“sierra gameking”

Understanding the intended purpose of a bullet and its effect on the body of your quarry is vitally important for making ethical, one-shot-kills. But with so many bullet styles, brands, calibers and game animals of varying sizes, the process can be confusing. Here’s a primer to get you started.

In the hands of a competent rifleman, the .260 Remington is just as effective as it was on the day it was released over two decades ago, and will continue to be for decades to come.

Purchase qualifying Federal Premium medium/big-game ammunition through Dec. 31, 2019 and receive up to a $20 rebate and a free Federal-branded Knives of Alaska Cub Bear Suregrip caping knife.

Let’s take a look at some of the best bullets for African plains game on the market.

Charles Newton and A.O. Neider had a great idea when they mated the .25 caliber bullets with an ’06 case. Over a century after its introduction, hunters are still taking the .25-06 Remington afield to fill their freezers and feed their families.

Remington’s 7mm Mag. came on the scene and won the hearts of many hunters looking to use a bullet of less than .30 caliber, and quickly overtook the .264 Win. Mag., forcing it into near-obscurity. And, in spite of the myriad attempts to produce a 7mm Mag. that will better the performance of the Remington version, it still maintains its seat at the head of table.

You’ve probably heard that African dangerous game can absorb five hits from an Abrams tank and keep on charging. You’ve probably heard that kudu, eland, wildebeest and even impala are so tough from evading lions and leopards they’ll soak up bullets that would floor a North American brown bear. Nonsense.

Whether to use a flat-base bullet or one with a boattail depends largely on the cartridge and the game being hunted.

Put a good bullet in a buck’s boiler room and he won’t go far, caliber notwithstanding. To that end, here are seven great bullet choices.