Fast-openingThin jacket, opens or fragments right away. Great on small, thin-skinned animals, too fragile for big ones.
Controlled expansionOpens up but holds together. The all-around choice for deer and hogs.
Deep-penetratingBonded, partition or solid copper. Keeps its weight to break bone and reach the vitals on big game.
HuntingSmall game
Squirrels, rabbits, grouse
What you need: Kill cleanly without ruining the meat. Small animals don't need expansion, and a bullet that blows up wastes most of what you'd eat.
Use✔ .22 LR solid (round nose)✔ .22 LR hollow point✔ Shotgun #4–#6 shotExamples: CCI Mini-Mag, Federal Game-Shok
Solids are the meat-saver for head shots. Hollow points open more for body shots on rabbits.
✖ Avoid- Centerfire varmint bullets (they destroy the meat)
- .17 HMR on body shots if you plan to eat it
HuntingVarmint & predator
Prairie dogs, groundhogs, coyotes, foxes
What you need: Open fast and dump all the energy inside a small animal, with little risk of ricochet or over-penetration.
Use✔ Polymer-tipped varmint bullets✔ Thin-jacket hollow pointsExamples: Hornady V-Max, Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, Sierra BlitzKing
Selling the fur? Fur hunters often switch to FMJ or slower-opening bullets for smaller exit holes.
✖ Avoid- Using these same bullets on deer or hogs (they can blow up on the surface)
HuntingDeer & hog
Whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn, feral hogs
What you need: Controlled expansion: open up to about twice their size, hold together, and go deep enough to reach the vitals from any reasonable angle.
Use✔ Cup-and-core soft points✔ Polymer-tipped hunting bullets✔ Bonded bulletsExamples: Remington Core-Lokt, Winchester Power-Point, Hornady SST / ELD-X, Federal Fusion, Nosler AccuBond
Big boars have a tough shoulder shield of gristle. For mature hogs, a bonded or copper bullet is the safer pick.
✖ Avoid- FMJ (doesn't expand, and illegal for big game in many states)
- Varmint bullets
HuntingElk, bear & up
Elk, moose, black and brown bear, big hogs
What you need: Penetration first. The bullet has to break heavy bone and still reach the vitals, so it needs to keep most of its weight.
Use✔ Bonded bullets✔ Partition bullets✔ Monolithic copperExamples: Nosler AccuBond, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, Barnes TSX / TTSX, Hornady CX
Go heavier for your caliber. Copper bullets keep nearly all their weight but are longer, so check your twist rate.
✖ Avoid- Light, fast-opening bullets made for deer
- Varmint bullets of any kind
★Box labels helpMost ammo boxes say what the load is built for: “varmint,” “deer,” “medium game” or “big game.” When in doubt, buy the load labeled for your animal, and check it hits where you aim before the season.
Going after Cape buffalo or elephant? That's dangerous-game territory with its own rules: see the
Big Bore chart.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements; other makers sell equivalent bullets. Check your state's hunting regulations: many require expanding bullets for big game, and California requires lead-free ammunition for all hunting.