AMMO

by Brad Fitzpatrick

It’s safe to say that all our lives changed in the spring of 2020, but there is perhaps no industry that has seen as much tumult as the ammunition industry. In the early days of the pandemic demand for ammunition skyrocketed, reaching not just record numbers but stretching far beyond the capabilities of most ammo firms. The demand was there, but keeping machines running and employees in the factory proved challenging.

The market has stabilized some, though it’s likely to be a while yet before all store shelves are fully stocked with a full array of loads for every application. Nevertheless, many ammunition manufacturers have caught up with demand to a point where they are launching some new products. There are only a couple of new cartridge launches, but there is a variety of new hunting, defense, and target loads from various manufacturers.

Many of this year’s new products expand on trends we’ve seen during the last several years at SHOT Show. Long-range hunting and shooting remain popular, and so do projectiles with high ballistic coefficients and aerodynamic designs. Hornady’s impressive new 7mm PRC cartridge is designed specifically to handle the emerging class of high BC .284-inch bullets. On the shotgun side, the demand for premium high-density non-toxic loads continues to grow with companies like Federal Premium, APEX, Winchester, and HEVI-Shot offering several new loads. Concealed carry remains popular, and so do self-defense handgun loads. The 9mm remains king, but the 10mm continues to gain traction despite having been proclaimed dead by some in the firearms press over 30 years ago. Ammunition companies are up to speed and back in the business of developing exciting new products for shooters and hunters. Here's a rundown of the latest ammo products retailers will see in 2023.

Apex Ammunition

APEX has been on top of their game in recent years with the release of several excellent non-toxic blends for hunters, and this year their S3 zinccoated steel shot loads are available in No. 3 3-inch loads for both 12 and 20 gauge. The new No. 3 offering joins their current 12 gauge (No. 2, No. 4, BB) and 20 gauge (No. 2 and No. 4) loads, which provide hunters with a broad range of S3 steel ammo from which to choose. Zinc coating ensures consistently round pellets and protects against corrosion as well as “bridging,” which occurs when two pellets lock together. The zinc also reduces friction for more uniform pellet drop and consistent patterns. S3 ammunition uses APEX’s tungsten-grade wad, which is also found in their high-performance TSS turkey loads. Despite quality components and consistent performance, S3 ammunition is an excellent value, blending high performance with a surprisingly affordable price tag. SRP: $23.99 to $26.99, box of 25.

Also new from APEX is their limited-edition Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Habitat Blend (SRP: $51.99, box of 25; $489.99, case of 250). These 12-gauge, 3-inch “duplex” loads blend the company’s No. 3 S3 zinc-plated steel shot and No. 8 TSS and come in special Mossy Oak camo packaging. The blend of zinc-plated steel and 18.1 g/cc TSS makes this duplex load suitable for a wide variety of waterfowl hunts, everything from teal buzzing by at low elevations to honkers hanging out at the edge of the decoy spread. It’s also more affordable than all-TSS ammo.

(apexmunition.com)

BASCHIERI & PELLAGRI

Baschieri & Pellagri (or B&P) is located outside Bologna, Italy, and is one of Europe’s premier ammunition manufacturers. B&P is now owned by Fiocchi, and since Fiocchi is a growing name in the U.S. ammo market you can expect to see more B&P shells on store shelves, which is a great thing for hunters and shooters. It’ll no doubt take some American consumers time to familiarize themselves with B&P’s line of ammunition, but the company is offering many new products and line expansions for 2023.

B&P Competition Flyer shotshell ammunition is available in 12-gauge 1¼-ounce loads of No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot with velocities ranging from 1,255 to 1,350 fps, perfect for competing in clay target games without enduring excessive fatigue. Another soft-shooting option from B&P is their Competition One 12-gauge ammunition that offers 1 1 8-ounce loads of No. 7.5, No. 8, or No. 9 shot driven at 1,160 fps. This ammunition is equipped with B&P’s patented Gordon hull with its distinctive color-matched polymer ring in the base of the shotshell. The Gordon hull is proven to reduce recoil fatigue, vitally important when you’re shooting hundreds of targets a day in high-level clays competition. The sport of shooting helice (a special type of clay target with plastic wings) is growing in popularity, and B&P is offering their own special load for this discipline: their 12-gauge, 1-ounce Competition Helice load reaches over 1,300 fps and is available in No. 7.5 and No. 8 shot. Perhaps most significantly, B&P is offering their new NEXT ammunition, which utilizes their proprietary Green Core technology. Green Core wads are fully biodegradable, yet B&P NEXT ammunition offers premium performance for competition shooters. On the hunting side, B&P offers Privilege Game shotshells, which feature Gordon hulls and biodegradable Green Core wads. B&P’s Upland shotshell line is expanding this year and now includes 20-guage 7⁄ 8-ounce loads with nickel-plated shot (Nos. 5, 6, 7.5), and U.S. waterfowl hunters will have a chance to try out B&P’s new Dual Steel and Dual Bismuth loads, both of which come with two different shot sizes in each 12-gauge load (Nos. 2 and 3 for Dual Steel, Nos. 3 and 4 for Dual Bismuth). Both Dual Steel and Dual Bismuth come with B&P’s biodegradable Green Core wads.

(baschieri-pellagriusa.com)

Black Hills

Black Hills’ HoneyBadger ammunition gets more bite for 2023 with the introduction of a 10mm version. Like other HoneyBadger loads, it features an all-copper bullet with deep flutes and sharp frontal edges. At 115 grains, the HoneyBadger is light for a 10mm bullet, but it achieves 1,600 fps from a five-inch barrel with none of the concerns with stoppage normally associated with a hollow-point defensive bullet. This enhances penetration as the flutes redirect tissue from the bullet radially, creating massive amounts of threat-stopping shock. Penetration tests in 10-percent gel have demonstrated a 50-percent increase in penetration depth as compared to traditional hollow points, and the HoneyBadger bullet creates massive wound channels. Muzzle energy is rated at 654 foot-pounds, so this will certainly serve as a bear defense bullet.

(black-hills.com)

Browning

Browning Ammunition is expanding their centerfire rifle lineup with the release of the MaxPoint line of ammo. This polymer-tipped hunting load features a polymer tip for rapid expansion and maximum energy transfer. The heavy-for-caliber bullets with thick copper jackets ensure deep penetration, so this is a versatile round designed for hunting a wide range of big-game animals. A nickel-plated shell case ensures smooth feeding, and MaxPoint ammunition is available in cartridges ranging from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag., including popular new rounds like 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and 6.8 Western as well as classic loads like .30-06, .270 Win., and .30-30. Also new from Browning is their Silver Series centerfire ammunition line, which is a classic soft-point bullet design consisting of heavy bullets with precision-plated bullet jackets. Silver Series ammo is available in 10 loads ranging from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag., and it’s also available in 350 Legend.

On the rimfire side, Browning Ammunition is introducing Sub-22, their newest .22 LR ammo that is optimized to function in suppressed semi-auto .22 pistols. Loaded with 45-grain lead round-nose bullets, these rimfire rounds have a muzzle velocity of 1,050 fps and come in 100-count packages.

(browningammo.com)

Cci

CCI is adding to their extensive line of rimfire offerings with the release of Clean-22 Hyper Velocity .22 LR ammunition. Identifiable by the purple polymer coating on the exterior of the 31-grain bullet, Clean-22 Hyper Velocity ammunition clocks in at 1,550 feet per second and reduces lead fouling in barrels without leaving behind residue that shooters will have to scrub away. This ammunition also cuts lead fouling in suppressors by 60 to 80 percent, which keeps your equipment running cleanly and allows you to shoot more with less cleaning. The bullet nose geometry is engineered for optimum accuracy and reliable feeding in all firearms, including semi-automatics.

(cci-ammunition.com)