The main exception to this is large-for-caliber bullets, such as the 220 grain bullet for a. However, most bullets feature a pointed or 'spitzer' tip, for increased ballistic efficiency. If you shoot a lever action rifle with a tubular magazine, your bullet style will usually be limited to bullets that have a round or flat nose to prevent a chain reaction detonation of the rounds that are lined up tip-to-primer in the magazine. The style and construction of a bullet are also important considerations. It’s among the great all around cartridges, and has the ability to shoot flat to ranges beyond where most hunters are competent. The 140-grain bullet in the 6.5 Creedmoor offers the perfect performance for game ranging from whitetail to black bear and caribou to even elk and mountain game.

That’s another important factor in accurate shooting. 308 Winchester and other cartridges can push their bullets as fast, the 6.5 does so with less recoil. At its core, the 6.5 Creedmoor case is short enough to handle high ballistic coefficient bullets (and work in short action rifles) yet has the powder capacity to move them fast. While the original intent of the 6.5 Creedmoor was long-range target shooting, the same attributes also make it a great hunting round. With a 140-grain bullet, its caliber and performance fits into the cartridge world somewhere between the. It has quickly become a hunting favorite, especially for deer-sized game. The latest is the 6.5 Creedmoor, developed by Hornady in the early 2000s. What Style of Bullet Should You Use? The 6.5mm Creedmoor – New Choice for Today’s HunterĮvery now and then, a new cartridge is introduced that makes big waves in the hunting world. Ultra Mag.īelow is a chart to help you match up the caliber with the type of hunting you are plan to do.Ĭlick here for a larger view of the rifle caliber chart. At the least, it will cause damage to the rifle. Using any other cartridge can result in serious or even fatal injury to you. It is critical that you use the exact same cartridge that is stamped on the barrel or the receiver of your rifle.

It takes into consideration the length, diameter, and all other specifications of the round. The 'cartridge' is the overall name of the ammunition. However, caliber is just one characteristic that makes up a rifle cartridge. 'Caliber' is generally the measure of a bullet's diameter the higher the caliber, the bigger the bullet, and generally the larger the game it can be used for. The first consideration when buying ammunition is the caliber - or more precisely the cartridge. TIP: How Rifles, Muzzleloaders & Shotgun Slugs Stack Up for Deer Hunting (infographic) What Caliber is Your Rifle? For the purposes of this discussion, we will be looking at only rifle ammunition. Here's what you need to know to select the right ammunition for hunting.

Fortunately, the quality and variety of factory ammunition available today is no longer a problem.

Handloading is still very popular, especially for those who do a lot of shooting and are looking to save money by reusing the brass shell casings and buying the other components of ammunition in bulk. This was because the quality of the factory-loaded ammunition that was available was not always of the highest grade, and the selection of calibers, along with bullet weights and styles, was not the greatest either. When I first started big game hunting, most serious hunters handloaded their own ammunition.

Best 9mm ammo for big game