Calling all caliber connoisseurs! This is where you’ll find everything you ever wanted to know about the latest ammunition news, reviews and more. From test runs and range reports to reloading tips and answers to common ammo questions, we have you covered.
Serious small game and varmint hunters demand more than standard performance from their rimfire loads. The Hunter Match 22 LR hollow-point lead bullet has been tuned for optimum penetration and expansion out to 100 yards, and its high-velocity loading provides the flat trajectories and energy to take down any target. Its nickel-plated case ensures flawless extraction and inhibits corrosion.
The shotgun is a great problem solver and best regarded as a tactical system. This is primarily due the respect and homage we pay to the great versatility of the shotgun and its payload. Why many shotguns may fit the bill, it is the ammunition that delivers the lethal blow. Will your load be up to the threat?
SIG offers full metal jacketed training loads in the popular calibers but also hollow point defense loads. Among the most interesting are the three choices in .45 ACP hollow point loads. As with all top tier manufacturers, premium names need to deliver a premium product—preferably at a reasonable price. For this review, we put 185-, 2000, and 230-grain V Crown offering through their paces.
The .38 Super is dimensionally identical to the .38 ACP of 1900. The .38 ACP fired a 130-grain bullet at 1,100 fps. The .38 Super was a sensation, noted for its high velocity of 1300 fps and nine fast shots. Colt upped the power of the cartridge but used the same length cartridge case and chambered the .38 Super in the 1911 when it dropped production of the .38 ACP pistols. At the time, you had to know not to fire a .38 Super in older Colt 1903 pistols.
I have experimented with slugs for over 30 years because I wanted to improve the performance of the police-style riot gun. These slugs are powerful, they pound the shoulder, and they get the job done. While Lightfield’s offering excel for defense, hunters are not forgotten with both light and heavy recoil loads for added knock-down power. If you are looking for maximum performance, check out Lightfield. They are sometimes overlooked but not because of accuracy and power. This specialty maker offers real performance at a fair price.
With an ammunition shortage coming and good quality ammunition at a premium now is the time to get the loading press cranked up and rolling. Here is one plan to keep shooting.
DoubleTap Ammunition made its name by producing 10mm ammunition. In fact, when the industry was offering 10mm ammunition loaded closer to .40 S&W specifications, DoubleTap was the solution for full-power factory-grade ammunition. However, 10mm is a small portion of the Ammo market, so DoubleTap did the right thing and now offers a full catalog of ammunition ranging from rimfire to African Dangerous Game loads.
In the firearms world I see much hype and overstatement. As such the real article with genuine performance is often under appreciated. One example is comparing the latest 9mm +P or .357 SIG load to the .357 Magnum. Those may seem like fighting words to some, but read the full story before passing judgement.
Steel-cased loads are viable and most of all affordable. Therefore, the author was very interested to see Hornady offering a Steel Match line. These are not rebranded loads but rather steel-cased cartridge cases loaded by Hornady with Hornady projectiles. That means a lot. This makes the loads viable for hunting provided they are accurate enough for this pursuit, and the powder technology addresses one of the primary concerns with steel cased ammunition—powder fouling.
When it comes to personal defense ammunition, we all want the most for our dollar and a load that maximizes the caliber. This is especially true with the popular 9mm Luger cartridge. A number of manufacturers offer target grade loads, hunting loads, and personal defense loads. DoubleTap ammunition offers personal defense loads, and they do it as well as anyone and better than most.