Federal says its Fusion 150-grain is "specifically built for deer hunting." The Fusion is a bonded soft point, with the jacket bonded to the lead core. Federal rates it at a G1 BC of .509, and it leaves the muzzle at 3,050 fps. At 300 yards it still carries 2,093 ft-lbs.

Compared with Winchester's Ballistic Silvertip 150-grain, a polymer-tipped lead-core bullet, the Fusion starts 50 fps slower but matches it in the wind. At 500 yards a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes each of them about 16 inches sideways. That is how far from the aim point the bullet lands if you make no correction. Zeroed at 100 yards, the Fusion drops about 43 inches at 500 and the Silvertip about 42. The Silvertip kicks about 2 percent harder in the same rifle. Compared with Federal's own Power-Shok 150-grain, a conventional soft point, the Power-Shok starts faster, but the same wind pushes it about 20 inches at 500 yards.

Buy the Fusion if you hunt deer and want a bonded bullet that holds up in the wind. Pick the Ballistic Silvertip if you want a polymer tip on about the same path; Winchester markets it for big game. Pick the Power-Shok if your shots are shorter and you want the faster start. For the least drop and drift, Remington's Core-Lokt Tipped 150-grain drifts about 15 inches in the same 500-yard wind, and it kicks about 3 percent harder.