Winchester describes its Ballistic Silvertip line as big-game ammunition, and this 85-grain load is the fastest and softest-kicking of the .25-06 loads it is compared with. It uses Winchester's Ballistic Silvertip, a polymer-tipped hunting bullet with a lead core. It leaves the muzzle at 3,470 fps with 2,273 ft-lbs of energy, so it suits a hunter who puts speed and light recoil first.

Compared with Hornady's Superformance 90-grain CX, the closest load in bullet weight, the Winchester starts 120 fps faster, and the CX kicks about 7 percent harder in the same rifle. The CX is a copper bullet with no lead core. Compared with Remington's Core-Lokt 100-grain PSP, a conventional pointed soft point, the Winchester starts 240 fps faster but carries 43 fewer ft-lbs at the muzzle, because the Core-Lokt's bullet is 15 grains heavier. The Core-Lokt also kicks about 27 percent harder in the same rifle.

Buy the Winchester if you want the most speed at the muzzle and the least recoil of the loads it is compared with. Pick the CX if you want or need a lead-free bullet at nearly the same recoil. Pick the Core-Lokt if you prefer a heavier 100-grain bullet, which Remington markets for big game, and can live with the extra kick. If muzzle energy matters more to you than recoil, Hornady's Precision Hunter 110-grain ELD-X carries 137 more ft-lbs at the muzzle but kicks about 49 percent harder.