Hornady markets its 143-grain Precision Hunter for large game. It uses Hornady's ELD-X, a polymer-tipped hunting bullet, rated at a G1 BC of .625, the highest of the hunting loads it is compared with. It leaves the muzzle at 2,960 fps and still carries 1,610 ft-lbs at 500 yards.

Compared with Federal's Terminal Ascent 130-grain, the Hornady starts 40 fps slower but passes it before 200 yards. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the line of fire pushes the Hornady about 13 inches sideways and the Terminal Ascent about 16. The Terminal Ascent kicks about 16 percent less in the same rifle. Compared with Nosler's Ballistic Tip 140-grain, another polymer-tipped bullet of about the same weight, the Hornady starts 60 fps faster and the same wind pushes the Nosler about 17 inches. Zeroed at 100 yards, the Hornady drops about 24 inches at 400 and the Nosler about 27.

Buy the Hornady if you hunt large game at long range and want the least wind drift of the hunting loads it is compared with, and you can take the heavier recoil. Pick the Terminal Ascent if lighter recoil matters more than a few inches of wind drift. Pick the Nosler if you want a tipped bullet with slightly less recoil and your shots stay closer. For practice at the same bullet weight, Norma's Golden Target 143-grain is a match load that leaves the muzzle 26 fps faster and kicks about the same.