Federal tags its Fusion 180-grain for big game and long range, and it suits a hunter who wants a heavy lead-core bullet that holds its speed downrange. The Fusion Soft Point is a soft point with its jacket bonded to the lead core, rated at a G1 BC of .485. It leaves the muzzle at 2,960 fps and still carries 1,708 ft-lbs of energy at 500 yards.

Compared with Winchester's Deer Season XP Copper Impact 150, a polymer-tipped copper bullet with no lead core, the Fusion starts 300 fps slower but gives less to the wind. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Fusion about 18 inches sideways and the Copper Impact about 20. The lighter Copper Impact still shoots flatter: zeroed at 100 yards, the Fusion drops about 47 inches at 500 and the Copper Impact about 41. The Fusion kicks about 29 percent harder in the same rifle. Compared with Browning's BXS 180-grain, a polymer-tipped copper bullet of the same weight, the Fusion leaves the muzzle 40 fps slower and kicks about 2 percent less in the same rifle.

Buy the Fusion if you hunt big game at longer range and want a heavy bonded soft point that drifts less than the Copper Impact. Pick the Copper Impact if you want a copper bullet, a flatter path and much less recoil. Pick the Browning BXS if you want a copper bullet at the same 180-grain weight. If muzzle speed matters most, Ammo Inc's 180-grain Super Shock Tip leaves 170 fps faster than the Fusion.