Hunting Ammunition Selection: Matching Your Ammo to Your Game

Hunting Ammunition Selection: Matching Your Ammo to Your Game

Posted by Liberty Tactical Munitions - Ethical Hunting Starts with the Right Ammunition on Jan 26th 2026

Ethical hunters want quick and humane kills. The ammunition you select plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. Understanding how different bullet designs perform on various game animals will help you make responsible choices that ensure clean harvests. 

Small Game (2-15 lbs)

Animals: Squirrel, rabbit, groundhog, possum, raccoon

Typical Range: Under 100 yards 

For small game, the key is using smaller cartridges to avoid damaging meat and pelts. Use non-expanding solid lead or FMJ bullets for edible game, or jacketed bullets with controlled expansion for clean, immediate kills. 

Recommended Calibers: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, or shotguns with #6 birdshot 

Varmints and Predators (up to 30 lbs)

Animals: Coyote, fox, prairie dogs, groundhogs

Typical Range: 100-400 yards 

Varmints require high-velocity bullets that expand rapidly. If you want to preserve pelts (for coyotes and foxes), use smaller, faster ammunition that minimizes pelt damage while still being effective. 

Recommended Calibers: .17 Hornet, .223 Remington, .22-250. For coyotes specifically, Hornady V-Max and ELD-X are popular choices. 

Medium Game (50-350 lbs)

Animals: Whitetail deer, mule deer, blacktail deer, pronghorn, feral hogs, sheep, goats

Typical Range: 50-300+ yards 

Medium game hunting requires ammunition that can penetrate sufficiently to reach vital organs, expand to produce a large permanent wound track, retain at least 80% of original weight, and deliver enough striking energy (approximately 1,500 foot-pounds or more at 100 yards) for clean kills. 

Recommended Calibers: .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, 7mm-08, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield 

Bullet Types: Soft point, bonded bullets, controlled expansion bullets like Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, or Hornady ELD-X 

Large Game (350-750+ lbs)

Animals: Elk, moose, large bears

Typical Range: Variable, often under 200 yards in thick cover 

Large game hunting places a premium on deep bullet penetration, high striking energy, and reliable bullet expansion. These animals have thicker hides and larger bone structures that require robust ammunition. 

Recommended Calibers: .308 Winchester (minimum for elk), .30-06, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum 

Bullet Types: Premium bonded bullets (180gr+), monolithic copper bullets, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame. Bullets should be designed for slow expansion and deep penetration. 

Dangerous Game

Animals: Brown bears, grizzly bears, Cape buffalo, large wild boar

Typical Range: 75 yards or less 

Dangerous game may attack when encountered or after being hit, requiring powerful cartridges that can quickly stop a charging animal. Reliable penetration and bullet weight retention to reach vital organs deep inside the animal are imperative. 

Recommended Calibers: .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Rigby, .458 Winchester Magnum (for largest dangerous game), or minimum .30-06 with premium 200-220gr bullets for brown bear 

Bullet Construction Types for Hunting 

Cup-and-Core: Traditional design with lead core and copper jacket. Good for deer-sized game. May fragment on bone. (Remington Core-Lokt, Hornady InterLock) 

Bonded Bullets: Lead core chemically bonded to jacket prevents separation. Superior weight retention. Ideal for elk and larger game. (Hornady InterBond, Swift Scirocco, Nosler AccuBond) 

Partition Bullets: Two-core design with a partition separating front (expansion) and rear (penetration) sections. (Nosler Partition) 

Monolithic Copper: Solid copper construction offers 100% weight retention. Lead-free for areas with lead restrictions. (Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX) 

Shot Placement Trumps Everything

No matter what ammunition you choose, precise shot placement in the vital heart-lung area is more important than caliber selection. A well-placed shot from a moderate caliber will always outperform a poorly placed shot from a magnum. Practice with your chosen ammunition until you can consistently place shots in the vital zone. 

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