The major outdoor brands traditionally unveil all sorts of new products at the SHOT Show each year. 2019 was no exception, and I’ve highlighted Winchester’s .350 Legend cartridge along with a couple of new firearms built specifically for hunters in previous articles.
Today I’m covering three particularly interesting ammunition lines that were also introduced at the SHOT Show this year.
Image credit: Federal
Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter
The rising popularity of long-range shooting has resulted in increasing demand for ammunition optimized for long-range hunting. Federal answered the call with this line of ammo utilizing the low-drag match-grade Berger Hybrid Hunter bullet.
Some Berger bullets can be very sensitive to seating depth, so the accuracy of a particular load can really vary from rifle to rifle. However, Federal claims this ammunition is built for exceptional accuracy in factory rifles due to the unique design of the Berger Hybrid Hunter bullet that incorporates both tangent and secant ogive features.
Loaded with Gold Medal primers and special powder in nickel plated brass, Federal Berger Hybrid Hunter ammunition is currently available in .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester Short Magnum, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .280 Ackley Improved, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum.
Image credit: Norma
Norma BONDSTRIKE
Speaking of long range shooting, Norma’s new BONDSTRIKE ammunition also utilizes high BC bullets designed for minimal wind drift and maximum energy retention at long range. This ammo has a couple of different characteristics that set it apart from the Federal Berger ammunition we just talked about though.
First, the Norma BONDSTRIKE has a polymer tip to further increase the BC of the bullet and to help initiate expansion at lower impact velocities. Second, the Norma bullets also utilize a bonded core for durable construction, high weight retention, and maximum penetration.
Norma manufactures their BONDSTRIKE ammo in .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, and .300 Remington Ultra Magnum. All of those loads utilize a 180 grain Norma Bondstrike Extreme bullet with an exceptionally high BC of .615.
Image credit: Hornady
Hornady Outfitter
Hornady also introduced a new line of ammo this year: their Outfitter Ammunition. Just as the name suggests, this ammunition is designed for use on guided hunts in really tough environments when the absolute last thing you need is for your ammo to fail at the moment of truth. For that reason, Hornady touts the rugged and hard hitting traits of their Outfitter ammo.
Specifically, this ammunition utilizes a nickel-plated case for corrosion resistance and reliable feeding under all conditions. Hornady also advertises the waterproof characteristics of the Outfitter ammo.
It also uses Hornady’s lead-free GMX bullet. Not only is the GMX legal to use in California, but it’s also an extremely tough copper alloy bullet designed for controlled expansion, deep penetration, and high weight retention.
Hornady Outfitter ammo is currently produced in .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, .270 Winchester Short Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm Winchester Short Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .375 H&H Magnum, and .375 Ruger.
