Hornady sells the American Whitetail 139-grain InterLock SP for whitetail deer season and lists it for large game. The InterLock SP is a soft point: a lead-core bullet with exposed lead at the nose. Hornady rates it at a G1 BC of .392, and it leaves the muzzle at 3,150 fps.

Compared with Fiocchi's 139-grain PSP BT, another lead-core soft point at the same weight, the American Whitetail matches it at the muzzle and on recoil, and the difference shows up in the wind. At 400 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the American Whitetail about 13 inches sideways and the Fiocchi about 11. That is how far from the aim point each bullet lands if you make no correction. Zeroed at 100 yards, both drop about 10 inches at 300. Compared with Hornady's Superformance 139-grain SST, a polymer-tipped bullet, the American Whitetail starts 90 fps slower, and the same wind pushes the SST about 10 inches at 400 yards. The SST also kicks about 3 percent harder in the same rifle.

Buy the American Whitetail if you hunt whitetail deer season, the use Hornady sells it for, and most of your shots fall inside 300 yards, where it keeps pace with the Fiocchi. Pick the Fiocchi 139-grain PSP BT, which Fiocchi markets for "deer-sized game and beyond," if your shots run longer and wind is a concern. Pick the Superformance 139-grain SST if you want a polymer-tipped bullet with the most speed. Pick Winchester's Deer Season XP 140-grain if you want a polymer-tipped load that Winchester markets for deer hunting. For a heavier bullet, Winchester's Super-X 175-grain Power-Point, which Winchester markets for "whitetail and big game," kicks about 42 percent harder in the same rifle.