Federal says its Fusion line is built specifically for deer hunting, and it markets this 180-grain load for big game. Fusion is a bonded soft point, with the jacket bonded to the lead core. Federal rates it at a G1 BC of .498, and it leaves the muzzle at 2,700 fps. At 300 yards it carries 1,909 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with Federal's 180-grain Trophy Copper, a polymer-tipped copper bullet with no lead core, the Fusion starts at the same speed and kicks the same in the same rifle, so the choice comes down to the bullet. Downrange the two stay close: at 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Fusion about 20 inches sideways and the Trophy Copper about 19. Compared with Hornady's American Whitetail 180-grain InterLock, a conventional soft point at the same speed, the Fusion pulls ahead past 300 yards. The same wind pushes the InterLock about 22 inches at 500, and zeroed at 100 yards the InterLock drops about 60 inches there; the Fusion about 58.

Buy the Fusion if you hunt deer and other big game and want a bonded soft point that drifts less than a conventional one. Pick the Trophy Copper if you want a bullet with no lead core on nearly the same path. Pick the American Whitetail InterLock if you want a plain soft point and shoot mostly inside 300 yards, where the two are within half an inch for drop. For range practice with less recoil, Hornady's 168-grain Vintage Match kicks about 13 percent less, though Hornady markets it for target shooting, not hunting.