The 300 Winchester Magnum (Win Mag, or WM) has been the gold standard big game hunting round for generations. It can easily vanquish venison past 1,000 yards, making the 300 Win Mag a perennial favorite among hunters since 1963.
Any 300 Win Mag cartridge could ethically harvest a deer, but some are better suited to the job than others. As you continue reading, you’ll discover my top 5 picks for the best 300 Win Mag ammo for deer.
If you’re in a hurry, grab a box of Federal Premium 180-grain TSX ammo. It will ruin Bambi’s day.
If you’re new to hunting deer with a 300 Win Mag, check out the Buyer’s Guide HERE to learn more about choosing the right hunting ammo for your rifle.
The Best 300 Win Mag Ammo for Deer Hunting
| Ammunition | Category |
|---|---|
| Federal Premium 180 Grain TSX | Best Overall |
| Remington Core-Lokt 180 Grain PSP | Most Versatile |
| Winchester Copper Impact 150 Grain Extreme Point | Best for Whitetail Deer |
| Barnes VOR-TX 165 Grain TTSX | Best Premium |
| Hornady American Whitetail 150 Grain InterLock SP | Budget-Friendly |
The Best 300 Win Mag Ammo for Deer Overall
Federal 180 Grain Barnes TSX
Specs
| Case | Nickel-Plated Brass |
|---|---|
| Bullet Type | Barnes Triple-Shock X (TSX) |
| Bullet Weight | 180 grain |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,960 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 2,752 ft-lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Controlled expansion | Pricey |
| Exceptional weight retention | |
| Availability | |
| Lead-free copper alloy bullet |
Why I Chose It
If you’re looking for 300 Win Mag ammo that does it all, look no further than Federal Premium 180 grain TSX. This hunting cartridge offers superior terminal ballistics, is compliant with certain jurisdictions’ bans on lead projectiles, and is manufactured to Federal’s highest standards for quality. I love that this round hits hard, has a nice flat trajectory, and is easy to find.
What more could you ask for?
The Barnes Triple-Shock X (TSX) bullet line offers all of the features I want in a premium hunting bullet. The monolithic (i.e., all-copper) projectile includes a tapered, monolithic design that helps to increase the ballistic coefficient and reduce wind deflection, helping you be more accurate when it matters most.
The Barnes TSX 180 grain bullet offers rapid expansion after penetration, creating a broad wound column as it unfurls four “cutting petals.” The TSX’s all-copper construction also equips it for deep penetration, thus increasing its chance of striking a lung, or the ticker itself.
While some other options on our list are slightly more affordable, Federal 180 grain TSX is trusted and effective hunting ammo that puts down big game quickly through the power of controlled expansion. That’s worth a few extra bones in my book!
The Best 300 Win Mag Ammo for Deer for Versatility
Remington Core-Lokt 180 Grain PSP
Specs
| Bullet Type | Pointed Soft Point (PSP) |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 180 grain |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,960 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 3,501 ft-lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reasonably priced | Not legal to hunt with in California |
| Excellent expansion | |
| Perfect for all types of big-game hunting |
Why I Chose It
Next up on our list is the versatile Remington Core-Lokt 180 grain PSP. If you’re looking for another hard-hitting hunting round that’s easy to find and won’t disappoint, then you can’t go wrong with Big Green. I’ve found the 180 grain bullet is versatile enough for medium game like whitetail deer, while powerful enough to take down larger game animals such as elk and black bear.
What more could you ask for?
The Remington Core-Lokt bullet’s signature feature is the copper jacket, which is physically anchored to its dense lead core. This attachment reduces core/jacket fragmentation after impact, promoting deeper penetration. The Core-Lokt also features a tapered jacket and a simple yet effective soft point design, which triggers up to 2X terminal expansion.
The Core-Lokt has a relatively high ballistic coefficient for a soft point. That’s a fancy way of saying it excels at conserving velocity and energy downrange, as well as resisting interference from wind drift. It’s affordable, too. This is primarily due to Core-Lokt’s lack of a bonded jacket or polymer tip – good features in their own rights, but ones that any competent hunter can do without.
Continue reading Best 300 Win Mag Ammo for Deer: The Belted Freezer Filler on Ammo.com