Federal markets Fusion for big game, including at long range. The Fusion bullet is a soft point whose copper jacket is fused to its lead core, and in this 140-grain load it has a G1 BC of .439. It leaves the muzzle at 2,925 fps and carries 1,669 ft-lbs at 300 yards.

Compared with Nosler's Ballistic Tip 140-grain, a polymer-tipped bullet of the same weight, the Fusion starts 25 fps faster and kicks about the same in the same rifle, but the Nosler holds its speed better. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the line of fire pushes the Fusion about 20 inches sideways and the Nosler about 17. Compared with Hornady's 143-grain Precision Hunter, the gap is wider. The Hornady starts faster, the same wind pushes it about 13 inches, and zeroed at 100 yards it drops about 24 inches at 400 against about 27 for the Fusion.

Buy the Fusion if you want a heavier bonded soft point for big game at ordinary distances, where it gives little away: from the same zero it drops about 12 inches at 300 yards, the same as the Nosler. Pick the Nosler if you want the same bullet weight with less wind drift. Pick the Hornady if your shots run long. For a lighter bullet from Federal, the Terminal Ascent 130-grain drifts about 16 inches in the same wind at 500 yards.