PMC markets its X-TAC line for professional and tactical use, and this 147-grain FMJBT is a practice load for drills, zero checks and steel. The bullet is a full metal jacket with a boat tail, a plain practice bullet with a tapered base, rated at a G1 BC of .398. It leaves the muzzle at 2,800 fps.

Compared with PMC's Bronze 147-grain FMJ BT, the X-TAC is nearly a twin. It starts 20 fps faster, and zeroed at 100 yards it drops about 58 inches at 500 against about 59 for the Bronze. Compared with Fiocchi's 150-grain FMJBT, the X-TAC starts 90 fps slower. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the X-TAC about 24 inches sideways and the Fiocchi about 23. The Fiocchi also kicks about 8 percent harder in the same rifle.

Buy the X-TAC if you want a 147-grain boat-tail practice load with a quick start and a moderate kick. Pick the PMC Bronze if you want nearly the same load from PMC's target line; the two are hard to tell apart downrange. Pick Fiocchi's 150-grain FMJBT if you shoot steel out to 500 yards and will trade more recoil for a flatter path. Pick Magtech's First Defense Tactical 147-grain FMJ if the lightest kick matters most. For hunting, Hornady's American Whitetail 150-grain InterLock is a soft point that Hornady markets for large game; it kicks about 5 percent harder than the X-TAC.