Black Hills Gold 175-grain ELD-X is a heavy-bullet hunting load for shooters who want a tipped bullet at 175 grains. Black Hills loads it with Hornady's ELD-X, a polymer-tipped hunting bullet, and it leaves the muzzle at 2,850 fps with 3,156 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with HSM's Trophy Gold 180-grain Berger VLD, the Black Hills is level at the muzzle, 2,850 fps against 2,845, but the HSM's heavier bullet starts with 80 ft-lbs more energy. The HSM uses Berger's VLD Hunting bullet, a low-drag hollow point with a boat tail, where the Black Hills uses a polymer tip. Compared with Federal's Fusion 175-grain, a bonded soft point, the Black Hills leaves the muzzle 90 fps faster and starts with 198 ft-lbs more energy.

Buy the Black Hills if you want Hornady's polymer-tipped ELD-X in a 175-grain load. Pick the HSM if you prefer Berger's hollow point and a little more bullet weight, and don't mind a little more recoil. Pick the Fusion, which Federal says is "specifically built for deer hunting," if you want a bonded soft point that kicks a little less. Federal's 175-grain Power-Shok JSP is the plain soft-point choice, and it kicks the same as the Black Hills in the same rifle. If recoil is the main concern, Norma's EVOSTRIKE 127-grain kicks about 37 percent less, and Norma aims it at "small and medium game."