“vital-shok”

Undoubtedly, North America’s most popular game animal is the whitetail deer, but globally (and running a close second here at home) is the feral hog. Not unlike the whitetail, they are hunted with a wide array of calibers and bullets, and what works for one hunter might not be the choice of the other.

In this modern era of hunting rifles and cartridges, common sense would indicate that a cartridge with the performance level of the .30-30 would long ago have faded into obscurity. Why won’t it go away?

Nothing tops buckshot for toppling big game at close range. We’ve tested five of the most prevalent 12-gauge, 2¾-inch loads to determine the best one for your needs.

Between the .280 Remington and the .280 Ackley Improved, which better suits a hunter? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

Between the 7mm-08 and the .280, which is the better choice for the hunter in the market for an all-around rifle that can best handle a wide range of species across North America, Europe and Africa? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

The .270 WSM and 7mm Rem. Mag. are the most popular magnums among the .270 and 7mm cartridges, and with good reason; both offer sensible ballistics which can be managed by most shooters without being overly hard on your barrel. But which makes the better choice for hunters? Contributor Philip Massaro takes a closer look at the pros and cons of each.

Our annual survey highlights the year’s best ammunition and components—and you can see most of them under one roof at this year’s NRA Annual Meetings.