Hunting ammo: New products, tests, experience reports

In the proposed ban on the use of lead in ammunition there is a derogation for pistol and rifle shooting ranges, provided they implement “risk management measures”. But a new study shows that the costs for these ranges to comply have been grossly underestimated by ECHA.

Sometimes ammunition has to be lead-free, for example if only lead-free ammunition is permitted on the hunting ground. Then it is good to know about the alternatives from GECO, which achieve the desired cartridge performance with alternative bullet materials such as copper or tin. Here we present two GECO loads that are available both as factory ammunition and as bullets for reloaders. What are …

A new rimfire cartridge built from the ground up for enhanced accuracy and on-target performance, available with both lead and lead-free projectiles, even with a jacketed hollow point (JHP) option: meet the Winchester 21 Sharp, designed for recreational shooters and small game hunters. But is there any space for such a cartridge in a world dominated by .22 Long Rifle ammo?

Today’s hunting is sustainable, self-critical and works in harmony with nature. Outdated practices have been banned and the practice of hunting is regulated extensively. The traditional hunting ethics go far beyond the regulations and can never be guaranteed by law. The sometimes conflicting requirements – to prevent animal suffering through the best possible killing effect and at the same time …

We took a closer look at the tried-and-tested lead-free HIT bullet from RWS in .308 Winchester in the HIT and HIT SHORT RIFLE factory cartridge variants for you and subjected it to an extensive accuracy test on the shooting range using two rifles with different barrel lengths. Here you will find the most important information about the HIT and find out how it performed on the shooting range with …

From the outside, the GECO EXPRESS rifle cartridge is characterised by a jacketed bullet with a red plastic tip. However, the jacket itself and this red tip conceal a sophisticated bullet design which, in addition to high velocities and excellent accuracy, is also intended to guarantee a very high knock-down power, especially at long ranges. Here we explain what this is all about and tested the …

In the Old World in particular, people are always very sceptical when new cartridges are introduced. But even in the USA, the 6.5 Creedmoor took a good 10 years to achieve the high level of customer acceptance that now rivals the .308 Winchester. The situation is somewhat different in the case of the 7mm PRC. Probably because of the aforementioned popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 and .300 PRC, …

As the top dog among German ammunition manufacturers for the hunting sector, it is nowadays a must for RWS to also have reliable and effective lead-free bullets in its range. We present the three lead-free bullet types RWS EVOLUTION GREEN, RWS HIT and RWS DRIVEN HUNT in more detail and reveal the hunting uses and game species for which they are particularly suitable.

Sako's Blade 100% copper bullet guarantees expansion for small game/long-range impacts and excellent bullet weight retention with very limited risk of fragmentation. The re-designed .308 Win. bullet now features better ballistic performance, improved penetration, bone resistance, decreased muzzle velocity deviation, and a new tip material. 

In this video, Gianluca Garolini illustrates and explains the characteristics of the slug shotshells in the Baschieri & Pellagri Big Game line. Different solutions with slugs differing in weight, design and material, to deal safely and satisfactorily with the various wild boar hunting situations.

Hornady Manufacturing Company marks 2024 as its 75th anniversary since foundation in 1949. In these years, Hornady has grown from a single bullet manufacturer – the famous .30 caliber 150-gr Spire Point of its beginning – to the world’s largest hunting and sports bullet manufacturer, the U.S. largest component and reloading gear supplier, possibly the most innovative ammunition company for …

IWA OutdoorClassics 2024: Each line of ammunition from cartridge pioneer GECO has its own characteristics, just as there are certainly declared fans for certain cartridges. We present the latest additions and explain how the GECO EXPRESS, GECO STAR and GECO TARGET HP lines differ from each other. Anyone who knows these differences will quickly find their favourite ammunition.

IWA 2024: Ammunition specialist RWS presents five new products. The "COUP DE GRÂCE" is the first pistol cartridge to be added to the range, the popular CINESHOT is being expanded to include a lead-free variant and the DRIVEN HUNT and HIT are available in additional calibers. The DRIVEN HUNT is also available in several short rifle variants. The new "Super Field Heavy" pellet is also available for …

The ammunition manufacturer RWS supplies its products true to the motto "The ammunition counts", optimised for every purpose, from top Olympic sports and recreational shooting to hunting and training. Today we are presenting the rimfire cartridges and air rifle pellets from the RWS FIELD LINE – bet that you certainly don't know or have even tried all the variants? Let us inspire you...

In 2024 the European Commission is expected to publish a legislative proposal about the use of lead ammunition in hunting and sport shooting in all EEA countries and Northern Ireland. The European Shooting Sports Forum (ESSF) has published a “Frequently Asked Questions” document to provide everyone with clear arguments for a joint commitment against the looming “lead ban”. Read on to learn more.

We examine with Gianluca Garolini, a ballistics technician at Baschieri & Pellagri, the main cartridges that can be used in winter hunting, including great classics and new products developed by Baschieri's research and development department using alternative alloys to lead.