Get The Lead Out: New Remington Core-Lokt Copper

Remington Ammunition is back in business, cranking out hunting and self defence-oriented ammo after its shutdown in the wake of its parent company's bankruptcy. Along with filling demand for its existing products, Remington is also exploring some new territory. Its latest venture? A new Core-Lokt Copper line.

The Core-Lokt series is by far Remington's most famous and popular ammunition, a conventional cup-and-core design that hunters across Canada swore by. But, it's always been a jacketed lead-core round surrounded by a copper jacket. This new copper-core design is a newfangled take on the old design, which might alienate the crusty veterans of the deer woods who loved the original.

However, as times change and environmentalists and even hunting industry insiders push lead-free hunting ammunition, Remington sees which way the wind is blowing. So, we get this new monometal design, with hollow point designed to penetrate and expand with performance similar to the old load.

Remington even uses a lead-free primer with this ammunition, which may also help to keep the green lobby off Big Green's back.

As you'd expect, the Core-Lokt Copper line is available for common hunting cartridges: 30-06 Sprg, .308 Win, .270 Win, .243 Win, .300 AAC Blackout and .300 Win Mag. Remington says more options are coming soon. And while the bullets are lead-free, Remington's design still allows for projectiles roughly as heavy as previous Core-Lokt loads. The .243 Core-Lokt Copper comes with 85-grain bullet, for example. The .270 Win Core-Lokt Copper comes with 130-grain bullet, and so on.

One thing that's very much changed is the price tag on the box. Core-Lokt was once priced around the lower middle end, not quite as cheap as some other options but also not pricey. The new Core-Lokt Copper line sees pricing start at $40.99 US per box of .300 AAC Blackout for American customers, and running as high as $60.99 for .300 Win Mag. Add another 30 percent for the exchange rate, and you've got some expensive hunting ammunition. However, you always pay a premium for lead-free rifle ammo, and it's not like anything is getting cheaper these days, especially in the shooting world.

For more details on the line, visit Remington's website here.