New for 2025: Hornady Backcountry Defense

by
posted on January 28, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Backcountry Defense Lede

It seems human/bear conflicts are becoming more prevalent each hunting season, and with the recent governmental decision not to delist the grizzly, this shows no signs of slowing down. Hornady’s new Backcountry Defense line of handgun ammunition helps to make sure you come home in your current anatomical status, should you have the misfortune to need to rely on your sidearm to save your life.

Bullet Cutaway

Using the new DGH bullet (Dangerous Game Handgun) bullet to deliver straight-line penetration, the Backcountry Defense line opts for heavy-for-caliber bullet weights to help deliver maximum stopping power from your chosen cartridge. Hunters of dangerous-game species around the globe have long relied on round- and flat-nosed bullet profiles to give that straight-line wound channel which greatly aids in the stopping of a charging animal, and the DGH bullet has the qualities needed. With a very slight hollow cavity at the nose, Hornady rolls the DGH’s thick jacket at the nose to lock jacket and core together, and the recovered projectiles show a bit of expansion, with the ogive blown out to a ‘swollen’ look.

Cartridges

The copper jacket helps avoid the smoke associated with hard-cast lead bullets, allowing the shooter to make faster follow-up shots when it is most important. We all hope that we will never need to reach for that sidearm, but if you should be in that unfortunate situation, Hornady’s Backcountry Defense is a logical choice to get the job done. Backcountry Defense is offered in 9mm Luger (in a +P configuration) with a 138-grain DGH; .357 Remington Magnum with a 165-grain DGH; 10mm Auto with a 200-grain DGH; .44 Remington Magnum with a 240-grain DGH; .454 Casull and .460 S&W Magnum with the 300-grain DGH; and 500 S&W Magnum with a 500 DGH. The 9mm Luger and 357 Magnum are sold in 25-count boxes, while the rest of the bunch are sold in 20-count boxes. For more information, visit hornady.com.

Backcountry Defense boxes

Latest

590 R Chisel Olsen
590 R Chisel Olsen

#SundayGunday: Mossberg 590R Chisel

This week, we’re checking out the Mossberg 590R. While technically part of the company’s tactical shotgun lineup, the 590R would be a great turkey gun for any pump-action afficionado. The model we had in had, the 590R Chisel, a 3-inch chambered 12 gauge, comes with a beautifully Cerakoted polymer-ceramic receiver, which contrasts nicely with its black stock, barrel and heat shield. For more information, check out this exclusive video.

Range Review: Tandemkross TKX22 Light Rifle

Tandemkross (TK) has just launched the company's first in-house, semi-automatic .22 LR long gun. Dubbed the TKX22 Light Rifle, it blends the best of this company's Ruger 10/22 compatible race gun components into an impressively lightweight sporting rimfire package. Several companies claim their guns are lightweights, but TK delivers on its promise.

Tips for Bowhunting Birds

Want to shlock a big Tom with your bow this year? Want some tips on closing the distance? Mike Roux has been calling them and sticking them for decades. Read on for some great tactics from an old pro.

First Look: MDT Timbr Core Laminate Rifle Stock

MDT has released its Timbr Core Laminate Rifle Stock, expanding the Timbr Core lineup with a modern laminate option for hunters seeking an upgrade from factory polymer stocks with a classic look and feel.

American Hunter's 2026 Golden Bullseye Winners

A handful of the American Hunter staff's favorite things, from 2026.

Reloading 7mm Backcountry with Lee Precision Dies

Federal Premium’s latest cartridge innovation, 7mm Backcountry, is now being supported by Lee Precision and its set of reloading dies specially created for the new high-pressure round.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.