Lock and Load for the 2025 New York Firearms Safety Test – Shoot for Success!

Using soft point or expanding bullets is the optimal choice for big game hunting because these types of ammunition are designed to expand upon impact. This expansion increases the diameter of the bullet as it enters the game, creating a larger wound channel and facilitating quicker, more humane kills. The expansion also helps transfer energy to the target more effectively, leading to significant tissue damage and improved chances of a successful harvest.

Other types of bullets, such as small caliber with low power, lack the necessary impact and energy transfer for big game. Full metal jacket bullets, while effective for target shooting, do not expand and can pass through without causing substantial damage. Tracer rounds are primarily used to aid in aiming and tracking the bullet's path rather than for hunting, as they can lead to over-penetration and unnecessary suffering for the animal. Therefore, soft point or expanding bullets are the most suitable for the ethical and effective harvesting of big game.