Factory-loaded centrefire ammunition across the calibres that actually get used in the UK — .223 and .22-250 for foxes, .243, .270, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 for deer, .30-06 and .300 Win Mag for the bigger species and longer ground.
Brands stocked
Hornady across ECX, InterLock, V-MAX, MonoFlex and ELD-M; the Barnes lines including VOR-TX, TAC-TX, Pioneer and Precision Match; Lapua; Winchester Power-Point; RWS; and Sierra. The individual brand pages carry more detail: Hornady, Barnes, RWS, Norma, PPU, Federal, Winchester, Sierra and Nosler.
Choosing a round for deer
Bullet construction matters more than bullet weight. A bonded or monolithic bullet — Barnes TTSX, Hornady ECX and MonoFlex, RWS Twin Core — holds together and drives through, which is what you want on a beast that may be quartering. A soft-nosed varmint bullet built to expand violently is the wrong tool on red deer and the right one on a fox.
Whatever you choose, check the legal minimum for the species and country you are shooting in. The calibre, bullet weight and muzzle energy requirements for deer differ between Scotland and England, and between species.
Lead-free
The transition away from lead in ammunition for game entering the food chain is underway, and the monolithic copper lines — ECX, MonoFlex, TTSX, Evolution Green — are the practical answer. They run lighter for calibre than the lead equivalents, so expect a different point of impact and re-zero before you use them on live quarry.
The legal position
Centrefire ammunition requires a valid firearm certificate showing the calibre, with acquisition available on it. Transfer is face to face on production of the certificate, and ammunition cannot be despatched to a private address. Check your remaining acquisition before ordering. Pistol-calibre ammunition carries its own restrictions — ask before you order if you are unsure of your position.
Related
See also rimfire, shotgun cartridges, bullet heads, brass, reloading and ammo carriers.
