“federal loads”

Federal’s new HammerDown ammo line has been ideally adapted to feed, cycle and function in lever-action rifles while also delivering the best level of terminal performance for hunting that can be extracted from each cartridge.

Many turkey hunters are choosing to load heavy-hitting 3 1/2-inch shells into their guns. But does the extra firepower really make a difference?

Why would the Creedmoor gain acceptance, when we had such a similar level of performance in a cartridge released at the end of the 19^th century? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

While there may be a shine on some of the modern releases in the 6.5mm bore diameter, the 6.5x55 Swedish still makes a sound choice for the practical hunter due to its combination of terminal ballistics, flat trajectory and minimal recoil.

Just about every case shape imaginable has been modified to hold both 7mm and .30-caliber bullets, but it was gunwriter Layne Simpson who saw a gap in the lineup: there was no 7mm cartridge based on a full-length .375 H&H case. In 1979, Simpson took the excellent 8mm Remington Magnum and necked it down to hold 7mm bullets, giving his wildcat the name “Shooting Times Westerner.”

If you want a cartridge that will handle deer and bear at woods distances in any state while providing the capability of being a rock-solid defensive cartridge, the .450 Bushmaster should have a place near the top of the list.

Driving a 40-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of between 1875 and 1910 fps, if you desire to pursue furbearers and varmints at ranges beyond what the .22 LR can handle, the .22 WMR is your cartridge.

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? We take a closer look at the pros and cons of each.

If velocity is your thing, and you want the speediest rimfire cartridge currently available, look no further than the .17 WSM.