Winchester loads its Expedition 142-grain AccuBond LR in the Expedition Big Game Long Range line, a hunting load for big game at longer range. The AccuBond LR is a bonded, polymer-tipped hunting bullet with a long, low-drag shape. It leaves the muzzle at 2,700 fps with 2,298 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with Hornady's Precision Hunter 143, which also carries a polymer-tipped long-range hunting bullet, the Expedition leaves the muzzle at the same 2,700 fps with 17 ft-lbs less energy. It kicks about 1 percent less in the same rifle, a difference you will not feel. Compared with Federal's Fusion 140, a bonded soft point without a polymer tip, the Expedition starts 25 fps slower and kicks about 2 percent harder. At the muzzle these three are close, so the real choice is the bullet each one carries.

Buy the Expedition if you want a bullet that is both bonded and polymer-tipped for big-game hunting. Pick the Precision Hunter 143 if you prefer Hornady's ELD-X; it matches the Expedition's muzzle speed with almost the same recoil. Pick Fusion 140 if you want a bonded bullet without a tip and a slightly faster start. Plain soft points such as the Sellier & Bellot 140 start 42 fps slower and kick about 4 percent less. For practice before the season, Aguila's 140-grain FMJBT is a full metal jacket target load that kicks about 7 percent less in the same rifle.