpa’s old slug gun. Petersen’s HUNTING whitetail columnist Will Brantley has gone so far as to call the .350 Legend the deer-hunting cartridge of the decade and claims sales of the .350 Legend often exceeds that of both the .270. Win. and .30-06.

The folks at Nosler knew if they were going to introduce new ammunition called Whitetail Country, they better have some straight-wall options in the line. In addition to the classic .45-70 Gov’t., they also opted to add the .350 Legend for all those deer hunters who now opt to carry that afield.

Instead of trying to re-engineer an existing bullet, Nosler introduced an all-new design they’re calling the Straight Wall bullet. Built to expand reliably at lower velocities common to straight-wall chamberings, it features a flatter, exposed lead nose and thin jacket with skiving that ensures expansion at slower velocities. This delivers better terminal performance and larger wound channels, even when that buck of a lifetime steps out at 200 yards, the point at which lesser-made straight-wall bullets tend to fail.

At the Range

Unfortunately for me, the deadline for this article fell before the opening day of deer season here in Nebraska. I did, however, get to spend some time on the range with the new Nosler Whitetail Country ammunition, and from my bench testing, I expect the ammo to perform as advertised once deer season opens.

I opted to test the 165-grain Solid Base bullet in .308, which has seen a resurgence in popularity. Not that it ever truly went out of style. Shooting it out of my custom Sisk Rifle, resting atop a front sandbag on a blustery Nebraska day, I was able to put one three-shot group within .875 inches. The other two groups measured 1.22 and 1.37, for an average of 1.15. I think I could tighten these groups up with a more solid rest on a calm day. Still, considering Whitetail Country’s affordable price point, I deem it more than acceptable accuracy that falls well within a deer’s vitals at common whitetail-hunting ranges.

To prove that point, I also shot 12-inch steel targets at both 285 and 385 yards. Rather than consult a ballistic app and dial for range, I opted to shoot the same way most deer hunters do, by holding over using good ol’ Kentucky windage. The back of the box stated a 13.5-inch drop at 300 yards. My rifle was sighted 1-inch high at 100, so I held at the top of the plate at 285 yards. My first shot missed slightly low and right, so I held an inch or so above the top of the plate and hit the plate a few inches below center. At 400 yards, the box stated a drop of 30.4 inches, so I eyeballed my hold a couple feet above the plate and punched it with my first shot. Adhering to the old adage it’s better to be lucky than good (and also to quit while you’re ahead), I called it a day. Should the opportunity at a whitetail present itself this season, I know I can rely on Nosler Whitetail Country ammunition.

You don’t have to take my word on it. My good friend and colleague Adam Heggenstaller, editor in chief of Game & Fish magazine, is both lucky and good. On a hunt for Columbian whitetail earlier this fall, he tagged a true trophy buck using Whitetail Country in .308.

“Hunters know Nosler for premium ammo, and from what I saw during my hunt, Whitetail Country is no exception,” said Heggenstaller. “It was accurate on the range and in the field, and the Solid Base bullet just hammered deer. Hunters will like the non-premium price, but they’re still going to get top-shelf performance.” You can read more about Adam’s adventure at www.gameandfishmag.com