In varmint calibers, AccuTip-V combines superb flight characteristics and match-grade accuracy with a design optimized for explosive on-game results.
More than just an all-new cartridge, the compact design represents an entirely new class of ammunition engineered for absolute performance by every measure.
Remington Nitro Steel Duplex is loaded with two sizes of steel shot, providing ultimate performance at close ranges in the timber or out further in a field.
Featuring our new and improved rimfire technology, each round offers Premier high performance in your gun and on target.
The same great lubricant since 1913, the advanced formula cleans, lubricates and protects your valuable firearms so they'll keep running smoothly and looking like new.
Developed with shooters of every experience level in mind, these in-house designed bags were built for convenience, protection, and accessibility.
Deer season is on the horizon, and that means it’s time to get serious about your gear. Every hunter knows the right firearm matters, but it’s your shotgun ammo or rifle ammo that seals the deal on a punched tag. The best ammo for deer hunting delivers controlled expansion, consistency, and adequate terminal performance to quickly and ethically knock down whitetails.
In today’s world, with so many choices on the shelves, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Cup-and-core, bonded, monolithic… short actions or magnums… shotgun or straight-walled cartridges, the options stack up quickly. The last thing you’d want to do is have ammo not suited for the deer woods. The good news? Big Green has been leading hunters to the skinning rack for more than 200 years, and we know a thing or two about which loads perform in the woods.
This guide breaks down bullet types, hunting scenarios, and specific ammo recommendations so you can step into deer season with confidence.
Not all bullets are created equal. When it comes to deer hunting, bullet construction determines how energy is delivered, how wound channels are formed, and ultimately, how clean the harvest is.
Cup-and-Core Bullets: Characteristics
Cup-and-core bullets are the backbone of deer hunting ammo. They feature a lead core wrapped in a copper jacket and are designed to expand reliably on impact. Remington’s Core-Lokt, the legendary “deadliest mushroom in the woods”, is one of the most trusted deer hunting products on the market. Hunters have filled freezers with Core-Lokt for generations thanks to its balance of penetration, consistency, expansion, and weight retention.
Bonded Bullets: Advantages on Tough Game
Bonded bullets take things a step further by chemically or mechanically bonding the jacket to the core. This extra step better prevents jacket separation, increasing weight retention, which helps with penetration, even through thick hide and heavy bone. They’re ideal if you’re chasing big old mature bucks or if you want a bullet that holds together better upon impact. Remington’s Premier Scirocco and Premier Long Range lines are built with bonded bullets.
Monolithic Bullets: Durable and Penetrative
Monolithic bullets are made from a single piece of metal. Monolithic bullets are typically copper, and they’re engineered to retain nearly 100% of their weight, providing deep penetration and excellent terminal performance on tough game. These bullets are particularly effective for hunters needing maximum penetration or who need a lead-free option. For monolithic copper options, check out Remington Core-lokt Copper, or Premier CuT, a tipped copper option. Additionally, check out this podcast to learn more about copper projectiles.
Slugs are great at knocking down deer in areas where you can only use straight-walled cartridges or shotguns. Slugs are a single projectile that can be rifled or a smooth (sabot) and are known for their devastating performance on game. With practice and a sighted-in slug gun, a shotgun slug is lethal in a deer hunter's hands. To learn more about slug hunting, give this Remington Podcast a listen.
Every deer hunt is different, and the best ammo for deer hunting depends on where, how, and what you’re hunting. Consider these factors before settling on your ammo.
Best Deer Hunting Ammo for Distance
If you’re hunting over long fields or in open country, you’ll need rifle ammo optimized for long ranges. For optimal performance over distances, consider Remington Premier Long Range. Loaded with a Speer Impact bullet, you get the benefits of a bonded projectile combined with long-range features such as a slipstream tip, boattail, and a rearward center of gravity. To learn more about long range rifle cartridges and projectiles, check out this podcast.
If you find yourself taking more shots within a few hundred yards, you need to be chambering a Reminton Core-Lokt. This is not your typical rifle ammo. It’s the bar everyone else measures against and still falls short. Known for its iconic mushrooming upon impact, Core-Lokt is the original controlled expansion bullet and has been the first choice of hunters for over 75 years. The tapered copper jacket is locked to a solid lead core, delivering massive 2X expansion, impressive weight retention, and consistent on-game results. Excellent at reaching down long clear cuts, across agricultural fields, or in mature hardwoods, a Remington Core-Lokt is suited for everyday deer hunting situations.
If you’re in a straight-wall state, Remington has a few great options for you. To harness the performance of popular straight-walled cartridges in lever guns, check out this line: Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun. This product line gives you the iconic backbone of a Core-Lokt bullet while improving functionality in your lever gun for loads like 360 Buckhammer, 45-70 Govt, or a 444 Marlin. Also, check out our lines with a Power-Port Tip like our Premier AccuTip Sabot Slug, or Premier AccuTip. Designed to deliver a best-in-class accuracy for shotgun slugs and another popular straight-walled cartridge, 450 Bushmaster, these products deliver terminal performance feared by deer and big game across the nation.
Recoil can influence how accurate and pleasant your shooting experience is. If you’re flinching every time you pull the trigger because the recoil beats you up, your accuracy suffers. This can lead to bad shot placement and unrecoverable deer. If you prefer a low-recoil cartridge, a 7mm-08 Remington is a great choice with proper load selection. If you can handle more kick, the 30-06 Springfield, 7mm Rem Mag, or 300 Win Mag delivers devastating terminal performance.
Deer are tougher than you’d think, but a well-placed shot in the vitals ends the hunt quickly and ethically. Traditional cup and core bullets deliver controlled expansion that creates tremendous energy transfer and wide wound channels. These factors ensure red carpet-style trails and a quick recovery. Both a monolithic and bonded bullet will drive deep and overcome resistance, such as bone and thick muscle, with ease, as they exhibit a higher rate of weight retention – especially on game larger than deer. The key is matching bullet construction to your shot placement and always practicing for accuracy.
Ammo cost varies as much as performance. Cup-and-core bullets, like Remington Core-Lokt, are more affordable for the everyday Joe, and they don’t compromise on performance. Their price also makes them great for hunters who put in time on the range. Bonded and monolithic bullets cost a bit more, but they come with their advantages. Calibers can also affect price. Standard rifle cartridges like 308 Win or 30-06 SPRG are easier on the wallet, while high-performance cartridges like a Magnum, a Creedmoor, or a PRC will run a bit higher.
You could shoot the best ammo in the world, but it won’t matter if your shot misses the mark. Here are some proven tips for success:
Ultimately, the best deer hunting ammo is the one that shoots consistently in your rifle and matches your environment. A hunter in a Midwestern shotgun zone needs different gear than someone hunting big country in the Kansas. More importantly, cup-and-core, bonded, and monolithic all have their place, but shot placement and practice are far more critical.
Big Green has been delivering trusted ammunition for more than two centuries, and we’ll continue to equip hunters with the tools they need for ethical harvests. Visit Remington.com or stop by your local retailer to find a load that will make this deer season your best yet.
Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun, 360 Buckhammer, 180 Grain, Core-Lokt Tipped
Core-Lokt, 7mm Rem Mag, 140 Grain, Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt
Premier Long Range, 7mm Rem Mag, 175 Grain, Speer Impact
AccuTip Sabot Slug