The Best North American Hunting Calibers: A Definitive Ammo Guide

Few things are as critical as cartridge and ammo selection for hunting.

Picking the wrong round doesn’t just mean a bad group or a missed target at the gun range; it could mean losing that buck you’ve been waiting for all season.

On top of that, every year, more and more different types of ammo hit the market. Whether you walk into your local Cabela’s or are just browsing online, the sheer number of ammunition options can be overwhelming.

But don’t worry, we are here to get you pointed in the right direction. We are going to go over some of the best caliber choices for various types of North American land game, along with a few of our favorite specific types of ammunition.

How We Chose the Best Hunting Rounds

This list is a culmination of years of collective hunting experience from members of the Pew Pew Tactical team.

While there is an immense number of extremely effective calibers out there (many of which we love dearly here), we can’t include every caliber on this list, or else it would be a mile long.

Our criteria for selecting both calibers and ammunition types are as follows: terminal ballistic performance, proven effectiveness, availability, use case, number of firearms available in the caliber, and cost.

Best Ammo For Small Game

This category is for game such as rabbit, squirrel, groundhog, fox, and coyote.

1. .22LR

It goes without saying that nothing will ever unseat .22 Long Rifle as one of the most popular calibers of all time.

The ammo is extremely affordable, the recoil is almost non-existent, and it is perfect for harvesting small game where you may want to save the meat and/or pelts.

On top of that, so many guns are chambered for .22LR that there is sure to be one that fits your needs and your budget.

• CCI Mini Mag 40gr: These rounds have been around for over 60 years and are proven small game-getters. They are easy to find and run exceedingly well in most semi-auto rimfire guns.
• Aguila Interceptor 40gr CPHP: Aguila has taken their copper-plated hollow point rounds and pushed them to an extremely brisk 1,470 feet per second. These speedsters shoot flat and are great for nailing headshots on slightly bigger small game, like foxes.

2. .17 HMR

Although .22LR is the everyman’s choice, .17 HMR is an amazing alternative for small game with some big advantages.

The .17 HMR retains the ultra-low recoil that rimfire rounds are known for, but is moving smaller projectiles roughly twice as fast and produces nearly twice the muzzle energy. This translates into a harder-hitting, flatter-shooting cartridge that is less affected by wind.

Keep in mind that it may destroy the meat and pelt on very small game. If meat conservation is a concern, sticking with .22LR may be wise.

• Hornady V-MAX Varmint Express 17gr: This is an excellent polymer-tipped hollow point round, moving around 2550 feet per second. The bullet design is so exceptional that both CCI and Remington use it for some of their .17 HMR hunting ammo.

3. .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO

The AR-15 has firmly cemented its place as America’s Rifle. Luckily, its native chambering of .223/5.56 makes for an excellent varmint cartridge. It combines good velocity with a reasonable projectile weight, and its availability in many semi-auto platforms makes it easy to hit follow-up shots.

All of that makes for an ideal cartridge for hunting coyotes and viable for other applications, such as feral hogs.

• Hornady V-MAX Varmint Express 55gr: Hornady once again makes this list with another excellent V-MAX loading. I have used these exact rounds for around a decade with nothing but outstanding results on coyote and Texas feral hog (shoot em’ behind the ear). These are fast, flat, and absolutely grenade upon impact for devastating results.

Honorable Caliber Mentions

Other great calibers for small game include .22 WMR, .204 Ruger, 22-250, and .257 WBY Magnum, to name a few.

Best Ammo For Medium Game

This category is for game such as deer, feral hogs, goats, sheep, antelope, and similar-sized animals.

4. .243 Winchester

I have harvested over 20 deer and numerous hogs with the trusty .243 Winchester. I have over 25 different rifle chamberings, and nothing has produced better first-shot DRT (dead right there) results for me. In my opinion, it is hands-down the ultimate caliber for southern whitetail deer.

It is a perfect mix of speed, bullet weight, and flat trajectory. With the right bullet selection, .243 will yield an amazing wound channel while dumping almost all of its energy into the target, while wasting very little to no energy on the backside.

The soft-shooting properties of the .243 Win also make it an excellent choice for recoil-sensitive or youth shooters as well.

• Sig Sauer Marksman Sierra GameKing 85gr: This exact 85-grain GameKing bullet has never failed to put down a single whitetail or hog since I started hunting with them in 2007. Expect deep, explosive, and repeatable wound channels but no exit wounds. This is my favorite loading on this entire list.

5. .270 Winchester

The .270 Winchester is now over 100 years old, but it remains arguably the best all-around hunting cartridge ever made.

Why? Well, it carries around 2,700 foot pounds and moves around 2,800 to 3,000 feet per second. This means that it shoots flatter than some of its larger brethren, like the .308 Winchester and .30-06.

You can easily harvest whitetail, mule deer, caribou, and even elk with good bullet selection and a well-placed shot.

• Barnes VOR-TX TTSX 130gr: The all-copper, tipped TTSX rounds are designed to expand into four petals that stay attached for ultimate penetration and near-complete weight retention. These bullets are a favorite among many hunters.

6. .308 Winchester

While .270 may shoot flatter and deliver slightly more energy, nothing beats .308 Winchester for availability and versatility. Almost every major rifle manufacturer offers guns in .308; you won’t be short on options here.

You can load anything from screaming fast 110-grain varmint rounds, all the way up to 220-grain long-range projectiles, and everything in between. It carries more than enough energy to take medium to medium-large game at reasonable distances. This is the ultimate do-all cartridge, and you can never go wrong with .308 Winchester.

• Remington Core-Lokt 150gr: This cup-and-core bullet offers excellent controlled expansion and weight retention. These are the most proven hunting rounds in circulation today. I once heard someone say that “Core-Lokt bullets have probably killed more deer in North America than anything except arrows and musket balls” — and I can’t say they are wrong.
• Federal Terminal Ascent 175gr: With an aerodynamic bonded bullet, the Terminal Ascent offers a flat trajectory and the ability to expand at lower velocities further out. This makes it an ideal round for those extended hunting shots.   

Honorable Caliber Mentions

A few other solid picks that didn’t make this section include .30-06 Springfield, 6.5 Creedmoor, .350 Legend, 7mm-08 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, .270 WSM, and .280 Ackley Improved.

Best Ammo For Large Game

This category is for game such as elk, moose, bear, and bison.

7. 300 PRC

I have been sticking to the old standbys until now. Sorry, .300 Win Mag, there is a new long-range hunter in town.

The 300 PRC uses a more efficient cartridge design than the older .300 Win Mag. Coupled with twist rates that are more accommodating to heavier bullets, you get a flatter-shooting round that carries that magnum-level energy for a longer distance.

Although the 300 PRC is gaining popularity quickly, it is worth noting that rifles and ammo are generally more expensive than their .300 Win Mag counterparts.

• Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter 212gr: Hornady whipped up a bullet with an ultra-high .663 G1 ballistic coefficient that still manages to expand extremely well upon impact. You are looking at 2860 feet per second and 3850 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. With a 200-yard zero, you still retain over 2300 feet per second of velocity and 2500 foot pounds of energy at 400 yards with only 19 inches of drop!

8. .375 H&H

While many associate the .375 Holland & Holland with dangerous game hunting in Africa, it definitely secures a top spot for large North American game as well.

With bullet weights ranging from 235 to 350 grains, the .375 H&H delivers a bone-crushing 4,200 foot pounds of energy on average and is easily usable out to 300 yards.

Yes, the ammo is expensive. Sure, the guns aren’t cheap. But man, does it feel good to know you can put down a behemoth Alaskan polar bear or that massive Maine moose with a single well-placed shot.

• Barnes VOR-TX TSX 300gr: At 2540 feet per second and with a whopping 4300 foot pounds of energy, the Barnes TSX can and will tear through anything (animal shoulders included) while providing deep penetration and excellent expansion.

9. .45-70 Govt.

Despite being from the ancient times, there is not a single large game animal on the planet that .45-70 Government hasn’t taken.

This is a heavy-hitting caliber but moves much more slowly. As such, it reduces your effective range by quite a bit. But not everyone needs to reach out and touch something at 300 yards.

The availability of .45-70 in lever-action rifles, combined with its power and relatively limited range, makes this an ideal caliber for a brush gun that is likely to be used in close-range scenarios that may require fast follow-up shots.

• Hornady FTX LEVERevolution 325gr: This is by far and away the most popular round for the .45-70. It utilizes a flex-tip bullet that moves just over 2000 feet per second, which is faster than traditional flat-nose bullets.
• HSM Bear Load Flat Nose 430g +P: For extremely thick game like Kodiak brown bear and the like, you want a powerful non-expanding bullet that purely maximizes penetration so that you can reach their vitals no matter what.

Honorable Caliber Mentions

These didn’t make the cut for big game, but I still have big love for them: .338 Win Mag, .35 Whelen, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and .375 Ruger to list a couple.

FAQs

Should I opt for more power than I think I need just in case?

Not necessarily. Choosing a cartridge that generates too much energy for the size of your intended quarry can potentially lead to the round zipping through the target with little to no expansion and less energy transfer. You may also run the risk of causing excess meat loss if too much damage occurs.

What if my gun doesn't shoot well with certain ammo?

Ammo recommendations can only take you so far. Shot placement, and therefore accuracy, is exceedingly imporant when hunting. We always recommend trying a few different types of quality hunting ammo to find the one your rifle likes best.

Is full metal jacket ammo suitable for hunting?

In most cases, no. The lack of expansion with FMJ ammo can lead to slower animal death or in some cases, a non-lethal shot. Purpose-built hunting ammo will usually produce more ethical and efficient results.

What is 100% or complete energy transfer?

Complete energy transfer happens when a bullet enters a target and the entirety of the bullet and any fragments stay within the target. If the bullet or fragments exit the other side, they are still traveling with some energy, meaning that not all of the energy was transferred to the target.

Meet the Experts

Authoring this article is Pew Pew Tactical Editor, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor, a former competitive shooter, an avid hunter, a reloader, and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms in over 50 different calibers. His variety of hunting guns is complemented by two decades of experience hunting various types of game, which he uses to share his hunting knowledge with the shooting community.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, every hunting situation is different, and every hunter is different. There is no perfect one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to selecting the right cartridge and ammunition.

But if you are new to hunting or just looking for something different, hopefully this list can help you get pointed in the right direction. Remember, always consider the distance, type of game, and the appropriateness of the rifle for the hunting circumstances.

Are there any caliber or ammo choices that you love that didn’t make the list? Sound off in the comments below! Got a caliber picked out, but are looking for a new rifle? Be sure to check out our article on the Best Hunting Rifles!