Deer Ammo: Top Choices for the 2018 Season

If you're interested in trying some new deer ammo this year there are great choices for the 2018 season.

Check out the newest deer ammo featured recently in our 2018 Gear Issue magazine editions. (By Gary Lewis and M.D. Johnson)

RIFLES

Browning BXS Solid Expansion Polymer Tip

The nickel-plated, case resists corrosion and improves feeding. Polymer-tipped copper bullet, controls expansion and reaches deep penetration. Non-lead round won't shed fragments. Calibers: 270 Win, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Win Mag, 300 WSM, 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm Rem Mag. BrowningAmmo.com $35.99 and up

Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X

Hornady's ELD-X leads with a tip that retains its shape under extreme friction-generated heat. Weight retention from 85 to 90 percent. Calibers: 6mm Creedmoor, 25-06 Rem, 257 Wby Mag, 6.5 PRC, 270 WSM, 280 Ackley Improved, 7mm WSM, 338 Win Mag and 338 Lapua Mag. Hornady.com $32.99 to $104.99

Winchester Ammunition Deer Season XP Copper Impact

The lead-free bullet with the red plastic tip differentiates from the standard Winchester XP offerings. Hollow-point cavity achieves rapid expansion. Designed for weight retention. Calibers: 243 Win, 270 Win, 308 Win, 30-06 Springfield and 300 Win Mag. Winchester.com $18.99 to $38.99

Nosler Ballistic Tip

The Ballistic Tip line of ammunition now reaches fans of the 6.5 Creedmoor (brown tip, 120 BT) and 280 Ackley Improved (red tip, 140 BT). Expect the utmost in accuracy, penetration and energy transfer from these loadings. Nosler.com 21.99

Federal Premium Edge TLR

A high ballistic coefficient and groove technology reduces drag for improved range. New-for-2018 offerings include: 155-grain 7mm Remington Magnum, 140-grain 270 Winchester and 140-grain 270 WSM. Also available in 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Win Mag and 300 WSM. FederalPremium.com $39.99 to $49.99 

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Federal Premium 224 Valkyrie

Federal Premium's new 224 Valkryie offers peak ballistic performance in a 90-grain package. That's the essence of the Valkyrie. That, and superb accuracy and extraordinary long-range performance, both in modern sporting rifles and bolt-actions. FederalPremium.com $28

MUZZLELOADERS

Hodgdon Triple Seven FireStar pellets

Long recognized as the leader in black powder alternatives for the muzzleloading community, Hodgdon has done it again with their Triple Seven (777) FireStar pellets. The FireStar's unique star-shaped design makes for a larger surface area, and thus more reliable ignition in all types of weather conditions. hodgdon.com $21

SHOTGUNS

Browning BXS Solid Expansion Deer Slug

Deer hunters in the shotgun-only states have no reason to feel under-gunned, not when there's something like Browning's BXS Solid Expansion slug on the shelves. An all-copper polymer-tipped projectile wrapped in a high-density plastic sabot provides devastating on-target performance, along with unmatched accuracy. BrowningAmmo.com $13