HSM offers its Trophy Gold 180-grain Berger VLD as a hunting load, part of its Trophy Gold hunting line. It is loaded with Berger's VLD Hunting bullet, a long, low-drag hollow point with a boat tail. The bullet carries a G1 BC of .672, and the load leaves the muzzle at 2,845 fps. At 500 yards it still carries 1,932 ft-lbs of energy.

Compared with Black Hills Gold 175-grain ELD-X, the HSM is level at the muzzle, 2,845 fps against 2,850, with a bullet 5 grains heavier. Compared with Fiocchi's Field Dynamics 175-grain InterLock, the HSM pulls well ahead downrange. At 500 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the HSM about 13 inches sideways and the Fiocchi about 20. Zeroed at 100 yards, the HSM drops about 47 inches at 500 yards and the Fiocchi about 52.

Buy the HSM if your hunting shots can stretch toward 500 yards and you want a heavy, low-drag bullet that holds up in the wind. Pick the Black Hills if you prefer Hornady's polymer-tipped ELD-X at the same speed with a little less recoil. Pick Federal's Fusion 175-grain, which Federal says is "specifically built for deer hunting," if you want a bonded soft point that kicks about 9 percent less. If recoil is the main concern, Norma's EVOSTRIKE 127-grain kicks about 41 percent less, though Norma aims it at "small and medium game."