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

CH993, A Flexible Plan Helps In Coyote Success, Copyright Mark Kayser
CH993, A Flexible Plan Helps In Coyote Success, Copyright Mark Kayser

Coyote Tactics: Stay Flexible

The successful hunters I know do not get hung up on one tactic. They constantly float between strategies in an ever-changing hunting environment. Quite simply, they’re flexible. I take that improvising nature to heart even for coyotes, particularly when they shun my calls for whatever reason. When that occurs, I continue the hunt, but modify my strategy to fit the scenario.  

Remington Announces 3 New Subsonic Rifle Loads

Remington Ammunition is launching three new rifle cartridges loaded to subsonic muzzle velocities in 2026. The new Boat-tail Hollow Point (BHP) loads include a 250-grain 360 Buckhammer, 190-grain .308 Winchester and 300-grain 45-70 Government.

Report Identifies 80,000 Acres for Sitka Black-Tailed Deer Habitat Restoration

The Blacktail Deer Foundation (BDF) has released a new report titled A Restoration Mapping Framework: To Improve Sitka Black-tailed Deer Habitat in Southeast Alaska.

Tale of the Twist: How Does Twist Rate Affect a Shot?

Ever wonder exactly how twist rate affects projectiles and bullet selection? Dive into this important component of ballistics with Phil Massaro.

New for 2026: CCI High Bar Air Gun Slugs

CCI Ammunition has introduced High Bar Air Gun Slugs, which are designed to deliver accuracy and terminal performance, especially through modern PCP air rifles and pistols.

Try a Hunting Preserve

With most hunting seasons over, some of us like to find another avenue in which to go afield. What about trying a bird hunting preserve?

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.