Federal markets the Vital-Shok 140-grain Trophy Bonded Tip for the "full spectrum of medium and big game at any practical range." The Trophy Bonded Tip is a polymer-tipped bullet whose lead core is bonded to its jacket. Federal rates it at a G1 BC of .430, and it leaves the muzzle at 3,150 fps. At 300 yards it still carries 1,943 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with Remington's Core-Lokt 140-grain PSP, a traditional pointed soft point, the Trophy Bonded Tip starts 25 fps slower but is the faster of the two by 200 yards. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the Trophy Bonded Tip about 19 inches sideways and the Core-Lokt about 21. That is how far from the aim point each bullet lands if you make no correction. Compared with Federal's Trophy Copper 140-grain, a polymer-tipped copper bullet with no lead core, the Trophy Bonded Tip leaves the muzzle at the same speed with the same energy, and the two kick the same in the same rifle.

Buy the Trophy Bonded Tip if you want a bonded bullet for the medium and big game Federal markets it for. Pick the Core-Lokt 140-grain PSP if you want the traditional soft point Remington markets for big game and your shots stay inside 300 yards, where the two drop within an inch of each other. Pick the Trophy Copper 140-grain if you need a bullet with no lead core; Federal markets the Trophy Copper line for a "wide range of medium and big game." If your shots run long in wind, HSM's Trophy Gold 180-grain Berger VLD, a long, low-drag hunting bullet, is pushed only about 13 inches by the same wind at 500 yards, though it kicks much harder in the same rifle.