Ammo 2023
The last few years have been taxing on ammo companies, but the top brands have managed to meet demand and introduce some fantastic new products for the new year.
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. 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 at SHOT Show 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 zinc-coated steel shot loads are available in #3 3-inch loads for both 12 and 20 gauge. The new #3 offering joins their current 12 gauge (#2, #4, BB) and 20 gauge (#2 and #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 a 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 #3 S3 zinc-plated steel shot and #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. (apexammunition.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 #7.5 or #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 #7.5, #8, or #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, one-ounce Competition Helice load reaches over 1,300 fps and is available in #7.5 and #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 (size #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 (#2 and #3 for Dual Steel, #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)
Federal Premium
Federal is rolling out a long list of cutting-edge new ammunition products, including new High Over All competition shotshell loads for 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410 firearms. Like the 12-gauge version, which is already helping top trap, skeet, and sporting clays shooters collect titles across the country, HOA sub-gauge ammunition utilizes hard high-antimony lead shot and Podium one-piece wads for consistent patterning and performance. A solid brass head and a tapered hull ensures that HOA ammunition offers more reloads than competing shotshells. Also new on the shotshell side are Black Cloud FS Steel 28 gauge, which comes with a FLITECONTROL FLEX wad and FLITESTOPPER pellets that offer consistent patterns and exceptional performance from light-recoiling 28-gauge guns, and new Federal premium HEVI-Bismuth, which is loaded with 9.6 g/cc bismuth pellets sourced from Federal’s partner HEVI-Shot. HEVI-Bismuth is 22 percent denser than steel shot, and this new non-toxic load will use FLITECONTROL FLEX wads and will be safe for both modern and classic shotguns. Nine new 12- and 20-guage HEVI-Bismuth offerings will be available in 2023. Also new this year is Federal Premium Hi-Bird Fiber Wad 12-gauge ammunition that features a paper gas-sealing over-powder wad and cellulose-based filler material.
Federal Premium is offering a single new rimfire option for 2023: Punch .22 WMR. Following on the heels of Punch .22 LR, this ammunition is designed and tested to offer the ultimate .22 personal-defense ammo option and is stringently tested for premium performance and reliability. The nickel-plated lead-core bullet reaches velocities of 1,000 fps from handguns with two-inch barrels and up to 1,800 fps from rifle barrels. The extreme velocity and the bullet’s special design that minimizes expansion allow the Punch .22 WMR to penetrate deeper than competing .22 WMR defense rounds.
The 30 Super Carry is a better option for personal defense, and this year Federal Premium is offering Punch 30 SC ammo. Punch bullets feature skived jackets and soft lead cores that promote expansion and energy transfer, and the high-quality brass and sealed primer insure consistent ignition. Also new to the Federal handgun ammo lineup is Train & Defend 10mm Auto ammunition. Loaded with Federal’s “Versatile Hollow Point” (VHP) bullet, this ammunition is suitable for both practice and personal defense.
Competition shooters will be excited to learn that Federal Premium is now offering Gold Medal Action Pistol ammunition. Available in 9mm and .40 S&W, Gold medal Action pistol ammo is loaded to competition power factor requirements. This ammo features an encapsulated FMJ bullet and Catalyst lead-free primer to reduce contaminants in the air.
There are lots of new centerfire rifle offerings from Federal this year, too, including Federal Premium Gold Medal Centerstrike. Utilizing sleek, proprietary OTM bullets, Gold Medal primers and brass and special propellants, this ammunition is specifically designed for shooters who want to stretch the effective range of their .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, or .223 Rem. centerfire target rifles to the max. Federal’s new Varmint & Predator JHP and Champion JSP 5.56x45 loads offer excellent performance in 5.56 rifles at an affordable price point, and Federal’s new ELD-X centerfire rifle loads feature Hornady ELD-X tipped hunting bullets combined with Federal powders, primers, and brass, making them exceptionally accurate and effective hunting rounds. (federalpremium.com)
Fiocchi
Italian ammunition manufacturer Fiocchi is planning to substantially increase their footprint in the U.S. ammo market. Fiocchi’s facilities in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Ozark, Missouri, are churning out lots of excellent ammunition, and the company has a number of new loads designed for American hunters and shooters. For those who pursue big game there’s Knock Down, which offers all-copper projectiles with a hollow-point design for maximum energy transfer and shock. Knock Down will be available in eight popular loads from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag. Also new to the centerfire rifle ammo lineup is Hyperperformance Hunt ammunition, which is loaded with premium SST, Scirocco, Varmint Grenade, and GameKing bullets in calibers from .223 Rem. to .300 Win. Mag. New to Fiocchi’s Range Dynamics line this year are a 5.7x28 35-grain jacketed frangible load and a 4.6x30 3.8-grain tipped hollow-point offering.
Fiocchi has long been known for their high-quality shotshells, and this year the company is offering hunters and shooters a long list of innovative new products for every discipline and game species. New Speed sTEAL ammo is available in 12-gauge 2¾ loads of either #4 or #6 premium steel at a velocity of 1,415 fps, perfect for bagging teal zooming past your blind during the early season. For all-purpose waterfowl hunting, Fiocchi’s Golden Bismuth is a great option, and in addition to their 12- and 20-gauge offerings the company now has a 28-gauge Golden Bismuth 3-inch load that fires 15/16th ounce of premium bismuth at 1,350 fps, a low-recoil load that works well even on large ducks like mallards and gadwall. More areas are requiring non-toxic shot for upland hunting, and Fiocchi’s Field Dynamics Upland Steel loads are the perfect option. Available in 12 gauge and loaded with 1 1/8-ounces of steel shot (#4 or #6), this ammo is suitable for birds or upland game even in areas where lead is still legal. Lastly, with spring just around the corner it’s time to consider your next turkey load, and Fiocchi Golden Turkey TSS is a great choice. The 12- and 20-gauge and .410 options from last year carry over, but this year Fiocchi is offering a 3-inch 28-gauge TSS turkey load with 1 1/16 ounces of #9 TSS shot. This load has the potential to greatly extend the lethal range of 28-gauge gobbler guns while reducing the amount of recoil needed to cleanly kill a big tom. (fiocchiusa.com)
HEVI-Shot
The big news from HEVI-Shot is the launch of their HEVI-Metal Xtreme non-toxic shotshell ammunition. These stacked loads are comprised of 30 percent HEVI-XII 12 g/cc pellets and 70 percent steel inside a FLITECONTROL FLEX wad. The tungsten shot is three sizes smaller than steel, ensuring consistent and reliable downrange performance. HEVI-Metal Xtreme is available in either 12- or 20-gauge 3-inch versions with your choice of either #6 tungsten and #3 steel or #4 tungsten and #1 steel. HEVI-Shot is also expanding their sub-gauge ammo offerings with the introduction of eight new 28-gauge offerings, including two new 3-inch HEVI-18 TSS Turkey loads, two HEVI-Bismuth 3-inch loads, and both 2¾ and 3-inch HEVI-Bismuth upland loads. (hevishot.com)
Hornady
The biggest news coming out of Grand Island, Nebraska, is undoubtedly the launch of Hornady’s 7mm PRC. Positioned between the 6.5 and .300 PRC, the 7mm PRC is perhaps the most versatile of the lot. It’s capable of firing a 180-grain ELD match bullet with a ballistic coefficient of .796 at a velocity of almost 3,000 fps. The 7mm PRC fits in long actions and generates less recoil than the fast .30-caliber magnums. It’s one of the most efficient cartridges ever developed, with a neck and case design that allows the use of long, streamlined bullets without robbing internal capacity. The 7mm PRC 175-grain ELD-X bullet shoots flatter than a 200-grain .300 Win. Mag. ELD-X bullet and the 7mm retains almost 100 foot-pounds more energy at 500 yards than the .300. Currently Hornady is offering three loads for the 7mm PRC: a 160-grain CX monometal bullet with a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, the 175-grain ELD-X that reaches a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps, and an ELD Match load with a velocity of 2,975 fps. Over two dozen rifle manufacturers are chambering guns for the 7mm PRC this year, and you can expect this versatile and efficient target and hunting round to gain a strong following very quickly. SRP: $69.15-$73.07, box of 20.
The 7mm PRC is certainly the biggest news for Hornady, but it’s not the brand’s only new product offering for 2023. Hornady is also offering four new Sub-X bullets this year as well. Designed to expand reliably at subsonic velocities, these bullets feature Hornady’s patented Flex Tip that allows for expansion down to 900 feet per second. Sub-X bullets meet FBI protocol for terminal ballistic test performance and are now available in .308 175-grain, .357 200-grain, .452 395-grain, and .458 410-grain offerings. Sub-X bullets are designed to function in a variety of platforms (including gas guns) and include a lead core and cannelured jacket for a positive case crimp for use in semi-automatic firearms. Also new from Hornady is the Bore Driver ELD-X muzzleloader bullet that features a polymer base with a gilding metal jacket. These 340-grain .50-caliber hunting bullets help improve accuracy and offer exceptional terminal performance for muzzleloader hunters. (hornady.com)
Remington
The big news from Remington this year is the release of the .360 Buckhammer straight-wall cartridge, which was developed in conjunction with Henry Repeating Arms. Though the Buckhammer is similar in bullet diameter to the straight-wall 350 Legend, the Remington round is rimmed. These means that it will work effectively in lever-action, single-shot, and even double rifles. Two Core-Lokt loads (180 and 200 grains) will be available initially. SRP: $36.99.
Also new from Remington is their Premier Long Range line of centerfire hunting rifle ammunition. Premier Long Range is the first factory hunting ammunition loaded with Speer’s outstanding Impact hunting bullet. These projectiles combine high ballistic coefficients with the durability of a bonded bullet, utilizing the same SlipStream polymer bullet tip found on Federal Premium’s Terminal Ascent ammo. Premier Long Range is available in eight different loads ranging from 6mm Creedmoor to .300 Remington Ultra Magnum. SRP: $59.99-$97.99.
Premier Bismuth is loaded with HEVI-Bismuth pellets that have a density (over 9.6 g/cc) and are safe to use in older shotgun barrels. Premier Bismuth is loaded with Remington’s Premier components, and this shot is cast and alloyed in the United States. Available in 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge and .410 bore. SRP: $57.99-$74.99, box of 25. Lastly, Remington is launching Golden Saber 10mm Auto ammunition. The 180-grain bullets are offered in trusted Golden Saber Bonded, Golden Saber Defense, and Golden Saber Defense Compact lines. SRP: $38.99-$47.99. (remington.com)
Speer
Speer’s Gold Dot bullets have been a favorite choice of serious shooters and law-enforcement professionals for years, and this year Speer is offering their trusted Gold Dot ammo for carbine platforms. The G2-style elastomer-filled bullet nose effectively penetrates through common barriers and transfers energy efficiently, making this one of the best ammo options for anyone who runs a pistol-caliber carbine for self-defense. The engineers at Speer designed this ammunition to operate at velocities that provide consistent, optimum performance through carbine-length barrels. Gold Dot Carbine ammunition will be available in a wide variety of popular carbine calibers. (speer.com)
Winchester
It’s been a very busy year for Winchester as the brand is expanding several existing lines of ammunition as well as introducing new ones. Handgun hunters and big-bore fans will be excited to see the company’s new Big Bore handgun ammunition hit stores shelves in 2023. Available in 10mm, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt, Big Bore ammo is loaded with a new semi-jacketed hollow-point bullet with a concave hollow-point design that offers deep penetration and reliable expansion for big-game hunting and self-defense applications. Also new this year is M1 Garand, a .30-06 Springfield load that is optimized to function in Garand rifles. These cartridges are loaded to the original velocity and pressure specifications of original .30 Caliber Ball M2 ammo, which are lower than the pressure levels of most modern .30-06 ammo. These cartridges also come with a custom headstamp that identifies that they are loaded to M2 Ball specifications, which will make them even more attractive (and practical) for fans of Garand rifles.
Winchester’s Copper Impact family of centerfire hunting rifle ammunition, which is loaded with expanding solid copper bullets, now includes a 150-grain 7mm Remington Magnum offering. Like other Copper Impact loads, the 7mm Rem. Mag. version is loaded with Winchester’s polymer-tipped Extreme Point Copper bullet that expands upon impact, yet offers better weight retention than traditional jacketed lead-core designs. There’s a new 7.62x39 offering in Winchester’s Target and Practice line of ammunition which features a 123-grain FMJ projectile and comes in a boxer-primed brass case that’s suitable for reloading. Available in either 50- or 120-count boxes, Target and Practice is an affordable ammo option for 7.62x30 owners that is loaded to Winchester’s standards using high-quality components.
There are two new Power-Point rifle offerings for hunters this year as well, a 150-grain .300 Blackout load as well as a new 200-grain .35 Whelen option, both of which should be excellent for hunting whitetails and similar-sized game.
Winchester continues to support Folds of Honor with the release of several new USA Valor offerings. The new 200-grain .300 Blackout load is designed for target practice and training and features an open-tip range bullet. Loaded to subsonic velocities, this ammunition offers sure functioning in suppressed firearms. There are also new Folds of Honor shotshell offerings, including two 12-gauge-loads with 1 1/8 ounces of either #7.5 or #8 shot and a 20-gauge load with 7/8 ounce of #7.5 shot. These shotshells are ideal for shooting competitive clay games, but they’re also great for backyard practice or wingshooting.
Winchester’s new rimfire offering is their Xpert .22 LR load, which fires a 42-grain plated hollow-point bullet at a velocity of 1,320 fps. Available in 100-round boxes, this .22 ammo is ideal for plinking at the range, target shooting, and small-game hunting. Booth #11828 (winchester.com)
