PMC's Bronze 147-grain FMJ BT is a practice load for drills, zero checks and steel; PMC markets the Bronze line for target shooting. Its boat-tail full metal jacket bullet, a plain practice bullet with a tapered base, carries a G1 BC of .398 and leaves the muzzle at 2,780 fps.

Compared with PMC's X-TAC 147-grain FMJBT, the Bronze has the same bullet weight and a 20 fps slower start, and the two stay close all the way out: zeroed at 100 yards, the Bronze drops about 59 inches at 500 and the X-TAC about 58. Compared with Federal's American Eagle 150-grain FMJBT, the Bronze starts 40 fps slower. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Bronze about 25 inches sideways and the American Eagle about 23. The American Eagle also kicks about 6 percent harder in the same rifle.

Buy the Bronze if you want a 147-grain boat-tail load for drills and steel with a moderate kick. Pick the X-TAC if you want the same trajectory from the line PMC markets for professional and tactical use. Pick the American Eagle if you shoot to 500 yards in wind; Federal markets it for target shooting, competition and long range. Pick Fiocchi's 150-grain FMJBT if you want the fastest start and accept more recoil. For hunting, Hornady's American Whitetail 150-grain InterLock is a soft point that Hornady markets for large game; it kicks as hard as the American Eagle.