AmericanHunter.org’s Top 10 Articles of 2023

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posted on January 10, 2024
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AH Top 10 Articles 2023 Lead

2023 has come and gone, like it or not. But before we dive straight into another year of industry coverage at SHOT Show 2024, we wanted to relive some of the past year's most well-received online exclusives. So, without further ado, we present AmericanHunter.org's most-read articles of 2023.

Bolt action rifle with Federal Premium ammunition and Leupold binocular laying on hunter green jacket.

1. 7 Great Lightweight Hunting Rifles—Philip Massaro
Those who venture into the backcountry—and especially those who hunt the mountains with all their gear on their back—appreciate a lightweight rifle. Here’s a look at seven top-notch options.

Remington 360 Buckhammer ammunition cartridge being loaded into lever action rifle.

2. Behind the Bullet: Remington 360 Buckhammer—Philip Massaro
Remington’s new 360 Buckhammer straight-wall cartridge is optimized for lever-action rifles, deadly and accurate out to 200-plus yards.

Adult male hunter posing with whitetail buck.

3. Let’s Get Real About the 6.5 Creedmoor—Brad Fitzpatrick
Love it or hate it, the 6.5 Creedmoor is the hottest hunting and target round available today. But does it live up to the hype?

Several rounds of rifle ammunition cartridges on wooden table.

4. 10 Most Versatile Long-Range Hunting Cartridges—Philip Massaro
A detailed look at 10 of the most flexible long-range hunting cartridges.

Black 10mm Auto pistol with three rounds of ammunition laying on table.

5. 8 Great Backcountry Defense Guns—Brad Fitzpatrick
From rifles and shotguns to pistols and revolvers, these eight sidearms will keep you safe when you’re far from help.

Hornady 7mm PRC and 300 PRC rifle cartridges side by side.

6. Head to Head: 7mm PRC vs. 300 PRC—Philip Massaro
There’s no doubt that Hornady’s Precision Rifle Cartridge family has caught on well, and both the 7mm and 300 PRC are solid all-around choices for hunting. Which comes out on top? Contributor Philip Massaro takes a closer look at the pros and cons of each.

Ten low-recoil hunting cartridges lined up on table.

7. 10 Great Low-Recoil Hunting Cartridges—Philip Massaro
While felt recoil levels are somewhat subjective, across a wide spectrum, there are several cartridges that have garnered a reputation for being "sweet shooting." Here’s a look at our top 10 choices.

Female shooting bolt action rifle on shooting range.

8. Tested: Ruger American Gen II Rifle—Karen Mehall Phillips
“New and improved” are welcome words when it comes to hunters’ trusted firearms and gear so when Sturm, Ruger & Company said it was launching Generation II of the affordable, reliable Ruger American rifle, American Hunter paid attention. The original model that debuted in 2010 as a value-minded alternative to the more expensive Ruger Hawkeye had earned a solid reputation with hunters who recognized the company had followed through on its commitment to deliver “the best bang for the buck.” Generation II was said to be better yet. NRA's Karen Mehall Phillips was one of the first hunters to try out the new Ruger American Generation II rifle at the FTW Ranch's SAAM Course.

Hornady 22 ARC rifle cartridges in box magazine.

9. First Look: Hornady 22 ARC—Philip Massaro
Engineered to use modern, high-BC bullets, the new 22 ARC is designed for optimum performance in the AR-15 platform, but is equally at home in a bolt-action rifle.

Bolt action rifle and several 300 Winchester Magnum rifle cartridges laying next to black bear rug.

10. The Best Black Bear Cartridges—Philip Massaro
Here’s a detailed look at the top black bear cartridges for rifles and handguns.

Latest

Lededove Stratified S3 Steel 12 Gauge
Lededove Stratified S3 Steel 12 Gauge

First Look: Apex Ammunition Dove Stratified Loads

Apex Ammunition has introduced dove loads in its Stratified line of shotshells. Featuring layered shot sizes of either L3 high-antimony lead or S3 steel pellets, the Dove Stratified series is designed to perform at variable ranges, with dense close- and mid-range patterns and increased terminal energy at longer distance.

Lightweight AR-10: Building a Hunt-Focused Backcountry Rifle (Part 2)

Welcome to Part 2 of the quest to build the lightest AR-10 possible. This section focuses on the upper (Part 1 featured the lower; Part 3 will focus on tuning the gun). No need to keep you waiting; if you want to see the premise or any qualifiers, check out Part 1. Let’s start the upper build.

First Look: Bear Ops Nekama II

Bear Ops has released the Nekama II, a purpose-built everyday carry knife.

Braves Defy Hunting & Fishing Night Scarcity in MLB

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Atlanta Braves held a Hunting & Fishing Night in Truist Park. It’s back by popular demand for 2026, sponsored by RealTree, and takes place on Aug. 29, with ticket sales are helping fund conservation efforts in the state.

Behind the Bullet: The .250-3000 Savage

Curious about a chambering seemingly made for, and certainly popularized by the mythical Savage 99? Let's delve into the history of the .250-3000 Savage, a revolutionary cartridge for its time, that will still bring home the bacon today.

Sierra Presents 3 New Rifle Bullets

Sierra Bullets has announced three new rifle bullet offerings, including the .25-caliber 135-grain Tipped MatchKing, 7mm 185-grain Tipped MatchKing and .22-caliber 77-grain MatchKing X, developed in response to continued demand for high-ballistic-coefficient, heavy-for-caliber offerings.

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