In 2007, one of the most significant themes in the development and introduction of new hunting firearms, optics and ammunition is a growing importance of "niche-market" items: that is, products not aimed at mainstream purchasers, but at discriminating, special-interest hunters with specific needs who know exactly what they want and are willing to pay for it. At the same time, the overall trend of the past few years toward smaller and more powerful everything continues.

Driven by the ammunition industry's new propellant developments that permit higher velocities, more power, and longer-range capability in shorter barrels without higher pressure, we continue to see smaller cartridges and shorter-action, more compact, lighter firearms. "Easy-to-carry" remains the hunter's mantra.

All serious hunters know that the first decision they need to make is ammunition. First, you choose the load you need for the game you're after. The gun and the sight come next. This also means that if you're curious about what new guns and sights are coming on the market, you first look at what's new in ammunition.

For 2007, the ammunition world is increasingly marked by the advent of new, special-application cartridges, often tied to specific brands of guns. It's also continuing to center on new high-performance bullet designs and cartridges that use new fast-burning/ low-pressure propellants to put ever more power into smaller and shorter cases. Also, there are significant additions to the rimfire cartridge world, and also more developments in high-tech sabot shotgun slug loads and special-purpose shotshell loads. Here are some of this year's most interesting new ammunition products.

Brenneke Classic Magnum 16-Gauge, 2 3⁄4-Inch Slug
With more power than a 20 and less weight and bulk than a 12, the 16 gauge is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Now, with Brenneke's Classic Magnum slug in 16 gauge, its comeback is complete. The Classic Magnum 16 features the H-type disk, which improves accuracy up to 50 percent. Five-shot groups of under 2 inches at 50 yards are common. It handles both smoothbore and rifled barrels with ease.

The Brenneke Classic 16 excels in knockdown power, accuracy and overall performance. Five-round groups under 2 1/2 inches at 100 yards are common. At the same time, its 3.53-square-inch frontal area generates 2,309 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy, overcoming the lack of power that limits ordinary sabot designs.

CCI .22 Win. Mag. V-Max
No one offers more rimfire choices than CCI, which is this year adding yet another load for the .22 WMR: a new 2,200 fps velocity offering featuring a 30-grain polymer-tip Hornady V-Max bullet with 322 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy. The V-Max bullet is known for explosive expansion on small game and varmints and sets the standard for accuracy with its higher ballistic coefficient for flatter trajectory -- only a .5-inch mid-range rise when zeroed at 100 yards. This addition gives CCI a total of seven offerings in .22 Win. Mag. that include TNT and GamePoint bullets and No. 12 shotshells.

Federal Premium Vital-Shok .204 Ruger
Federal Premium is offering another explosive bullet in the hot, new .204 Ruger. A 32-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip will be added to the 39-grain Sierra BlitzKing already available. The .204 Ruger is a proven performer in the field and an effective varmint cartridge.

Like other Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint bullets, the .204 utilizes thin-mouthed, highly concentric tapered jackets and form-fitted, pure lead cores for accuracy and violent expansion across a broad spectrum of velocities and ranges. The Solid Base boat tail design, long ogive and polycarbonate tip confer ballistic coefficients substantially greater than bullets of identical weight and diameter.