“factory ammunition”

Some of the 21^st century developments in big-game bullets are stellar, but there are many classic designs that have not gone out of favor.

Generating just over 3,200 ft.-lbs. of muzzle energy, the .405 Winchester was—at the time of its release in 1904—the most powerful lever-action cartridge available.

The 400 Legend takes the 350 Legend concept a step further, giving hunters a straight-walled cartridge fully suitable for both bolt-action rifles as well as the AR platform, conforming to the collective statutes set forth by a number of Midwestern states.

Between the 6.5 PRC and 6.8 Western, which is the better choice for the hunter? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

With its 18-inch barrel and available .308 Winchester chambering, this compact powerhouse delivers everything you need to ethically harvest medium-sized game in a package that is easy to sling across the handlebars of your ATV.

What is it that makes a cartridge ideal for your hunting scenario? Perhaps it is ammo availability, or the individual connection with a particular cartridge. We take a closer look at the pros and cons of common and obscure loads.

We put two short-action gems up against one another: the .308 Winchester, a time-proven veteran with 70-plus years of hunting experience, and the 6.5 PRC, a relative newcomer that is quickly gaining favor in the hunting fields and target range.

The first of the Nosler proprietary cartridges, the 26 Nosler remains a flat-shooting, hard-hitting choice for hunting open country. Being a 6.5mm cartridge, it will use the high ballistic coefficient projectiles which retain their energy downrange, resist the effects of a crosswind and offer a flat trajectory.

Introduced in 1955, the 6mm Remington was designed to be a dual-purpose cartridge that could handle varmints and predators just as well as it could deer and similar-sized game.