Best hunting ammunition balances accuracy, performance, and reliability in the field. Our editors highlight top picks that hit hard and stay consistent downrange in this year’s Editor’s Choice Awards for best hunting ammunition.
Best Hunting Ammunition
Hornady Backcountry Defense 357 Mag 165 gr DGH
Carrying a large-caliber sidearm is a fact of life for most Alaska backcountry anglers and hunters, for obvious reasons. For bear protection, it’s important to have a round designed for maximum penetration and no deflection. This is precisely what Backcountry Defense ammo is for. The specially designed copper-jacketed bullet was designed to not expand or fragment. We’ve come to rely on Hornady ammunition for hunting and long-range shooting applications, and now bear protection, because their ammo is consistent and performs very well. Last year Publisher Marcus Weiner carried his Colt Grizzly .357 Mag after shooting it at the range several times with this ammunition. Thankfully he didn’t need to use any rounds in the field, but he is ready should it come to that.
Hornady Outfitter Ammunition 300 Win Mag 180 gr CX
Publisher Marcus Weiner carried the 300 Win Mag 180 gr CX Outfitter on several black bear hunts this year. While he didn’t get to shoot at any bears, he is confident that this would be potent medicine. The copper alloy expanding (CX) bullet provides deep penetration and 95% weight retention, with controlled expansion down to velocities as slow as 2,000 fps. Like all ammo in the Outfitter line, primers and case mouths are sealed, and the cases are slick-feeding, corrosion-resistant-nickel plated.
Considering the nasty weather that often accompanies Alaska hunts, it’s important to use a round that will hold up to the tough conditions. Marcus plans on carrying this round during a September 2026 blacktail deer hunt on Kodiak Island, where brown bear encounters are possible. This one packs a punch, with a muzzle velocity of 2,960 fps and an energy of 3,502 ft/lb. He shot 1 MOA groups at the range during practice sessions and is supremely confident in Hornady ammunition.
Winchester Expedition Big Game 300 Win Mag 190 grain
Nowadays, many hunters struggle with trying to use a high-BC bullet while getting high weight retention after expansion. There are generally 2 ways to do it: monolithic bullets, or bonded bullets. By using the Nosler AccuBond LR, this cartridge provides reliable expansion at velocities as low as 1,300 fps while providing the high BC desired for shooting at longer ranges and while resisting wind deflection. This ammo is a great choice for any big-game species in Alaska. Though we did not take game with this ammo this year, it generally produced roughly 1 MOA 5-shot groups at 100 yards through our factory Savage 110 Storm rifle—plenty good for the ranges at which most Alaska big-game animals are shot.
Winchester Expedition Big Game 300 Win Mag 180 grain
The Winchester Expedition line features Nosler’s AccuBond CT (Combined Technology) bonded bullet to provide high BC and excellent weight retention and terminal performance on game. The bullets are coated with Lubalox black-oxide coating to reduce engraving forces and barrel fouling. The nickel-plated cases make for slick feeding. The 180-grain bullet leaving the muzzle at 2,950 fps hits like a freight train and only drops 39 inches at 500 yards. This is a great choice for virtually all big-game species in Alaska.
Hornady Precision Hunter 300 PRC 212 gr ELD-X
The 300 PRC is a hammer of a cartridge. The advertised velocity on the box is 2,860 fps. With his 24” Proof Research test barrel, Editor George Krumm saw an average of 2,825 fps through the first 80 rounds at 2,350 feet of elevation and a temperature of about 40ºF. During those 80 rounds, George zeroed at 100 yards and worked out to a 16” steel target at 1,015 yards. So far, George has killed one big-game animal with this ammo—a mule deer buck at long range. It was truly a “dead right there” event as the buck face-planted on impact and slid down the mountain. The entrance wound was caliber sized; the exit wound about the size of a quarter.
Peterson Cartridge Brass, 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC
Savvy marksmen know there are limitations to the accuracy potential of factory ammunition. That is why many of them load their own ammo. By doing so, they are able to produce ammo that allows for more precision. The components used all contribute, and the quality and consistency of the brass matters more than many might think. Peterson makes high-quality brass that will provide more consistency and, in most cases, longer life than factory brass. Editor George Krumm used Peterson brass to work up hunting loads for his 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC. He says: “Though I can’t comment on longevity yet, the quality and consistency of this brass is noteworthy.
The packaging is also first-rate, providing a box with foam inserts to protect case necks that you can later use to store your loaded ammunition. For the first firing, all I needed to do was chamfer and deburr the case necks. While you could reload with any brass you have, if you’re going to spend the time both reloading and at the range to make an optimum load for your rifle, you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you start with quality brass like Peterson.”
Hornady Match 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD-M
Hornady’s Match line of ammo is designed to be more consistent, from case-wall thickness to seating depth, internal case capacity, weight, and concentricity. It really shines on the range and in competitions. The 147-grain ELD-M bullet is very heavy for caliber, resulting in a very high G1 ballistic coefficient of .697. This of course leads to less wind deflection at longer ranges, and less bullet drop. The ELD-M bullet is designed for target use, but some hunters are using it on thin-skinned game like deer, though Hornady does not recommend the ELD-M bullet for hunting. Editor George Krumm used this ammo for 2 NRL Hunter matches in 2025. The box claims an average velocity of 2,910 fps. In George’s rifle, the average velocity was 2,902 fps (roughly at sea level).
Hornady 212 gr ELD-X Bullet
This is the bullet that comes in Hornady Precision Hunter 300 PRC ammo. Like the other PRCs, the 300 PRC was made to shoot heavy-for-caliber, long bullets at magnum velocities. These bullets are the equivalent of drag-race cars in the auto world—long, sleek, and fast. Because of this bullet’s high G1 BC of .663, it holds onto its velocity well and bucks the wind much better than less streamlined bullets. The result is great accuracy, less bullet drop, less wind deflection, and better penetration. These bullets typically retain 50- to 65% of their weight, according to Hornady. While Editor George Krumm has killed several animals with ELD-X bullets, all the bullets passed through, and none were recovered. George is experimenting with these bullets and Ramshot Grand and Vihtavuori N-570 powders for his custom 300 PRC.
Cutting Edge Bullets MAXIMUS Hollow Point Hunting Bullet
We tested both the .284 caliber 152-grain MAXIMUS FCG and the .264 caliber 125-grain MAXIMUS FCG bullets. Though we did not take game with them this year, there is no arguing with the accuracy they provided. The MAXIMUS is a lathe-turned, solid-copper, hollow-point projectile that combines high ballistic coefficient (BC) with high-trauma performance on game. Lathe-turned bullets offer very consistent shapes from bullet to bullet. This enhances accuracy. These bullets expand differently than cup-and-core or other copper bullets. After an inch or 2 of penetration 4- to 8 blades will break off (depending on velocity), each creating its own wound channel while the main shaft continues penetrating through the animal.
Both of these particular MAXIMUS bullets are designed to expand reliably at impact velocities as low as 1,300 fps, making them very viable for long-range shots. The 125-grain .264 bullet has a G1 BC of .439, and the 152-grain .284 bullet’s G1 BC is .463. These bullets come in boxes of 50, with each bullet having its own partition in the box, ensuring that the individual bullets don’t get scratched, or have their meplats damaged. The perfect meplats on these hollow-point boattails were obvious as soon as we opened the box.
Sierra MatchKing X (MKX) 6.5mm 142-grain Hollow Point Boattail
These bullets were designed to maintain the accuracy of the Sierra MatchKing bullets, but with construction aimed at game animals. MatchKing X bullets are a hollow-point boattail (HPBT) and feature a softer lead core than the original MatchKing bullets, promoting reliable and lethal expansion on game. Tangent ogives provide high ballistic coefficients, smoother feeding, and excellent in-flight stability. Tangent ogives are also inherently easier to tune and less finicky than hybrid- or secant ogives, ensuring consistent accuracy.
Engineered with a unique draw-and-trim process, MatchKing X features a thick copper jacket through the body for enhanced durability while a tapered design at the mouth ensures reliable and devastating expansion. MKX bullets are held to the same accuracy standards as MatchKing bullets. These bullets are designed to perform well on game such as deer and caribou. Some speculate this bullet will expand similarly to Berger VLD bullets since the construction is so similar. MatchKing X bullets are available from a .22 caliber 77-grain HPBT to a .30 caliber 200-grain HPBT.