10 Brands Offering Long-Range Precision Rifle Ammo

You can't approach long-range precision the way you would a day plinking at the range. Here are the top brands for both match and hunting lines. It's hard to say which load your rifle will like best, so it's wise to try them all.

10 Long-Range Precision Rifle Ammo Brands — Photo courtesy of Hornady

February 26, 2020 By Guns & Ammo Staff Report

Hornady

Creators of the Creedmoor, Hornady has once again created an amazing long-range cartridge: the .300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC). Selected by the U.S. Department of Defense for their long-range sniper program, the .300 PRC travels far and hits hard. Loads are offered in 212-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter or 225-grain ELD Match.

The ELD-X Precision Hunter is a match-accurate hunting bullet, while the ELD Match features a new Heat Shield tip and new AMP bullet jacket. Hornady goes a step further with their match ammo by carefully selecting cases based on wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, case weight and wall concentricity. The production standard is high, as is lot-to-lot consistency for both offerings.

hornady.com

Precision Rifle Ammo — Photo courtesy of Barnes Bullets

Barnes Bullets

Barnes Bullets’ VOR-TX LR premium hunting line features 10 different cartridges from 6mm Creedmoor to .375 Rem. Ultra Mag. Engineered for one-shot kills at 700 yards and beyond, the nose cavity peels back into four cutting petals for maximum expansion and lethality.

Barnes also provides nine premium options for long-range competitions. Their Precision Match line of ammo is loaded with Open Tip Match (OTM) BT bullets with high ballistic coefficients (BCs) and high consistency in loads. Barnes also uses Doppler radar technology to generate accurate data.

barnesbullets.com

SIG Sauer

SIG Sauer Elite Performance Match 6.5 Creedmoor is loaded with a Sierra MatchKing 140-grain OTM bullet, and the SIG HT 6.5 Creedmoor features an all-copper bullet. Both are fantastic bullets.

All SIG rifle ammunition is loaded with state-of-the-art equipment that is 100-percent electromechanically monitored to maintain conformity and consistency. With standards like that, SIG is sure to bring home trophies — both hunting and competition.

sigsauer.com

Federal Premium

Federal Premium’s newest offering is the Berger Hybrid Hunter line that offers improved BCs due to the hybrid nose design. These projectiles are loaded into Federal’s finest nickel-plated brass and primed with Gold Medal primers. Available in common cartridges from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag., Berger Hybrid Hunter is also available in specialty rounds like .280 Ackley Improved and .270 WSM. For hunting at extended distances, these loads have a lot to offer.

federalpremium.com

Remington

As one of the oldest firearms manufacturers in the country, Remington knows their way around a bullet. Their Premier Match line of ammunition offers cartridges from .223 Rem. through .308 Win. Using only match-grade bullets, Remington’s Premier Match selections are tack-drivers at long-range. They employ special loading practices to ensure worldclass performance and accuracy, so whether it’s for practice or a match, Remington Premier Match will hit the target.

When you need a cartridge to take big game at long range, turn to Winchester. Their Expedition Big Game Long Range line of ammo is designed for taking every kind of big game with one shot. From the classic .270 Win. to the heavy-hitting .338 Win. Mag., the Expedition Big Game line has 10 options to choose from.

These bullets use a bonded lead-alloy core with a polymer tip to retain weight and resist bullet deformation during flight, yet still expand upon impact.

winchester.com

Black Hills

The Black Hills Gold line of long-range ammunition is well-known for its quality and reliability. There are 11 different calibers with multiple options for each. For both hunters and competitors, their 6.5 Creedmoor offering should be highly considered. With a 143-grain Hornady ELD-X for hunters and a 147-grain Hornady ELD-M for competitors, these Creedmoors are a must-have. Other offerings include the 7mm Rem. Mag., .338 Lapua, .270 Win., .243 Win. and many more.

black-hills.com

Berger Bullets

For peak performance from long-range ammunition, Berger delivers. With long-range offerings in Hunting, Tactical and Target lines, hunters, law enforcement and long-range competitors have a reliable source of high-quality long-range ammo.

Built of the highest quality components, Berger Ammunition provides handload-level performance in every box. From 6.5 Creedmoor to .338 Lapua, which is capable to 2,500 yards, Berger has a premium load for you.

bergerbullets.com

Browning Ammunition

Browning’s 2019 line of long-range ammo pushes the limits with five offerings loaded with Sierra Tipped MatchKing (TMK) boat-tail bullets. These high-BC bullets boast higher velocity retention and flatter trajectory at long distances.

Offered in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., .30-’06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag. and .300 WSM, they make up Browning’s new Long Range Pro line to meet the needs of long-range enthusiasts.

browningammo.com

Red Dots for Rimfires

Optics

Red Dots for Rimfires

Whether you're hunting or plinking, nothing beats a red dot optic on a .22 pistol for accuracy and ease of use.

Optics

Setting Scope Eye Relief

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: IWB & Closed-Front Garments

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: IWB & Closed-Front Garments

Demonstrating with a C&G Holsters GEN6 IWB inside-the-waistband holster, Joe Kurtenbach discusses how to draw with a closed front garment. Whether carrying in the appendix position or behind the hip, the key is to fully clear the cover garment to provide unobstructed access to the grip of the gun.

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: AIWB Accuracy

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: AIWB Accuracy

When shooters struggle to clear the garment for an appendix-inside-the-waistband (AIWB) draw, it's usually because they can't get the right grip. Using a GEN6 IWB Alpha rig from C&G Holsters to demonstrate, Joe Kurtenbach suggests using a natural reference point like the navel for gripping the cover garment.

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: One-Hand Operations

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: One-Hand Operations

For any number of reasons, an armed defender may not be able to use both hands for drawing the gun or performing a reload. Appendix-carry IWB holsters like the GEN6 MOD1 from C&G Holsters help simplify these operations by positioning both the gun and extra ammo in a central, front-of-the-body location that is accessible by either hand. Here, Joe Kurtenbach offers considerations for one-handed performance.

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: Holster Placement

Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: Holster Placement

Everyone's body is different, and so are the guns and gear they carry. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for siting a holster along the beltline. If you're not sure where to start when it comes to holster placement, follow along as Joe Kurtenbach uses a C&G Holsters GEN6 OWB rig to illustrate how to find the perfect carry position.

Accessories

Learn About Handgun Retention with New Safariland Holsters

Accessories

Learn About Handgun Retention with New Safariland Holsters

What retention level is right for your holster needs? Law enforcement, concealed carry and anywhere in between, the right holster can make all the difference in comfort and security. Join us with Safariland to walk through the different retention levels of holsters, and check out some of Safariland's latest holster offerings.

Rimfire

CCI Uppercut .22 LR Ammunition for Self-Defense

Rimfire

CCI Uppercut .22 LR Ammunition for Self-Defense

In response to the demand for defensive-use rimfires, CCI developed the Uppercut for .22 Long Rifle (LR). The projectiles feature nose skiving and weigh 32 grains and are optimized for dependable use in semiautomatic pistol barrels measuring between 2½ and 4 inches. Unlike typical .22 ammunition, Uppercut has been tested in 10-percent ballistic gel, producing 8- to 10-inches of penetration with controlled expansion. Some shooters depend on .22-caliber pistols for defense for various reasons, including increased capacity, hand strength, recoil sensitivity, and dexterity challenges. When paired with CCI Uppercut, the .22 LR offers the potential to deliver a knockout against a violent threat.

Accessories

Caldwell VelociRadar Chronograph

Accessories

Caldwell VelociRadar Chronograph

The Caldwell VelociRadar provides accurate velocity information of projectiles downrange with Chirp radar technology that detects a bullet and provides a complete assessment of its performance. In addition to true velocity, VelociRadar calculates ballistic coefficient (BC) and energy. VelociRadar is not affected by poor light conditions as chronographs with light sensors, and users on a public range don't have to wait for a cease fire to setup and use VelociRadar. A ball-head tripod is included, which makes it convenient for use on a shooting bench. Controls are intuitive, as is the compatible, free Caldwell app that can be downloaded to remotely control and manage data from the chronograph.

Handguns

Canik TTI Combat: Full Review

Handguns

Canik TTI Combat: Full Review

Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI) and Turkish firearm maker Canik have joined forces to produce a fully-featured, competition-ready 9mm pistol. The compensated handgun shoots flat and will accommodate a variety of popular slide-mounted red dots thanks to its deep optic cut. The controls are all ambidextrous, and the sub-4-pound trigger is one of the best in the industry. Even with all its bells and whistles, the most surprising aspect of the Canik TTI Combat may be its price. Guns & Ammo's Joe Kurtenbach has the full review.