Ammo 2026

 

Staying on top of the ammunition world’s newest products can be a Herculean effort. Nevertheless, retailers need to keep abreast of the products their customers will be asking about in 2026. This year is seeing line extensions to popular lines as well as the introduction of brand-new cartridges. Here’s a look at several of the most exciting ammo offerings of 2026.

Barnes

Barnes is best known for their monometal hunting bullets, but in April 2025 the company announced that their new Harvest Collection ammunition would feature a lead-core bullet. Designed for use on whitetails and other thin-skinned big-game animals, Harvest Collection ammunition is loaded with Barnes’ sister company Sierra’s superb Tipped GameKing bullets. This collaboration has resulted in one of the most exciting new ammunition products for whitetail hunters in recent years with a proven bullet that promises excellent terminal performance and outstanding accuracy. These bullets are optimized to perform to 400 yards and are loaded with temperature-stable propellants. Harvest Collection is available in nine popular hunting cartridges ranging from .223 Remington to .300 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $39.99 to $44.99, per 20 rounds.

Also new from Barnes is their Reserve ammunition line. Reserve ammunition is available in niche, hard-to-find cartridges like 6.5-284 Norma and 7mm and .300 RSAUM, and since it is hand-loaded by Barnes’ in-house experts using premium components you can expect very low standard deviations and superb accuracy. Reserve ammunition is available for purchase exclusively on the Barnes website, and as a hunter who appreciates classic cartridges like the .300 H&H Magnum (hint, hint, Barnes) I understand how frustrating it can be to find quality ammunition for niche rounds. The Reserve line offers Barnes the flexibility to respond quickly to consumer feedback and create new products based on evolving demand. Reserve ammunition is currently available in six different cartridges loaded with either LRX or Bore Rider bullets, though the list of available cartridges will change periodically. SRP: $99 to $119, per 20. 

Black Hills

Black Hills is offering three loads with Sierra’s exciting new MKX (MatchKing-X) bullet. The original MatchKing has been well-regarded by shooters for decades, but it was designed as a match/target bullet and not a hunting bullet. The new MKX bullet comes with a redesigned jacket and softer lead core to promote reliable expansion and energy transfer down to 1,800 fps. For 2026, Black Hills will offer a 6mm ARC load with a 107-grain MKX, a 6.5 Creedmoor load with a 142-grain MKX, and a .308 load with 175-grain MKX. Hunters can expect accuracy that’s similar to standard MatchKing bullets from a premium hunting load.

CCI

Air gun hunting is growing more popular each year, and to meet the needs of these hunters CCI is launching High BAR Air Gun Slugs. These brand-new .22 caliber slugs are designed to enhance accuracy and terminal performance through modern .22-caliber air rifles. Available in both Segmenting Hollow Point and Small Game Bullet configurations in 30 or 35 grains, these slugs are crafted to the same high standards as CCI’s excellent .22 rimfire bullets so hunters can expect consistent performance on game. High BAR Air Gun Slugs will be sold in 100-round containers.

Those who hunt small game with rimfire pistols and rifles will be excited to learn that CCI is also launching their new Hunter Series ammunition this year. These rimfire loads come with lead flat-nose 40-grain SGB bullets; they are lethal on small game without producing excess meat damage, making them perfect for animals like cottontails and squirrels. Consistent accuracy and lethal performance also makes this ammo ideal for varmint hunting and pest control. Hunter Series rimfire ammunition will be available in both supersonic and subsonic versions, both of which will be sold in 100-count blaze-orange plastic containers that are easy to store and carry in the field.

CCI Blazer is capitalizing on the growing popularity of suppressors by offering new Blazer Clean-Fire Suppressor ammunition for 2026. Available in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, these loads feature Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) bullets and come with lead-free primers. Blazer has designed these loads specifically to reduce fouling in your bore and suppressor for reduced maintenance time, and these loads meet power factor for competitive shooting. If you run your handgun or PCC with a can, Clean-Fire Suppressor is a natural choice.

CCI Blazer is also expanding their Brass line of affordable FMJ target rounds this year with the addition of a 158-grain .357 Magnum load and a 240-grain .44 Remington Magnum offering. Oftentimes inexpensive target/practice ammunition doesn’t offer the consistent performance and accuracy that shooters demand, but Blazer Brass is designed specifically to be reliable and accurate as well as affordable. Blazer Brass is also reloader friendly because it utilizes standard boxer-type primers and primer pockets, and the ability to reload this ammunition makes it an even better value. 

Federal Ammunition

Federal is offering several new ammunition products this year, including their new Federal Subsonic offerings. Unlike some other subsonic loads that reduce noise by just a few decibels, Federal’s new Subsonic cartridges are designed to substantially reduce noise. Four loads will initially be available, including two Fusion loads (170-grain .30-30 and 300-grain .45-70) and two Fusion Tipped (190-grain .300 Blackout and .308 Win.). The projectiles have been optimized to expand at subsonic velocities, which makes Federal’s new Subsonic ammo a solid option for hunters. 

In honor of America’s 2026 semiquincentennial, Federal is also offering limited-edition America 250th ammo in their Top Gun, Champion, and American Eagle lines, including Champion 36-grain .22 LR and American Eagle .45-70, .30-06, and .45 ACP loads. There will also be a special limited run of Top Gun 12-gauge America 250th ammo. Each of the America 250th boxes will come in special commemorative packaging, making it a must-have for collectors. 

Federal American Eagle is expanding their rifle ammunition line for 2026 as well. New load offerings include 55-grain FMJ (200 count), 55-grain 5.56x45 (20- and 100-round boxes), 110-grain TMJ 6mm ARC, 50-round boxes of 150-grain FMJ boat tail .308 Winchester, 250-grain .338 Lapua soft point, and 260-grain FMJ .450 Bushmaster. As with other American Eagle loads these additions offer reliable performance and quality components at a superb price point. 

Clay shooters should check out Federal’s All-American shotshells that were introduced in 2025. Designed to offer premium performance on the trap range, these loads feature dense-patterning high-antimony lead shot and come with Federal’s Podium wads that reduce recoil and improve patterning. This combination of full patterns and dense shot may mean the difference between dropping or breaking a target—and as every serious trap shooter knows, a single miss might make the difference between placing or walking away from an event empty-handed. All-American ammunition is available in 12-gauge 1⅛- or 1-ounce loads in either No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot. At $13.99 per box of 25, this ammunition is very affordable. 

Waterfowl hunters should take a close look at another launch from Federal Premium, the new Rob Roberts Raptor Steel. A collaboration between Federal and Rob Roberts Custom Gun Works, these 12-gauge 3-inch loads come with 1⅜ ounces of either No. 2 or No. 3 zinc-plated steel pellets and boast a muzzle velocity of 1,400 feet per second. All Raptor Steel loads include a plated head and clean-burning propellants, and all are optimized for use in Rob Roberts’ Raptor choke tubes. SRP: $25.99 to $30.99, per 25 rounds. 

Two exciting new turkey loads will debut in 2026 as well. In honor of Realtree’s 40th anniversary, Federal will offer two limited-edition Grand Slam 12- and 20-gauge loads with No. 5 shot and three HEAVYWEIGHT TSS loads in 12 and 20 gauge and .410 with No. 9 HEAVYWEIGHT TSS shot, all of which will be packaged in commemorative Realtree Original or Legacy camo. Federal also collaborated with Rob Roberts on new HEAVYWEIGHT TSS 12- and 20-gauge loads with either No. 7 or No. 9 TSS. 

Terminal Ascent ammunition has been popular with big-game hunters for years, and in 2026 Federal will begin offering Terminal Ascent handgun ammunition in 10mm Auto, .357 Magnum, and .44 Remington Magnum as well. These robust loads feature a copper jacket bonded to the lead core as well as an elastomer-filled hollow-point design, making them a superb choice for those who hunt game with a handgun or pistol-caliber lever-action rifle. Terminal Ascent handgun ammunition comes with nickel-plated cases and bullets and sealed primers so they are suitable for hunting in the toughest conditions. 

There are two exciting line additions for hunters in Federal’s centerfire line as well. The company will now offer a 7mm PRC load with 195-grain Berger Elite bullets. There’s also a new 6mm ARC 110-grain Fusion Tipped load. 

Federal Premium’s new Action Shotgun Rifled Slug ammunition, designed for action shotgun competitions, comes with a 1-ounce TruBall slug designed to center components as they travel down the bore for improved accuracy in smoothbore shotguns. New Action Shotgun rounds also produce manageable recoil, a major consideration when shooting a 12-gauge competition slug gun. 

New Federal Premium LE Tactical ammunition is designed specifically for law enforcement personnel who use semi—auto rifles. These loads are available in 5.56x45 and 6.5 Creedmoor with Berger Hybrid Target, Sierra MatchKing, and Barnes TSX bullets. These loads offer match-grade accuracy as well as low-flash powder and reliable crimped primers. 

Federal’s major launch from last year—the 7mm Backcountry cartridge—remains the biggest news in recent years from the brand. In 2025, 7mm BC received SAAMI certification, and Federal is currently shipping their four 7mm BC loads. Reloading data is also now available. For 2026, Remington will add three new 7mm BC loads, offering more cartridge options for hunters who appreciate this revolutionary new rifle cartridge. 

Fiocchi

For 2026 Fiocchi is offering several new bulk packs of their popular shotgun shells for hunters and clay target shooters. New 100-round Arkansas Steel non-toxic waterfowl loads are available, in 12-gauge 3-inch loads with No. 2, No. 3, or No. 4 shot. Arkansas Steel ammo is loaded with an 1 1/5-ounce payload of steel pellets and features an impressive muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps. With 25 rounds per box and four boxes per carton, it’s easy to transport this ammunition to and from the field. SRP: $71.99. 

Texas White Wing bulk packs of 12-gauge No. 7.5 lead shot are also available in the same easy-to-transport 100-round carton. With a velocity of 1,250 fps and 1⅛ ounces of shot per load, Texas White Wing is a soft-shooting but lethal load for hunting doves and other upland gamebirds. SRP: $41.99.

Clay target shooters will appreciate Fiocchi’s new Shooting Dynamics 100-round target load packs. The easy-to-carry carton holds four 25-round boxes of 12-gauge 2¾-inch loads. Buyers can select from 1- or 1⅛-ounce loads with No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot. SRP: $38.99.

Also new from Fiocchi is their Backwoods Hunter line of hunting rifle ammunition. Designed to be an affordable option for hunters who use lead-free ammo, Backwoods Hunter is loaded with a monometal bullet designed to offer outstanding terminal ballistics and near 100-percent weight retention. Skiving on the bullet nose initiates expansion at a range of velocities, so Backwoods Hunter works on a wide variety of game at varying ranges. Though it’s ostensibly offered as deer-hunting ammunition, the durable lead-free bullet design also makes Backwoods Hunter suitable for notoriously tough game animals such as black bear, hogs, and elk. Fiocchi is offering Backwoods Hunter ammunition in eight different chamberings from .243 Winchester to .300 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $28.99-$42.99, per 20. 

There’s good news from Fiocchi for hunters in straight wall-only states, too. This year Fiocchi is adding .350 Legend and .360 Buckhammer offerings to their affordable Field Dynamics family of hunting cartridges. The .350 Legend offering comes with a 180-grain grain soft-point bullet and a muzzle velocity of 2,100 feet per second while the .360 Buckhammer load drives a 200-grain soft-point bullet at 2,200 fps. SRP: $27.99, .350 Legend (box of 20); $28.99, .360 Buckhammer (box of 20). 

Hornady

As usual, Hornady has several big announcements for 2026, beginning with the release of American Whitetail Tipped ammunition. American Whitetail ammo originally launched in 2013, and since that time these affordable loads have become extremely popular with deer hunters. The new tipped version utilizes either SST or FTX bullets (depending upon cartridge) and comes with a polymer tip that improves aerodynamics. The addition of a polymer tip increases ballistic coefficient and offers increased energy downrange and better wind deflection than non-tipped bullets. Both the FTX and SST bullets are optimized for performance on deer-sized game and offer the reliable expansion and energy transfer that hunters have come to expect from Hornady. As good as the original American Whitetail load is, the new tipped version offers improved ballistics with the same impressive terminal performance we’ve come to expect from AW ammo, making this an ideal hunting load for whitetails and similar-sized game animals. American Whitetail Tipped ammunition is available in a variety of chamberings from .243 Winchester to .450 Bushmaster, including 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5, 7mm, and .300 PRC. SRP: $43.84 to $59.21, per box of 20. 

Hornady also is offering four .22 Creedmoor loads, including 69-grain V-Match ELD-VT, 80-grain Precision Hunter ELD-X, 65-grain Superformance CX monolithic, and 80-grain ELD Match loads. The .22 Creedmoor is a versatile and accurate round that produces low recoil and serves as a target, predator/varmint, and even big-game cartridge for deer and antelope-sized game (where legal). SRP: $56.05 to $67.87. 

Nosler

Nosler is offering several exciting new ammo offerings for 2026, including extensions to their successful Whitetail Country line of rifle ammunition. This accurate, budget-friendly ammo will now be available in .243 Winchester (100 grains), .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield (150 grains), and .400 Legend (215 grains). The .243, .308, and .30-06 loads will be loaded with Nosler’s outstanding Solid Base (SB) bullet. The .400 Legend load will feature Nosler’s Straight Wall bullet.
SRP: starts at $37.50 per, box of 20. 

Fans of Nosler’s Solid Base bullet have additional good news—for 2026 both Solid Base and Straight Wall bullets will be available as components for handloaders. Solid Base bullets feature Nosler’s heavy boat tail base and the company’s Gen 5 tapered jacket, which results in repeatable accuracy and reliable expansion at a wide range of velocities. Nosler’s Straight Wall component bullets were designed specifically with cartridges like the .350 and .400 Legend and .45-70 in mind. Straight Wall bullets feature a jacketed flat-nose design that is optimized to provide reliable energy transfer and expansion across a wide range of velocities. Solid Base bullets are available in diameters ranging from 6mm to .30 caliber. SRP: starts at $26.95, per 50. Straight Wall component bullets are available in .355, .400, and .458 diameters. SRP: $33.50 to $46.95, per 50. 

Nosler will also now offer ASP handgun ammunition in revolver cartridges. ASP (Assured Stopping Power) bullets feature a skived bullet jacket that offers reliable, controlled expansion on target, and these bullets are designed to offer maximum accuracy and stopping power. New additions include .38 Special and .357 Magnum ASP loads (125 grains) and .44 Remington Magnum (240 grains). Nosler designed the nose of the bullet so that it would feed reliably in revolvers and lever guns, so if you hunt big game with a .357 or .44 Magnum lever gun, the ASP load is a superb option. SRP: $27 to $31.75, per 20. 

Remington

Last year Federal Premium launched the 7mm Backcountry, a first-of-its-kind high-pressure hunting cartridge that utilizes Peak Alloy case technology to produce high velocities from shorter barrels—an ideal setup for the growing number of sportsmen and women who hunt with suppressors. This year, Remington is launching three new 7mm BC loads, including an 175-grain Core-Lokt load. Long trusted for its superb terminal performance on game, Core-Lokt is a versatile load, but for those who want to extend their maximum effective range Remington will also offer an 175-grain Core-Lokt Tipped 7mm BC load as well. This load combines the reliable Core-Lokt design with a polymer tip to improve aerodynamics and raise BCs, making it an ideal bullet for large, tough game even at extended ranges. Remington is also offering a new Premier Long Range 7mm BC option that’s loaded with Speer’s outstanding Impact bullet. Impact bullets feature a copper jacket that is molecularly bonded to the lead core and the aerodynamic tipped-bullet profile makes it a great option for big game at any reasonable hunting distance.

Remington is offering some noteworthy line extensions in 2026 as well, including new Premier AccuTip loads in .350 and .400 Legend. Both bullets incorporate the Power Port Tip technology first seen in Remington’s AccuTip slugs, but the design is a natural fit for popular straight-wall cartridges like the .350 and .400 Legends. There are also new additions to the storied Core-Lokt family of cartridges, including 125-grain .300 Blackout, 140-grain 6.5 PRC, and 175-grain 7mm PRC in addition to the aforementioned 7mm BC 175-grain offering. Remington has also announced the addition of four new Subsonic loads in .308 Winchester, .360 Buckhammer, .400 Legend, and .45-70. Optimized for use with suppressors, these Subsonic loads utilize premium components and tight manufacturing tolerances to ensure excellent accuracy and reliable performance through your suppressed rifle.

Remington is also adding new products to their shotshell line, including four new Premier Royal Flush offerings. In addition to the existing 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge offerings, two new 12-gauge loads (1¼-ounce No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot at 1,300 fps) and two new 20-gauge loads (1 ounce of No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot at 1,220 fps) will complement the existing product offerings. These copper-plated loads offer a slightly lower velocity than existing Royal Flush loads, which translates to reduced recoil and muzzle rise, but you can expect the same uniform patterns and lethality we have come to expect from Royal Flush. Also new to the Remington shotshell line is Final Strut HD tungsten turkey loads. Available in 12 and 20 gauge, these rounds offer heavy payloads of No. 6 or No. 7 shot and both are available in 3-inch versions. It’s a great option for turkey hunters who want the knockdown power this 12 g/cc tungsten blend ammunition offers.

Two new handgun loads have come aboard as well. The company’s new Hard Cast ammunition is designed to defend against large predators (think bears), and as the name suggests, utilizes a hard-cast lead bullet designed for deep straight-line penetration and instant stopping power. The four Hard Cast loads now available include 147-grain 9mm, 180-grain .357 Magnum, 200-grain 10mm Auto, and 255-grain .44 Remington Magnum, all of which come with waxed grooves and nickel-plated cases. Also new to the Remington Core-Lokt handgun line is a 237-grain .45 Colt offering. With its heavy mid-section jacket that is locked to the lead core and plated cases, this ammunition is a great option for anyone who hunts with a .45 Colt handgun or rifle. It’s a welcome addition to Remington’s successful Core-Lokt handgun lineup. 

Sierra

In addition to teaming up with sister brand Barnes on Harvest Collection ammunition, Sierra is launching a new and important bullet for the brand—MatchKing X. The Sierra MatchKing bullet—or simply SMK—has set the standard for rifle accuracy since the mid-twentieth century and has almost certainly won more rifle matches than any other bullet in existence. The MatchKing’s long-standing reputation for accuracy makes it one of the most trusted projectiles in match shooting circles, but that also means that any bullet to wear the MatchKing name has big ballistic shoes to fill. MatchKing X—better known as MKX to Sierra fans—looks to be a fitting follow-up to one of the shooting industry’s best bullets. The original MatchKing was a very accurate bullet, but it was never designed to be used on big game because reliable expansion was not a concern when this match bullet was originally designed. MatckKing X bullets offer SMK-type accuracy from a projectile that was painstakingly designed to expand on soft-skinned game to 500 yards. The MKX bullet’s draw-and-trim construction allows for a thinner nose cavity and its skiving initiates expansion. It also features a softer lead core than the original MatchKing bullet, which enhances terminal performance on game. 

Sierra’s MatchKing X represents an evolutionary step forward for one of the world’s best target bullets. MKX bullets are available in calibers ranging from 6mm to .308. SRP: $50.99 to $63.99, 100-count packages; $244.99 to $299.99, 100-count packages. 

Speer

In 2022, Speer announced the release of their Impact bullet, and this year the company is expanding their Impact offerings for reloaders. These bullets feature a clever bonding process that molecularly fuses the copper jacket to the core for impressive weight retention and deep penetration against even the largest and heaviest game animals. Impact bullets come with a Slipstream polymer tip that provides an aerodynamic meplat and improves ballistic coefficients for enhanced long-range performance. The Slipstream tip also helps initiate expansion at velocities that are 200 feet per second slower than similar hunting bullet designs. This combination of bonded bullet durability, superb aerodynamics, and reliable expansion at reduced velocities makes the Impact one of the most versatile hunting bullets available today. The new component bullets—95-grain .243 and 156-grain .264—complement the existing .264, .277, .284, and .308 caliber offerings.
New options for law enforcement professionals in the growing Speer LE line include two new Gold Dot Tipped duty-rifle loads (.300 Blackout and .308 Win.) that are optimized for peak FBI protocol performance. The polymer tip design and uniform jacket help improve accuracy, and Gold Dot technology virtually eliminates the risk of jacket/core separation. These loads also feature nickel-plated brass and reliable CCI primers. 

Speer LE is also offering a new 9mm 135-grain Gold Dot G2 load. Designed to improve upon the already outstanding performance of original Gold Dot ammo, Gold Dot G2 incorporates a shallow nose cavity with an elastomer insert. Upon impact, the resistance generated by the target media produces reliable expansion. Risk of jacket/core separation is virtually eliminated, thanks to the Gold Dot molecular bonding process and structural-plated, pressure-formed bullet core design. The result is dependable straight-line penetration through a variety of mediums without the risk of over penetration. Currently, Gold Dot G2 will now be offered in 9mm (135 and 147 grains), .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.

Speer is also offering a new Lawman 9mm 135-grain training load. With its Total Metal Jacket (TMJ) design and consistent performance, Lawman serves as a dependable and affordable training option that offers similar recoil and point of impact as comparable defense bullets. Current offerings include .380 Auto, 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, .45 GAP, and .45 Auto. 

Winchester

Loaded with Winchester’s new BC Max bullets, Winchester’s Supreme Long Range ammunition is designed specifically for reliable performance on big game out to extended ranges. Heavy-for-caliber BC Max bullets offer high ballistic coefficients and feature a heat-resistant tip and extended boat tail profile. Much like Winchester’s Deer Season XP and Copper Impact bullets, the new BC Max bullet incorporates a large diameter tip that produces devastating performance even at reduced velocities—a key feature when hunting at extended ranges. Next-generation bullet-assembly equipment and match-grade primers ensure the type of consistent shot-to-shot performance that big-game hunters demand.
New Supreme Long Range rifle ammunition is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, .308 Winchester, .30-06, .300 WSM, and .300 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $45.99 to $69.99, per 20.