Best New Deer Hunting Ammunition for 2025

• This list will be updated in the following months as new ammo hits the market. Stayed tuned to see the latest and greatest in deer hunting ammunition. More guns, ammo and gear can be found here. 

Deer hunters may have the best rifle, scope, clothing, treestand, blind or boots, but it’s impossible to knock down a whitetail without ammunition. It may take just one well-placed shot or a couple of shots if the adrenaline is surging. But without ammo, you’re just watching and wishing.

Each year, companies study ballistics and other technical specs to find improvements. It might be in the design of the bullet for better flight, a faster-burning powder or something else. The result, usually, is hunters have a better selection of ammunition and more options to choose from before the season begins. 

Here is some of the best new deer hunting ammunition you’ll see this year along with a few options for self-defense while in the field.

Federal 7mm Backcountry

Hot off the presses is the announcement of a new hunting cartridge from Federal Premium—the 7mm Backcountry. Federal’s new cartridge has been optimized for compact, shorter-barreled suppressed rifles. Through a 20-inch barrel, the 170-grain 7mm Backcountry bullet hits speeds of 3,000 feet per second or more. The cartridge achieves all of this through the patented Peak Alloy case. The one-piece case is formed from an advanced, high-strength steel alloy to handle higher velocities than modern brass cases. It’s available in several Federal-family hunting cartridges:

• Terminal Ascent 7mm Backcountry is available in 155 and 170 grains, with the former being the fastest factory 7mm on the market. The 170-grain round achieves 3,000 fps out of a 20-inch barrel. Also new this year are 6.5 PRC, .300 RUM and .300 Win. Mag.
• Fusion Tipped in 7mm Backcountry achieves speeds of 3,120 fps with a 175-grain bullet that has a pressure-formed lead core molecularly bonded to a copper jacket.
• Berger Elite Hunter Barnes LRX 7mm Backcountry should make long-range shooters take notice. The 195-grain round has a thin jacket, which helps produce extreme hydrostatic shock and a massive wound cavity on impact. Its .755 G1 ballistic coefficient is one of the highest on the market among hunting bullets. The LRX line also includes .280 Ackley Improved, .300 Win. Mag, .308 Win. 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC and 7mm Rem Mag.
• Barnes LRX 7mm Backcountry has a high ballistic coefficient, polymer tip and unique nose cavity. The 168-grain, all-copper Barnes LRX takes down tough game at both close and extended distances. (federalpremium.com)

Nosler Whitetail Country

Deer hunters who rely on Nosler now have two more options with the Whitetail Country Line: Solid Base and Straight Wall. The Solid Base line, introduced in 1972, is now in its fifth generation. It has a tapered jacket with a boat-tail design, form-fitted lead-alloy core and solid base for hard-hitting penetration and expansion. The Solid Base Whitetail Country line is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .30-30 Win, .308 Win and .30-06, from 130 to 165 grains. The Straight Wall line has a hard-hitting bullet and is available in the .350 Legend and .45-70 Govt., both being great options for states that offer straight-wall or “old school” deer seasons. The .350 Legend comes in 180-grain, and the .45-70 is a walloping 300-grain smasher. (nosler.com)

Hornady Bore Driver ELD-X

Muzzleloader hunters, rejoice! Someone has something new for you this year, and it’s Hornady with the Bore Driver 45-caliber ELD-X bullet. ELD stands for “extremely low drag.” It has a copper alloy jacket, lead core design, performance polymer tip to initiate expansion and an interlock ring to help retain bullet weight upon impact. The polymer base seals the bore and engages the rifling. This non-sabot, 280-grain bullet is designed to hit targets out to 300 yards or more, offering versatility for Southern hunters in stands or Western hunters glassing open terrain. (hornady.com)

Winchester Deer Season XP .400 Legend

When it was introduced almost two years ago, the Winchester Deer Season XP load quickly gained acclaim as a consistent, highly capable round. It has an Extreme Point bullet for an oversized impact diameter, which translates to more trauma, transferred energy and larger wound cavities. This year the newest round is the .400 Legend, which has similar energy as the .450 Bushmaster but with 20 percent less recoil. It has more than 20 percent more energy than the .30-30 Win, and 25 percent more energy than the .350 Legend — and with greater penetration on deer and other similar game. The .400 Legend also has 100 percent more energy and 55 percent less recoil than a 12-gauge slug at 100 yards. For hunters in states with straight-wall seasons or restrictions, the .400 Legend should be a solid consideration this year. (winchester.com)

SIG Platinum Hunter

Sig Sauer’s premium hunting line is offered with a Nosler Accubond projectile, delivering unmatched weight retention and deep penetration on big game. Each round is enclosed in a corrosion-resistant nickel case for smooth cycling, ensuring reliability in all conditions. They’re available in .243, .270, .30-06, 300 Win Mag, .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor. (sigsauer.com)

Remington Core-Lokt

The Core-Lokt family of calibers continues to grow with the addition of the .300 Ham’r and .400 Legend, both designed for knocking down deer and other big game. Core-Lokt’s tapered copper jacket is locked to a lead core that delivers maximum weight retention and penetration on game.

Also new this year is the Core-Lokt Tipped .300 RUM for big game, as well as the Tipped Lever Gun series in .30-30 Win, 32 Win Special, 35 Rem, 360 BHMR, 444 Marlin and .45-70 Govt. This line has a polymer tip bullet and is engineered to maximize performance in lever-action rifles. (remington.com)

Hornady Defense

Big-game hunters out West, including whitetail chasers, may sometimes find themselves in a self-defense situation. Hornady’s new Defense ammunition features its new Dangerous Game Handgun bullet. It’s designed for maximum penetration and no deflection, whether you’re encountering a grizzly or other hair-raising situation. Defense is available in 9mm Luger+P, .357 Mag, 10mm Auto, .44 Rem Mag, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Mag and .500 Mag. (hornady.com)

Federal Power-Shok Handgun

Handgun hunting is a niche among whitetail chasers, but it’s fun and challenging. Dialing in a handgun for a close-range shot requires patience. Trying to hold steady on a deer requires nerves of steel. Handgun hunters are few among the ranks, but they’re determined. Federal’s legendary Power-Shok ammo this year adds the 10mm Auto to its series. The 200-grain, jacketed hollow-point round is reliable and accurate and hits speeds of 1,110 fps. The Power-Shok Handgun line features premium Federal brass and primers and is designed for a variety of big game. (federalpremium.com)

If you are interested in pairing any of these rifle rounds with a firearm, see Game & Fish magazine's Best New Deer Hunting Rifles for 2025.

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