Barnes markets its VOR-TX 140-grain TTSX for big game and medium game. The TTSX is a polymer-tipped copper bullet with no lead core. Barnes rates it at a G1 BC of .412, and it leaves the muzzle at 3,100 fps. At 300 yards it still carries 1,837 ft-lbs.

Compared with Federal's Vital-Shok 140-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, a polymer-tipped bonded bullet with a lead core, the Barnes starts 50 fps slower and gives up a little downrange. At 500 yards a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Barnes about 20 inches sideways and the Federal about 19. That is how far from the aim point each bullet lands if you make no correction. Zeroed at 100 yards, the Barnes drops about 45 inches at 500 and the Federal about 42. The Federal kicks about 2 percent harder in the same rifle. Compared with Prvi Partizan's 140-grain PSP, a plain lead-core soft point at the same speed, the Barnes comes out slightly ahead: the same wind pushes the Prvi Partizan about 22 inches at 500 yards.

Buy the VOR-TX if you want a tipped copper bullet with no lead core. Pick the Vital-Shok Trophy Bonded Tip if a lead core is fine and you want a little less drop and drift; Federal markets it for "the full spectrum of medium and big game." Pick the Prvi Partizan 140-grain PSP if a plain soft point does the job. If you want a copper bullet without a tip, the Black Hills Gold 140-grain Barnes TSX starts at the same speed. HSM's Trophy Gold 180-grain Berger VLD drifts about 13 inches in the same 500-yard wind, but it kicks about 50 percent harder.