Ammunition

Before you head into the woods or out to the range, the ammunition you pick has to match the weapon in your hands and the animal you expect to meet, not the label on the box. A wrong caliber, too-light shot on a driven boar hunt, or an imprecise round when stalking a red deer can undo a whole day's work. This section holds rifle cartridges, shotgun shells, and cartridges for loading the firearm - everything you need before stepping into the forest, climbing a high seat, or joining a driven hunt.

What this section holds

The section splits into three parts: rifle cartridges, shotgun shells, and cartridges for loading the firearm. Each serves a different weapon and a different hunting situation, so it helps to know which is which before you buy.

Rifle cartridges

This is the largest part of the section - cartridges for rifles and other rifled weapons used on medium and large game at longer range: red deer, moose, wild boar, or roe deer while stalking from a high seat. You will find different calibers, from 22LR through 308 and 30-06, and bullets of different weight depending on whether you need a fast round or a heavier one.

Shotgun shells

Shot shells for shotguns - suited to driven hunts, waterfowl or marten hunting, and sport shooting. Shot size, load weight, and hull length all vary, so match the shell to the outing - open water for duck calls for something different than a driven hunt after boar.

Cartridges for loading the firearm

The smallest but practical part - cartridges used to check that a firearm loads and functions correctly after cleaning or inspection, so you confirm the weapon works before you rely on it in the field, without firing a live round outdoors.

How to choose caliber for the animal and the weapon

Caliber is not a matter of preference - it is set by your weapon's model and by the animal you are after, since the wrong caliber either does not fit the firearm or lacks the power to stop the animal cleanly. Start by checking the caliber stated in your firearm's papers, because only that one fits your barrel.

Large game such as moose or wild boar needs a heavier bullet and more energy than roe deer or fox. At short range in dense forest a lighter round is often enough, while open ground calls for a caliber built for a longer, precise shot. If you are unsure which caliber suits your weapon and your planned hunt, it is better to ask before buying than to find out in the field.

Shot size for driven hunts and hunting near water

Shot size depends on the animal and the range - fine shot suits birds, while wild boar on a driven hunt needs a heavier load. On a driven hunt the shot is often short and sudden, so the shells have to be chosen in advance, not tested on the spot.

Hunting near water or on wet meadows, weather matters too - damp conditions affect both how shells hold up and how the shot performs. Shells kept dry fire more consistently, so it is worth protecting them from moisture even for a short stretch in a bag or a cartridge belt.

Brands you will find in this section

This section carries several established makers - Winchester, Sako, Norma, Fiocchi, Geco, and Sellier & Bellot - and each builds its own bullet construction and weight for a given caliber, so you can compare and pick by weapon and game rather than by name alone. The same caliber often ships in different bullet weights and types depending on the maker, so look past the number on the box to the exact load.

Winchester ammunition covers both shotgun loads (Super-X, Buckshot) and rifle rounds (22LR, Super X LHP). Sako and Norma build hunting loads for larger game - Gamehead SP and Oryx bullets are designed for reliable stopping power. Fiocchi and Geco are common choices for precise shooting in smaller calibers, such as 222 Rem or 7.65 Browning. Sellier & Bellot offers versatile FMJ loads suited to both range practice and hunting.

Bullet type: expanding or full metal jacket

Bullet type follows the purpose - an expanding bullet (SP, V-MAX) is built for hunting, since it transfers energy fast and stops the animal, while a full metal jacket bullet suits sport shooting or a firearm check, since it holds its shape and flies more consistently.

On large game such as boar or moose, an SP bullet (Sako Gamehead SP, Norma Oryx) gives a fast, clean stop because it expands on impact. A Norma V-MAX bullet is built for a precise shot at longer range, often chosen for smaller game or open-ground shooting. FMJ rounds (Sellier & Bellot, Fiocchi) suit hunting less well, since the bullet does not expand, but they work well for range practice before you head into the forest.

Storing and carrying ammunition during a hunt

Keep ammunition separate from the firearm, dry, and packed so rounds do not knock against each other while moving through thick cover or sitting in a high seat. A long wait on the seat exposes cartridges to temperature swings, so it helps to carry them closer to your body under warm clothing rather than in a cold pocket of the pack.

Back from the hunt, store unused rounds dry again - moisture and dirt affect reliability over time, and that matters for the next outing when you need an accurate shot.

When to check the firearm before heading out

Check the firearm at home or at a range before a hunt, not for the first time out in the field facing an animal - that is what cartridges for loading the firearm are for. It is worth checking especially after a long break, after cleaning, or when you change optics, since even a small shift in zero turns into a missed shot in open ground.

If you hunt with a rifle, look at rifle cartridges; if you are heading to a driven hunt with a shotgun, see shotgun shells; before you leave, check your firearm with cartridges for loading the firearm. If you are not sure which caliber or shot size fits your weapon and planned hunt, write to us and we will help you choose.